Below are comments written by all 2011 chorister's collected from the camp and tour evaluation survey completed on the last day of the program. 

Dominic, 3rd year chorister
"Overall NCYC is magic, the music, the experiences, here you make lifetime friends in a matter of two weeks."

Nathan, 2nd year chorister
"NCYC was a great learning experience for me musically, and a time where I grew in my faith. The people were really amazing too! I felt privileged to work with a great clinician like Dr. Theimer, I am now singing more freely and relaxed as well as better applying the emotions of the text to the music. Being around people with such great faith has influenced me to become a more faith filled person. God was evident in everything I did here at St. John's and it helped me grow in faith. After attending NCYC, I feel like I am more comfortable meeting new people because of all the new people I had to meet here. It is truly amazing how close I became to others after singing with them for just two weeks."

Chris D., 2nd year chorister
"The tour and overall camp experience showed me that there is so much you can do with an amazing director like Dr. Axel Theimer. I learned to sight read better. It has shown me that prayer is sacred and should be practiced 3-4 times a day. I was very independent on tour, which helped my maturity level grow."

Hannah, 2nd year chorister
"I have learned so much about people and the relationship you have with them. There are some things I do regret, but one of them that I don't regret is meeting new people and developing good relationships with them. I gained the knowledge of how to sing with direction and flow. I have also learned sometimes you have to let go and sing and see what happens because the best music comes from that. NCYC has shown me how to be a Catholic while professing my faith through song. NCYC has really showed me how to become a better person and how to be myself."

Zachary, 1st year chorister
"This was an absolutely a fantastic experience, great friends, great music, great conductor, all to glorify and praise our great God. I learned more from Dr. Theimer musically in 2 weeks than I have in private voice lessons for a year. It was an inspiration to be with kids my age who were just as into their faith as me. The learning curve was amazing as well with things like Visio Divina, adoration and benediction and other meaningful events. Being around with 25 people for 2 weeks was amazing. Not one person didn't become a close friend. It really boosted me up. I have thought about being a priest, I don't know if it'll happen but its back in the front of my mind."

Carrie, 2nd year chorister
"Amazing no words to explain. I learned that there is more to music than just reading notes and changing volume. It increased my development. It increased everything because there were many different challenges that helped me."

Darby, 1st year chorister
"I had an amazing experience at NCYC. This is a place where I felt I could truly be me! It feels like home. I loved working with Dr. T. I think I have learned how to sing and not wear my voice out immediately. I had some amazing experiences, especially adoration. I have had an amazing time making friends, I think they will be friends that could last a lifetime."

Shea, 2nd year chorister
"On a scale from 1 to 10 my camp experience was an 11. Everyone here is so welcoming and kind, that it would be hard to not have fun. I learned a lot musically during NCYC, including how to actually feel the music with your heart and to let it show. My faith developed in the sense that I'm now more open about my faith and helped my devotion. NCYC has helped me to become more independent, and gave me the confidence to make tons of new friends."

Barbara, 2nd year chorister
"I'll forever remember this as one of the best times of my life. NCYC took my singing to a whole new level. Not only did we pray a lot but we also worshipped through music and that's the best part. I made friends for life that helped me develop emotionally, spiritually, and musically."

Susanna, 2nd year chorister
"I LOVED IT! It was so amazing words can't even describe it. Musically I gained a great deal. It gave me new ways to pray and be with God. It gave me the chance to be around other Catholics my age."

Matt, 1st year chorister
"My experience here was definitely one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. I learned that I can actually sing and how to sing more in time. I learned how to perform to the best of my ability. NCYC has made me more faithful in God. NCYC has helped me be more independent and confident. It has also taught me to befriend people because you never know who you could meet that is a lot like you."

Irene, 1st year chorister
"NCYC was life changing experience that allowed me to mature and grow musically, spiritually and emotionally. NCYC improved my musical talent by leaps and bounds. NCYC has allowed me to reconnect with my faith. NCYC has allowed me to make friends with people across the country. I share so much in common with all of them but only know them because of NCYC."

Chris L., 3rd year chorister
"Amazing, I will miss Dr. Theimer, he is the greatest conductor."

Clare, 1st year chorister
"NCYC provided an amazing opportunity for the growth of friendships, talents, and most importantly faith. I was able to learn better ways to connect with the music thanks to Dr. T's amazing instruction. Praying with my friends and as a choir everyday definitely helped me grow in my faith. I think NCYC helped teach all of us that everyone is equal and singing made us all one."

