June 28, 2009

Sunday was indeed a day of prayer for the NCYC. After morning warm-ups, the choristers sang at 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. John's Abbey with NCYC alums from the first 10 years of the choir. Next it was off to lunch and then rehearsal before stopping to celebrate three chorister birthdays. NCYC also performed for the Monastic Institute on campus before concluding the day with a beautiful candlelit Benediction and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Morning prayer outside the dorm	Warm-ups with NCYC alums	Sunday Mass
The Monastic Processional	William cantors the "Alleluia"	Emma soars into song
Alysha leads the congregation in song	Breanna and Tim cantor the "Gloria"	Cecilia proclaims in song
Sunday Mass	NCYC 2009 and alums	NCYC 2009
NCYC 2000-2008 alums	Happy Birthday, Ashley, Becca, and Alyssa	Yay for ice cream cake to cool off!
Birthday party social	Yummy cake!	And you must "take off" in song!
Fr. Anthony rehearses the Gregorian chant	Performing for the Monastic Institute	Singing in in the Great Hall
Candlelit Benediction in the Abbey Church	Benediction	The choir sings during Benediction

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