National Catholic Youth Choir

The National Catholic Youth Choir is a liturgically-based choir open to Roman Catholic youth entering 10th - 12th grade. 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.

The Choir was founded in 2000 by Fr. Anthony Ruff, O.S.B. and is sponsored by the School of Theology/Seminary. The choir sings music of various Christian traditions, ranging from medieval Gregorian chant to twentieth century music. The primary focus of the choir is liturgical, as it seeks to implement the directive of the Second Vatican Council that the ³treasury of sacred music² be preserved and fostered in the modern liturgy. Over 50 high school students going into grades 10, 11, and 12 from across the United States are selected to participate in the choir on the basis of written applications, recommendations, and taped auditions. The summer camp includes choir rehearsal; daily classes based on their repertoire in religion, music theory, and music history; daily worship and prayer; and sports and recreation. The choristers worship together as a group, with the Benedictine monks on campus and at the Benedictine women¹s community in St. Joseph, MN and they conclude each day with sung Compline (night prayer).

Choir Conductor Dr. Axel Theimer, a native of Austria, where he was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, is now in his 35th year on the music faculty at St. John¹s University and the College of St. Benedict. He received much of his training in Vienna and completed his studies at the University of Minnesota with a MFA in Choral Conducting and a DMA in Vocal Performance. He is an active recitalist and has presented master classes, workshops and seminars for state, regional and national music conventions and conferences and has conducted All State Choirs, Choral Festivals and Honor Choirs throughout the United States. At St. John¹s and St. Ben¹s he directs the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir, Collegium Sine Nomine and SJU Men¹s Chorus and teaches choral conducting, applied voice, vocal pedagogy and other related classes. In addition to his professional activities at SJU and CSB he is founder and music director of Kantorei, a Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) choral ensemble, of Amadeus Chamber Symphony, a chamber orchestra for Central Minnesota musicians and audiences and is music director of the National Catholic Youth Choir. He is on the faculty, and is currently President as well as Executive Director of The VoiceCare Network. In November of 2001 Minnesota - ACDA awarded him the Choir Director of the Year Award.

Discography

Doxology

Comments by Timothy Kelly, O.S.B., Abbot of St. John's Abbey Doxology (Kevin Vogt) Ave Maria (Hail Mary) (Louis Vierne) A Maiden Most Gentle (Andrew Carter) Salve Regina (Hail, Holy Queen) (Franz Schubert) O Lieber Herre Gott (O Gracious Lord God) (Heinrich Schutz) Ave Verum Corpus (Hail True Body) (Camille Saint-Saens) Strengthen for Service (Healy Willan) Panis Angelicus (Heavenly Bread) (Cesar Franck) Ego Sum Panis Vivus (I Am Living Bread) (Giovanni Palestrina) Tu Es Petrus (You Are Peter) (Maurice Durufle) Give Praise and Thanks (Jane Marshall) Applause Holy God, We Praise You Name (arr. Donald Busarow) Benedicta Sit Sancta Trinitas (Blest Be The Holy Trinity) (Gregorian Chant)

The National Catholic Youth Choir sings sacred masterpieces from Gregorian chant to newly-written pieces. "Doxology" was commissioned for the choir from Kevin Vogt for the 2000 premier season. It interweaves Latin doxology with English liturgical texts. Other selections include "A Maiden Most Gentle," by Andrew Carter, "Panis Angelicus," by Cesar Frank and "Tu Es Petrus," by Maurice Durufle. This highly select group of singers is conducted by Dr. Axel Theimer and accompanied by Michelle Plombon.

Death and New Life

Comments by Abbot John Klassen, O.S.B., Abbot of St. John's Abbey Ehre sei Dir Christe (Glory to you, Christ) (Heinrich Schutz) Tenebrae Factae Sunt (Darkness Covered All) (Michael Haydn) Pie Jesu (Loving Jesus) from Requiem (Gabriel Faure) Christ lag in Todesbanden (Christ Lay in Bands of Death) (Johann Hermann Schein) Surgens Jesus (Jesus Arising) (Peter Phillips) Doxology (Kevin Vogt) Ave Maria (Bach-Gounod) We Sing With Joy (Marvin Curtis) Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life (Bryan Beaumont Hays) Blest are Those (Richard Proulx) In Paradisum (Into Paradise) from Requiem (Gabriel Faure) Sanctus from Corpus Christi Mass (Richard Proulx) At the River (Aaron Copland) Regina Caeli (O Queen of Heaven) (Francesco Suriano) Song of Triumph (Dale Grotenhuis) Holy God, We Praise Your Name (Live from final concert)

The National Catholic Youth Choir sings a variety of sacred music from the Renaissance through modern periods. The theme of the 2001 season, "Death and New Life," runs through the pieces. Selections include "Ehre sei Dir Christe," by Heinrich Schutz, "Pie Jesu" and "In Paradisum," from Gabriel Faure's Requiem and "At the River," by Aaron Copland. Led by Axel Theimer, the goal of the choir is to "spread the Catholic faith through great music.

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