June 23, 2009

Today was busy for the NCYC--lots of rehearsing and trying to stay cool on a sticky Minnesota summer day!  They began the day with breakfast and then prayed the Rosary together.  Afterward, the choristers split up into groups and went on tours of St. John's campus, seeing several different points of interest, including the Abbey Church, the Great Hall (Old Abbey Church), Alcuin Library, and the University Bookstore.  After the campus tour they went to work on their music with Dr. Theimer.  In the middle of the afternoon, camp staff took the choristers down to the beach for a swim and a chance to cool off!  Then, after supper, it was back to more rehearsal before saying Compline and heading back to the dorm for the night.

Good morning!	And good morning to you, too!	Fr. Anthony briefing the choristers
Praying the Rosary together	Campus tour--this really is Abbey Road!	Such dedicated musicians!
Tenor/Bass Sectional	Everybody likes ice cream, right?	Free time in the dorm
New friends are being made...	...and great music is being sung!	Smile!
Camp Leader Lucas, Julie and Katie going to the beach	How's the water, Jon?	Having fun on the floating dock
Camp Leader Kathryn leads the Soprano/Alto sectional	Compline--night prayer	Mom, these are great!
Nick and Spencer relaxing after a long day	SLOW-Men at Work	Small groups to finish the day

The National Catholic Youth Choir is a liturgically-based choir open to Roman Catholic youth entering 10th-12th grade.  The conductor of the choir is internationally renowned choral clinician Dr. Axel Theimer.  Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, a monk of Saint John’s abbey, is the founding director of the choir.  The program takes place each summer on the beautiful wooded grounds of Saint John's Abbey and University in central Minnesota.  What is unique about the National Catholic Youth Choir is its liturgical focus.  The singers learn about the Catholic liturgy and how the treasury of sacred music (Gregorian chant, Palestrina, Mozart, Bruckner, Poulenc, Duruflé...) fits in Catholic worship today.  The choir also sings contemporary and newly-written music, some of it specially commissioned for the NCYC.

© 2009 National Catholic Youth Choir

Saint John's Abbey and University,

Collegeville, Minnesota 56321

For further information, contact the choir founder and chaplain,

Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB
 

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Last updated on 13 April 2010