June 5, 2008

Memorial of St. Boniface
 

Dear parents and friends of the National Catholic Youth Choir,

Greetings from Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota.  I am the founding director of the National Catholic Youth Choir, and Dr. Axel Theimer is the choral conductor. As we begin our ninth season, I wish to share with you some thoughts about this youth program, and also provide you with some useful information.

It is a great privilege for all of us to work with these talented and dedicated young people.  Thank you for sending your loved ones to be a part of the National Catholic Youth Choir. It is our goal to work with you in providing a caring and supportive environment as we offer guidance, formation, and inspiration to maturing young people. As you can see from our website (www.CatholicYouthChoir.org), including archives of past years, the NCYC is a rich mixture of music rehearsal, prayer, worship, music and religion class, sports and recreation, and singing at liturgies and concerts. During the camp, be sure to view our online daily photo diary.

For anything you mail to campus, below is the best address to use. If it is something mailed to a chorister, put the chorister’s name on the first line, with “c/o Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB” on the second line.
   NCYC - Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB
   SOT – Luke Hall - Box 7288
   Saint John’s University
   Collegeville, MN 56321

During the time we are on campus, I can be reached any time at 320-363-3233, but it is best rather to email me at awruff@csbsju.edu. I will respond to you as promptly as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions – I enjoy helping you in any way possible. When we are on tour, I do not have a cell phone myself but you can reach Administrative Assistant Anne Phillips at (507) 383-9663, or head Camp Leader (i.e. counselor) Lucas Van Leeuwe at (507) 828-4562.

Saint John’s Abbey and University takes very seriously the obligation to provide a safe environment for the young people entrusted to our care. We do a background check on every staff member, and they all have been trained in safety policies as well as our stringent policies on boundaries and safe touch. I am happy to say that we have never had a troubling incident with a chorister or staff member in the history of NCYC.

NCYC choral conductor Dr. Axel Theimer is a renowned leader, not just in the U.S. but also internationally, in the area of vocal care and choral conducting. His philosophy of working with developing singers is very much based on affirming all singers where they are at, and encouraging them to reach their full potential by means of affirmation and encouragement rather than shaming or scolding. This humanistic educational approach reinforces the religious philosophy of the NCYC, which is based on a God who is unendingly loving and merciful.

During camp the choristers will have opportunities to contact you by telephone. We understand that choristers, especially the younger ones or those who are from farther away, wish to be in contact with their parents. At the same time, I encourage you to keep an appropriate distance from your child during camp so that he or she can be immersed fully in the choir experience and grow in self confidence and independence. Some youth camps have policies preventing contact between parents and children for the first week or even for the entirety of summer camp. This is not our policy; we leave it to your judgment in finding the right balance between offering support and encouraging mature independence.

Our schedule of public appearances at concerts and liturgies is found on our website. I hope to see as many parents as possible at these wonderful events. And be sure to spread the word to all your friends and relatives. If you do come, be sure to introduce yourself to me – I very much enjoy meeting choristers’ parents.

On the final day of camp, Wednesday July 2, there is a gather for family and friends of choristers at c. 10:00 at Saint John’s in Room 264 of the Quadrangle. This is an occasion to thank everyone involved in the program and to present blessed medals of St. Benedict to all the choristers. Then, at approximately 10:30 am, the choir will sing for the final time in the Great Hall. After we take photos on the steps of the Abbey Church and give the choristers and their family and friends a final blessing, the camp draws to a close. I hope you are able to join us on July 2 at St. John’s.

Fun, friendship, prayer, music, study, travel, growth – NCYC is all of this and more. I hope that NCYC 2008 is a powerful and wonderful experience for your child, as it has been for hundreds of past choristers. It is an honor to work with you in our common task of forming young Catholic Christians.  Please say a prayer for everyone involved with the National Catholic Youth Choir.

God bless you,

Fr. Anthony Ruff, O.S.B.

NCYC Founding Director

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.

© 2008 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
 

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Last updated on 17 June 2008