2019 Pueri Cantores Festivals

May 2019 AFPC NEWSLETTER Vol 11, Issue 1

2019 Pueri Cantores Festivals

That's a wrap on the 2019 Pueri Cantores Festival season! More

than 2,200 Catholic school and parish youth singers in 142

choirs from around the country joined together for their

regional Pueri Cantores Choral Festivals and Masses. AFPC

would like to thank the host churches, conductors, organists,

volunteers, participating choirs and all those who helped make

these Festivals possible. Please enjoy the compilation of videos

below from the 2019 Pueri Cantores Festival season.

Click on the image above to watch the video.

In This Issue

2019 Pueri Cantores

Festivals

Pueri Cantores International

Congresses

Choir Organizational Tip

Featured Choir

AFPC on Facebook

Make a Gift to Pueri

Cantores

2019 Pueri Cantores Festival Participants

Chicago Festival & Mass Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago, IL

Saturday, February 23, 2019

Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Mission Children's Choir "Vyturys."

Lemont, IL. Darius Polikaitis, Director.

Epiphany Catholic School Choir. Chicago, IL. Barbara Abarro,

Director.

Everest Academy Fourth and Fifth Grade Choir. Lemont, IL.

Linda Kurtz, Director.

Saint Frances of Rome School Choir. Cicero, IL. Barbara Abarro,

Director.

Saint Hilary Cardinal Choir. Chicago, IL. Mitchell A. Clark,

Director.

Saint Hubert Treble Choir. Hoffman Estates, IL. Eduardo

Magistrado, Director.

Saint Ita Children's Choir. Chicago, IL. Dan Lagacy, Director.

Saint James Children's Choir. Arlington Heights, IL. Mary

McDermott, Director.

Saint John Brebeuf Children's Choir. Niles, IL. Ewa Kowcz-Fair,

Director.

Saint Jude Choristers. Joliet, IL. Sr. Maria Catherine, O.P.,

Director.

Saint Luke Parish School Cantors. River Forest, IL. Konrad

Pawelek, Director.

Saint Mary Church Choir. Riverside, IL. Michael Silhavy,

Director.

Saint Odilo Junior High Choir. Berwyn, IL. Paul Rau, Director.

Saint Richard Children's Choir. Chicago, IL. Bridget Ryan,

Director.

Saint Thomas the Apostle Upper School Choir. Ann Arbor, MI.

Virginia Herrmann, Director.

Selah. Maumee, OH. Dennis Johns, Director.

Treble Choir of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. Chicago, IL.

Paul French, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Indianapolis Festival & Mass SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, Indianapolis, IN

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Archdiocese of Indianapolis Youth Choir. Indianapolis, IN.

Angie Goćur and Meredith Elam, Directors.

Guerin Catholic High School GoldenVoice and Cecilia.

Noblesville, IN. Angie Goćur, Director.

Lumen Christi Catholic School Choir. Indianapolis, IN.

Elizabeth Welch, Director.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Children's Choir. Carmel, IN. Rex

Benjamin Rund, Director.

Saint Andrew School Blue Ribbon Choir. Milford, OH. Dovile

Krempasky and Pat Powers, Directors.

Saint Maria Goretti Children and Youth Choir. Westerfield, IN.

Joey Garcia, Director.

Saint Susanna Children's Choir. Plainfield, IN. Agnes Magnaye,

Director.

Saint Xavier High School Chorus. Louisville, KY. Richard Knoop,

Director.

Seton Youth Choir. Carmel, IN. Mark and Clara Duray, Directors.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

New York High School Festival St. Malachy's - The Actors' Chapel, New York, NY

Friday, March 22, 2019

Bergen Catholic High School Men's Vocal Ensemble, Oradell,

NJ. Barbara Peraino, Director

Cantad, Bronx, NY

Stephen R. Johnson, Director

Immaculate Conception High School Vocal Ensemble, Lodi,

NJ. Michael Wada, Director

Maria Regina High School Choral Ensemble, Hartsdale,

NY. Maria Carozza-McCaffrey, Director

Our Lady of Lourdes High School Select Choir, Poughkeepsie,

NY. Catherine Crocco, Director

St. Dominic Academy Dominoes, Jersey City, NJ. Joseph P.

