June 16, 2008

Arrival Day
Energy and anticipation were high today as choristers arrived on campus to kick off NCYC 2008! Choristers participated in an opening prayer service and dinner before heading off to the first rehearsal of the season.  Learning names and mingling followed before setting to work discussing camp expectations in large and small groups over pop and popcorn.  Arrival Day concluded by singing Compline, a form of night prayer.

Opening prayer service in the Baptistery	Fr. Anthony welcoming the choristers!	Prior Tom Andert giving a blessing
Choristers blessing themselves in Baptistery	Game time before rehearsal	Birdie on a perch!
Mom, look, we won!	Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!	Listening attentively...
Dr. Theimer bestowing his singing wisdom!	Andrew taking part in the icebreaker	Catch me if you can!
Popcorn party!	Hey, look at my new friends!	Time to socialize
Head Camp Leader Lucas	Establishing some ground rules...	Compline--night prayer

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
 

---

This website is maintained by NCYC staff.
Last updated on 12 September 2011