National Catholic Youth Choir


	A PROGRAM OF SAINT JOHN'S SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY / SEMINARY
	Sponsored by Saint John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, Minnesota

home about archive music staff in the media contact	Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB, Founder and Chaplain Fr. Anthony is a monk of St. John’s Abbey since 1988. He was ordained in 1993. He teaches in the theology department, both undergraduate and graduate, in the areas of liturgy, liturgical music, and Gregorian chant. He is an abbey organist and directs chant. He did graduate studies at St. John’s School of Theology•Seminary, and Yale University, and his doctorate in liturgy is from the theology department of the University of Graz, Austria. Fr. Anthony is on the council of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, and on the Music Subcommittee of the national bishops’ conference Committee on the Liturgy. He has published many articles on liturgical music, and he frequently presents in this area across the country. He is currently finishing a book on liturgical music to be published next year by Liturgy Training Publications. Dr. Axel Theimer, Choir Conductor Dr. Axel Theimer, a native of Austria, where he was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir, is now in his 36th year on the music faculty at St. John’s 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, has presented master classes, workshops and seminars for state, regional and national and international music conventions and conferences and has conducted All State Choirs, Choral Festivals and Honor Choirs throughout the United States. At St. John’s and St. Ben’s he directs the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir and SJU Men’s 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 2001, he received the MN - ACDA Choir Director of the Year Award and, in 2004, was elected to the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s “MMEA Hall of Fame”. He is a member of ACDA, CMS, IMC, MENC, MMEA, MTNA, NATS and the VoiceCare Network. Original compositions and arrangements for Men’s Chorus, Women’s, Mixed and Children’s Choir are published by and available from Alliance Publications, Inc. Fish Creek, WI. Michelle Plombon, Administrative Assistant Michelle has two degrees in liturgical music, an undergraduate degree from the College of Saint Benedict and a master's degree from Saint John's University. She has extensive experience in parish and campus ministry work and is on the staff of St. John's School of Theology. She is a frequent organist at Basilica of Saint Mary and other churches in the Twin Cities. Fr. Matthew Luft, OSB, Chaplain and Religion Instructor Fr. Matthew is a monk of St. John’s Abbey since 2000, and he was just ordained to the priesthood on January 22, 2005. He did his priesthood studies at St. John’s School of Theology•Seminary, and at Theological College in Washington, D.C. Fr. Matthew is currently associate pastor at St. Boniface parish in Cold Spring, not far from the abbey, where he serves the English-speaking and the Spanish-speaking communities. He also serves on the abbey’s liturgy committee and admissions committee. Fr. Matthew expects to be in parish ministry for a time, with probable assignment to further graduate theological studies in future years. Sr. Janine Mettling, OSB – cantor and voice clinician Choir director, Cathedral High School, Saint Cloud Wendy Silhavy, Head Counselor and Music Instructor Wendy has an undergraduate degree in Church Music from Drake University in Des Moines, where she studied organ performance and church music, as well as a MA in Liturgical Music from Saint John's University. Recently, Wendy has been serving as a music/liturgy director in Twin Cities area parishes; she occupies a full time position at Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis. Anne Phillips, counselor Anne is finishing her degree at Saint John's School of Theology for an M.A. in Theology/Liturgy. She is a 2003 graduate of College of Saint Benedict and a 2005 graduate of Saint John's University School of Theology•Seminary. This is her fourth year working with the choir. Chris Stroh, counselor Chris is a 2004 graduate of Saint John's University (organ performance) and is doing graduate studies at Saint John's School of Theology•Seminary. This is his fourth year with the choir. Nathan Hetrick, counselor Nathan is a 2004 graduate of Saint John's University (theology). He is currently working towards an M.A. in Liturgical Studies at Saint John's School of Theology•Seminary. This is his third year with the choir. Molly Leuthner, counselor Molly will be a senior this fall at the College of Saint Benedict. She is an English and Secondary Education major. This is her second year with the choir. Lucas Van Leeuwe, counselor Lucas will be a junior this fall at Saint John’s University and is an English major with a Secondary Education minor. This is Lucas’s second year with the choir. Elizabeth Schmitz, counselor Liz will be a junior this fall at the College of Saint Benedict and is a Vocal Education major with a Secondary Education minor. This is Liz's first year with the choir.




























	© 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 This website is maintained by NCYC staff. Last updated on 04 October 2010