Napoli, Director

St. Therese Classical Choir, Chester, NY. Carlise Azmitia, Director

Xavier High School Chorus/A Little Knight Music, New York,

NY. Dee Kittany, Director

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Southern California High School Festival USC's Our Savior Church, Los Angeles, CA

Friday, March 22, 2019

Choir of St. Therese Classical Academy, Santa Barbara,

CA. Giorgio Navarini, Director

Ramona Convent Choral Artists, Alhambra, CA. Ruth Ballenger,

Director

Servite Select Choir, Anaheim, CA. Renée Cahill, Director

St. Lucy's Chamber Singers, Glendora, CA. Jeannine Wagner,

Director

Valiant Voices, Panorama City, CA. Virginia Stewart, Director

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

New York Treble Festival & Mass St. John Nepomucene Church, New York, NY

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Angelic Choir. Paulsboro, NJ. Karen Mercer, Director.

Basilica Voices. New York, NY. Jared Lamenzo and Erin Fasone,

Directors.

Church of Saint Mary Children's Choir. Rutherford, NJ. Andrea

Covais, Director.

Church of Saint Mary-Saint Joseph and Our Lady of Mount

Carmel Youth Choir. Poughkeepsie, NY. Grace Haack, Director.

Good Shepherd Academy Schola. Kingston, PA. Raphael D.

Micca, Director.

Holy Name of Mary School Choir. Valley Stream, NY. Eileen

McEnaney, Director.

Maria Regina School Chorus. Seaford, NY. Margaret Rainone,

Director.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Children's Choir. Tenafly, NJ.

Andrea Covais, Director.

Our Mother of Consolation Parish Choir. Philadelphia, PA. Elise

Malizia, Director.

Regina Academy Singers. Abington, PA. Anne Nyaga, Director.

Sacred Heart Children's Schola. Bloomfield, NJ. Jennifer

Behnke, Director.

Saint Ann School Liturgy Choir. Emmaus, PA. Ariel Scholz,

Director.

Saint Helena School Choir. Edison, NJ. Maria Leonor Llorin,

Director.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Youth Choir. LaGrangeville, NY. Nina

Ricci, Director.

Saint Mary School - Vineland Music Ministry, Vineland, NJ. Toni

Burdey, Director.

Saint Patrick Boys and Girls Choir. Chatham, NJ. Maggie Hanson,

Director.

Saint Peter Children's Choir. Merchantville, NJ. Adam Wallace,

Director.

School Choir of Our Lady of Assumption. Bronx, NY. Laura

Green, Director.

The Crescent Singers. Wilkes-Barre, PA. Paula Mohutsky,

Director.

The Here Comes Treble Singers. Bronx, NY. Philip Tambakis,

Director.

The Schola of the Little Shepherds. Baltic, CT. Patricia Johnson,

Director.

Young People's Choir of Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Bronx, NY. Stephen Rapp, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Southern California Treble Festival & Mass San Francisco Solano Church, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Diocesan Children's Choir of the Diocese of Orange. Garden

Grove, CA. Dr. John A. Romeri, Director.

Nativity Star Choristers. Rancho Santa Fe, CA. Ann Heller,

Director.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux Choristers. Scottsdale, AZ. Kent

Campbell, Director.

Saint Gregory the Great Children's Choir. Whittier, CA.

Alexandré F. Legaspi, Director.

Saint John the Baptist School Choir. Costa Mesa, CA. Yvette

Itano, Director.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Catholic Church Children's Choir. Alta

Loma, CA. Audrey Donaldson, Director.

Serranade. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Janess Sifers, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Fort Wayne-South Bend Festival & Mass St. Charles Borromeo Church, Fort Wayne, IN

Monday, March 25, 2019

Saint Mary of the Assumption Catholic School, Avilla

Saint Louis Academy, Besancon

Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic School, Elkhart

Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Elkhart

Bishop Dwenger High School, Fort Wayne

Bishop Luers High School, Fort Wayne

Most Precious Blood Catholic School, Fort Wayne

Queen of Angels Catholic School, Fort Wayne

Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic School, Fort Wayne

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School, Fort Wayne

Saint Jude Catholic School, Fort Wayne

Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic School, Fort Wayne

Saint Pius X Catholic School, Granger

Saint Joseph Catholic School, Hessen Cassel

Huntington Catholic School, Huntington

Marian High School, Mishawaka

Mishawaka Catholic School, Mishawaka

Saint Joseph Grade School, South Bend

Saint Joseph High School, South Bend

Saint Jude Catholic School, South Bend

Saint Matthew Cathedral School, South Bend

Sacred Heart Catholic School, Warsaw

Saint Aloysius Catholic School, Yoder

As well as Catholic Homeschoolers from the Diocese

Photo by John Martin

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Houston Festival & Mass Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston, TX

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Assumption Catholic School Choir. Houston, TX. Cynthia Ruff,

Director.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham. Houston, TX. Edmund

and Chalon Murray, Directors.

Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart RSCM and SMMA Choirs.

Houston, TX. Jenny Hafernik, Tiffany Sau, and Dr. Crista

Miller, Directors.

Epiphany Youth Choir. Katy, TX. Kathleen Harvey, Director.

Episcopal High School Chorale. Bellaire, TX. Garmon Ashby,

Director.

Jubilate Deo Choir. Dallas, TX. Dr. Alfred Calabrese, Director.

Nolan Catholic High School Choir. Fort Worth, TX. Mary-

Margaret Soknich and Tucker Bilodeau, Directors.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School Choir. Houston, TX. Jose

Torres, Director.

Saint Christopher Catholic School Choir. Houston, TX. Michelle

Pham, Director.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola Cantate, Spring, TX. Kathleen Demny,

Director.

Saint Theresa Cantate Choristers. Austin, TX. Dr. Daniel

Girardot, Director.

Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic School Choir. Houston, TX.

William D. Vogel, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Miami Festival & Mass St. Bonaventure Church, Davie, FL

Saturday, March 30, 2019

All Saints Catholic School Choir. Jupiter, FL. Laura Winters,

Director.

Choirs of St. Luke. Palm Springs, FL. Kevin Faulkner, Director.

Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School Choir. Indialantic, FL.

Cleusa van Dorth, Director.

Nativity Singers. Hollywood, FL. Becky Gerhardt, Director.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Homeschool Choir. Wesley

Chapel, FL. Sandra Lau, Director.

Saint Ann Youth Choir. W. Palm Beach, FL. Christopher Hogan,

Director.

Saint Bonaventure Children's Chorale. Davie, FL. Susan

Calderalo, Director.

Saint James Cathedral Jubilate Youth Choir. Orlando, FL.

Elizabeth R. Jennings, Director.

Saint Joseph Catholic School Cantors. Palm Bay, FL. Cleusa van

Dorth, Director.

Saint Romanos Choir. Palm Bay, FL. Dallas Gambrell, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Pittsburgh Festival & Mass St. Paul Cathedral, Pittsburgh, PA

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Canticle Singers Catholic Youth Choir. Steubenville, OH. David

Forrester, Director.

Central Catholic High School Choir. Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Michael

Mackey, Director.

Communion of Saints Seraphim Choir. Cleveland Heights, OH.

Meg Matuska, Director.

Diocese of Youngstown Youth Choir. Youngstown, OH. Barbara

Zorn, Director.

Little Flower Youth Choir. Canton, OH. Dennis Roden, Director.

Mother of Sorrows School Choir. Murrysville, PA. Nathan

Bellas, Director.

Oakland Catholic High School Chamber Singers. Pittsburgh, PA.

Sonya Caceres, Director.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School Concert Choir.

Coraopolis, PA. Allan J. Pontiere, Director.

Saint Bede Children's Choir. Pittsburgh, PA. Jennifer Gorske,

Director.

Saint Mary of the Assumption Schola. Lancaster, OH. Sharon

Silleck, Director.

Saint Philip School Leadership Singers. Pittsburgh, PA. Mary

Beth Barsh, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Mid-Atlantic Festival & Mass St. Peter's Church, Washington, DC

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Holy Cross Academy Youth of Note. Fredericksburg, VA. Molly

LaPietra, Director.

Holy Redeemer Children's Choir. College Park, MD. Maria

Balducci and Shindana Crawford, Directors.

Regina Academy Singers. Ardmore, PA. Anne Nyaga, Director.

Saint Agnes Children's Choir. Arlington, VA. Laura Cooman,

Director.

Saint Bede Young Choristers. Williamsburg, VA. Aaron

Renninger, Director.

