HOSTED  BY SAINT JOHN'S ABBEY AND UNIVERSITY

Collegeville, Minnesota

June 22, 2000

Final concert and the last day of NCYC...a day both great and sad!

Organist Dr. Kim Kasling, and liturgical music graduates of St. John's / St. Ben's Michelle Plombon and Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, spoke with us about liturgical music as a career and a ministry.  They talked to us about the music programs and the various choirs and ensembles at St. John's and St. Bens.

Then we warmed up in the Great Hall for the final concert that many of our parents and relatives are attending.  The recording engineer was there for the warmup and for the concert, as a CD of the National Catholic Youth Choir is being made.  This is being sold for $15.

One minute to eleven:  outside the Great Hall we joined hands and said a prayer before our last concert.  Then we processed in and sang our hearts out.  Abbot Timothy Kelly had very supportive words for us--he said we were the nicest young people to have come to the St. John's campus.  When we sang our favorite piece, "Ego sum panis vivus" by Giovanni Palestrina, we walked out and surrounded the entire audience with our singing.  This is a neat effect--and we suspect a new NCYC tradition has been started.  Then Father Anthony got up at the end of the concert to say how proud he is of us...and he got a bit choked up.  After our last piece, there was a long standing ovation.  For encores we sang "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," and then we processed out as we sang the Latin chant, "Benedicta sit Sancta Trinitas."

Then we met under the Bell Banner for pictures with the choir, the staff, and our families.  The program concluded as it began:   Abbot Timothy said a prayer over us and blessed us.

Now, we depart from St. John's...but as different people than a couple weeks ago.  We will never be the same, for we have been part of a very special program.  We were members of the first-ever National Catholic Youth Choir!

© 2000 National Catholic Youth Choir Saint John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321 For information contact the choir founder and chaplain, Fr.Anthony Ruff, O.S.B. This website was created and is maintained by Peter Habenczius URL: http://www.csbsju.edu/ncyc/diary/June_22.html Last update: June 22, 2000