Rachel M., 1st year chorister
"NCYC is a fun, faith filled camp with so many opportunities to grow in music, friendships and faith and life skills. Musically, NCYC has taught me how expressive and emotional music can be, how each song has a story and as a singer it's your job to capture and portray that story. My faith has grown because I'm more open to it and aware of it. I met people the same age as me who also have a love of their faith. NCYC has helped me grow to be more confident in myself. I learned to be independent but also learned to trust and depend on my new friends. I have gained life skills, friendships, and memories to last a lifetime."

Matthew, 3rd year chorister
"NCYC is the two weeks of the year that make the other so exciting in anticipation. It is always something that I will love. I learned that singing is meant to be easy and free not put within boundaries. NCYC is the sole reason I'm so strong in my faith. Where others I know falter, NCYC has taught me to keep believing in the truth. The people here are so genuine that they are bound to be friends for life. It’s the best way I know of being accepted for who you are without hiding anything."

Charley, 2nd year chorister
"Amazing, one of the best experiences of my life. So glad I did it. I learned how to approach music in general in a different way and have more confidence in myself. I look at faith in a whole new light. It taught me how to not only be respectful to myself but others, especially in small dorm rooms:)."

Morgan, 2nd year chorister
"I had an amazing experience and I would totally come back next year! I learned a lot about my voice and singing with openness and I became independent when I got here. I feel closer to God whenever I sing our songs. I feel more independent and I am more mature and I believe that this is kind of what college is like! I have a lot of new friends that will last forever."

Fatafehi, 3rd year chorister
"From 1 to 10 I'd have to say 9. I learned new choir methods in and out of choir. It helped me learn to pray more often. I believe I increased in maturity, independence, confidence and friendship, especially friendship."

Kendall, 2nd year chorister
"One of the most amazing experiences of my life. I am so blessed to have been able to spend two summers here. I gained confidence in knowing my own part and not having to rely on others who also sing my part around me. God is always there, even if you don't think he is. When you're feeling lonely, God is still right by your side. He never gives up on you. I deal with personal and social struggles differently than I used to. I'm calmer and more collected than I was last year and even when this summer began."

Amy, 2nd year chorister
"It was amazing, NCYC has changed my life. I can't wait to come back again next year. I learned to relax and how to get the purest on pitch sound. I will definitely bring all of it home to my choir. It has taught me how to sing well but also how to pray at the same time. NCYC has helped me go deeper in my relationship with Christ. It has helped me to be more confident when I sing and to get along with everyone."

Brandon, 1st year chorister
"I think the camp was amazing and can't wait to come back. I learned chanting, how to sing as a whole, and to sing with everything you got and interpret the music. It has helped my faith so much with the Compline, morning prayer and just singing songs helped so much. It's helped mature me a lot, way more confident singing and with friends. I was never an out going person. I'm usually shy but in NCYC we were a family."

Megan, 2nd year chorister
"The camp has impacted me in away that can't really be described in words. I have learned a lot about music and singing, made friends that will last a lifetime and feel closer to God because of it. I wish that I could come and be with these people every year. I have learned techniques like making sure there is enough openness and to not tighten my voice that have helped me to become a better singer. The religion classes and various prayers we went to helped to deepen my faith and increase my knowledge of my religion. NCYC gives you a taste of what college will be like. It helps your independence, staying with host families helps you to become more mature and you learn a lot and make connections because of them."

Tia, 1st year chorister
"NCYC was like a dream come true! Music, travelling, faith, friends, and fun were all intermingled into some of the most fantastic times of my life! I learned more in 2 weeks at NCYC than I have from years of school choir. My vocal quality and health has improved tremendously. NCYC has caused me to take a step back at my faith, take a good long look, and want dive into it so much deeper. At NCYC I have always felt comfortable with sharing my life, opinions and talents. There was no judgment. My confidence has surely skyrocketed!  I have been considering becoming a religious for a while, and NCYC has made me want to discover more about God and myself."

Rachel W., 2nd year chorister
"I enjoyed the first week the bus rides and the concerts the most because I felt like that was when I got to get close to everyone. I learned how to be a better cantor and most importantly for me to not let the pitch drop back and get flat, one of my biggest faults."