Saint Bernadette's Treble Choir. Silver Spring, MD. Christopher

Mueller, Director.

Saint John's Children's Choirs. Severna Park, MD. Mary Tamplin

and Barbara Lancaster, Directors.

Saint Joseph Marello Parish Youth Choir. Pittston, PA. Raphael D.

Micca, Director.

Saint Peter's Choir of Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. Eric Lewis,

Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

New England Festival & Mass St. Mary's Church, Newport, RI

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Boys' Youth Schola. Falmouth, ME. Jennifer H. Runge, Director.

Divine Mercy Youth Choir. Peterborough, NH. Meghan Pierce,

Director.

Immaculate Heart of Mary School. Still River, MA. Michael

Olbash, Director.

Mount Royal Academy Choir. Sunapee, NH. Katherine Yost,

Director.

Saint Cecilia Youth Schola of Ste. Marie. Manchester, NH.

Elizabeth Gallaher, Director.

Saint John the Evangelist Children's Choir. Hopkinton, MA. Lynn

Maginnis, Director.

Saint Jude's Children's Choir. Lincoln, RI. Pierre Masse, Director.

Saint Theresa of Avila Choristers. West Roxbury, MA. Brandon

Santini, Director.

The Youth Choir of Saint Mary's Church. Newport, RI. Cody

Mead, Director.

Click here to view more photos from this Festival.

Pueri Cantores International Congresses

Click on the images below to open a pdf of the Congress brochures.

Choir Organizational Tip

Getting High Schoolers to Sing Gregorian Chant

It's no wonder many directors have resorted to contemporary hymnals and 'groovier'

canticles to keep the youth singing. It's often (and sadly) presumed that the youth recoil

from the old as something not in keeping with the times and not 'cool' or 'hip.' I even

remember the first time I was forced to join a youth choir in singing the older music of the

Church. As a 'cool' eighth grader, I remember my fixed prejudices: "singing is for girls" and

"church music is boring." It was only after the first fifteen seconds of joining the choir in

singing Handel's Hallelujah Amen (from Judas Maccabeus) that my life was changed

forever. The bass line began with tremulous sound only to be joined in by the sopranos,

then altos, till all voices joined in glorious harmony. At this moment, it was like a spark lit

off in my soul- a spark that would not go out for a long time. From that day forward, I

became sacred music addict. From singing in multiple to directing multiple choirs, it's been

only a growing experience and I'd like to share with you what I've learned if you'd like to

evoke a similar experience to mine in your students.

1. Realize your position is truly a ministry. The music of the church is one of the ways we

catechize and bring souls to Christ. The only difference is that it's a pathway of beauty

instead of spoken truth. Hearing this deep, sacred beauty evokes desire and love in the

youth especially when they know the words they sing are the same they profess in their

hearts.

2. Approach every piece of music with enthusiasm. As a director, you not only teach your

students the dynamics, notes, etc. but you also communicate to the students your love and

passion for the music. For my students, all I have to say is "listen to how beautiful that

harmony/melody is" to get them to hear it the same way. I think I spend about 10% of my

classroom time raving about the music, and it is time well spent.

3. Point the music towards something greater, namely the liturgy. We often forget as

Catholics that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith. What higher aim could

we find than bringing our musical gift and talent than before Jesus on the altar! Our

students should see every practice as directly aimed at giving the very best for the One who

is the very best.

4. Simple is sometimes better. Sacred music is often thought to be complicated. However,

there are many pieces that are easy and extremely beautiful at the same time; the Corsican

Tantum Ergo, Arcadelt's Ave Maria, or the Kyrie from Missa Orbis Factor are great

examples. Fundamentally, choose pieces according to the skill level of the choir!

5. Experiment and mix things up.With regards to Gregorian chant, there are several easy

and soul provoking ways of harmonizing; e.g. singing with a drone or in organum (parallel

fifths). Alternating boys and girls for different verses also makes things fun and allows each

voice to shine. While Gregorian chant is ancient, the method by which it is sung need not be

ancient!

Choir Organizational Tip brought to you by Giorgio Navarini, Choir Director of the Choir

of St. Therese Classical Academy, Santa Barbara, CA

Choir of St. Therese Classical Academy at the 2019 Pueri Cantores Southern California High School Festival at USC's Our Savior Church on Friday, March 22, 2019. Click HERE to hear them perform "Nearer My God to

Thee" by Lowell Mason at the Festival.

