I once went to a parish that had a great choir loft but the cantor came up on the altar to perform.  He had an awesome voice.  So much so, that he became a distraction.  Pity.  I don't think that was his intent.  Use of the choir loft would have made his contribution add to the Mass.  Instead, it took away from it.  

But "progress" and "clericalism" and stuff.