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It’s a good question. I, too, would like to see better music quality, at my parish, but I think I differ from you in that I’m willing to take contemporary along with classical. But we hear very little classical music at the parish.
I’m not sure what the answer is. I know that in my city, the really good classical musicians are generally not involved in Catholic churches because they don’t get paid, and they DO get paid at Protestant churches. That’s probably the answer–if the Church wants better music in the U.S., they have to accept that music doesn’t come for free anymore. The Catholic Church wouldn’t expect doctors to give their services free to parishioners, or plumbers, or hair stylists, or teachers. Why do they expect musicians to play and sing and conduct for free?
I feel that I can speak with some degree of expertise because I am very involved in the local music club (classical), which happens to be the oldest music club in the United States. (I’m very proud of that–we don’t have much to be proud of in our city, but that’s one thing we can brag about.) I know a lot of musicians, and they aren’t Catholic, or if they are Catholic, they don’t attend Masses anymore, but play/sing/conduct at other churches who pay them.
Also, as I said in the earlier post, there are a great many gay musicians (some say as many as 50% of professional musicians are gay), and those musicians who are not gay tend to stand behind their gay associates–there’s a lot of solidarity among musicians. There is an actual music professional union that is apparently very tight. If a church or organization teaches that gay people can’t “be” with each other, this doesn’t just offend the practicing gays, it offends their friends. I honestly think this is why you don’t see a lot of classical musicians in Catholic churches–they do not wish to give up living a gay life, and their friends support them in this. So Catholic Churches tend to be off limits, UNLESS a particular Catholic church has a reputation of musical excellence and provides an opportunity for the professional musician to network and play for the “right” people.
Also, I’ve heard over and over from various professional classical musicians that there are too many restrictions on the music that is allowed during Mass. I’m not saying that the Catholic Church should back down. I’m just saying that when the diocese ban many of the great classical musicians and pieces, or when certain traditional Catholic populations frown upon “Protestant” composers like Handel, Bach, etc.-- well, that’s not going to set well with musicians who usually believe in complete freedom of artistic expression and believe that any kind of censorship is a grave evil. (You have to understand how musicians think!)
So IMO, the best way for Catholic Churches to build up a quality music program is to recruit the few classical musicians who are willing to come through the doors and play/sing/conduct, and treat them like fine gold (and pay them fine gold!). A comprehensive music program should be developed in each diocese that would encourage the parishes to point children to professional teachers who will teach them music with the goal of playing/singing/conducting at Mass. It has to start with families and children–we need to start giving our children music lessons and giving them the opportunity to use their skills in actual Masses. Children’s Masses (often frowned upon by traditionalists, it seems) are a great place for young musicians to practice playing/cantoring. And there are certain Masses that are less formal (e.g., Saturday vigil Masses) where young musicians can be invited to help out, and the congregation hopefully will be tolerant of mistakes and fumbles while the young musician learns.
I could go on and on with this, because I was taught by a music teacher who trained me to play in church. To her, that was the finest use of my talents–not a concert stage, not a record contract. She wanted to see me playing in church. And my church was very patient with me while I was growing up–the music pastors worked with me to help me learn how to be a church musician.
I don’t think Catholic churches have any clue about that sort of thing nowadays, and I think they should get a clue. Otherwise, many parishes will continue to hear all those easy to play Gather hymns that so many of you despise, because that’s the kind of musicians that you are raising.
Bottom line–the parish that wants good music has to pay for it. It’s not going to be given to them.
Anyway, at the end of the month I will become Catholic and can’t wait to go the TLM and have a look. I’m really curious! 