Featured Choir

Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Mission

Children's' Choir "Vyturys" Lemont, Illinois

The Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Mission Children's' Choir "Vyturys" was founded in 1995. The

Matulaitis Mission is located within the grounds of Lithuanian World Center in Lemont,

Illinois, approximately 25 miles southwest of Chicago. The Mission serves the Lithuanian

community throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. "Vyturys" sings at the monthly

Mission's Children's' Mass on Sundays at 9 AM. Since services are in Lithuanian, the choir

sings primarily in Lithuanian and Latin. It also takes part in the annual Mission Christmas

Concert, and each spring, presents an end-of-year concert for family and friends. "Vyturys"

has participated in all three North American Lithuanian Song Festivals since 2006, and has

traveled to Lithuania in 2009, 2014 and 2018 to sing in the World Lithuanian Song Festivals.

This past summer, thirty-one of our members once again joined the chorus of thousands at

the Song Festival in the capital city of Vilnius. Visits to Lithuania typically include singing

at Sunday Mass in the beautiful church of St. Casimir in the old town of Vilnius, along with

the Vilnius Jesuit High School choir. Currently, "Vyturys" numbers forty-three young

singers, ranging in age from seven to thirteen. The choir's director and founder is Darius

Polikaitis. We are grateful to the Matulaitis Mission staff and community, and especially to

past pastors Father Algirdas Paliokas, SJ and Father Antanas Saulaitis, SJ, and to the

Mission's current pastor, Father Algis Baniulis, SJ for their constant support and

encouragement.

"Vyturys" has been a member of American Federation Pueri Cantores since 2012. Our first

experience with the organization was the "Choir of a Thousand Voices" festival held that

year at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, with Cardinal Francis George presiding and Paul

French conducting. We were encouraged to participate by the Mission's youth ministry

director (who had received the festival brochure) and by an invitation from Paul French.

The experience was so wonderful, that we have returned to the Chicago Treble Festivals

nearly each year since then. The festivals provide an opportunity for the choir to experience

repertoire that it would typically not have a chance to sing. More importantly, our singers

enjoy the opportunity to share their faith through song with other choristers from the

Chicago Archdiocese and other dioceses in the Midwest. Lastly, choir parents and even

other members of the Matulaitis Mission community look forward to the Festival Mass at

Holy Name Cathedral and attend each year, finding hope and inspiration in the hundreds

of young voices lifting their voices to praise God.

-Darius Polikaitis, Choir Director & Founder, Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Mission Children's'

Choir "Vyturys"

Click HERE to hear the "Vyturys" perform "Kyrie" by Alvidas Remesa at the 2018 Pueri

Cantores Chicago Festival at Holy Name Cathedral.

Pueri Cantores on Facebook

Please encourage your colleagues, singers, family and friends to"like" AFPC on

Facebook and be the first to hear about special events, interact with other members,

share fundraising ideas and choir tips. Let's make the AFPC Facebook page a great

resource for others choirs!

Individual photo albums have been posted for each U.S. Festival this

year. Encourage your choir to serve the Church and community and share their

experiences. Send us photos and videos of your activities and they will be featured

on our Facebook page.

Support Pueri Cantores today, and you can make a difference in

the lives of the youth of Our Church tomorrow!

Text GIVE to

949-799-3464 (Press and hold down phone number, then select "Send

Message.")

or

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Encounters with sacred music can have a profound, transformational

and lasting impact on the lives of young people. By bringing Catholic youth together to sing

beautiful music from the Church's rich historical repertoire, the American Federation Pueri Cantores

provides a unique opportunity to educate and engage these young singers in their faith and in the

arts. In addition, Pueri Cantores offers resources and educational opportunities to conductors to

assist with their knowledge and training. Through its work, Pueri Cantores seeks to bring the peace

of Christ to our cities, our nation, and our world.

Checks can also be made out directly to American Federation Pueri Cantores and mailed to

the AFPC office at 1188 N. Tustin St., Orange, CA 92867.

On behalf of the AFPC Board of Directors, thank you for your generosity and support.

American Federation Pueri Cantores

1188 N. Tustin St., Orange, CA 92867

714-633-7554 | [email protected] | www.pcchoirs.org