Suburban youth choirs in concert at Holy Name

At least 750 youth from the city and suburbs will join in a combined choir at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

Parish and school choirs from the Archdiocese of Chicago and Dioceses of Rockford and Joliet will participate in the closing celebration of Catholic Schools week. The music fest is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools and the American Federation Pueri Cantores.

“The song selection for the Catholic Schools Week Mass will showcase ancient, timeless music,” said Paul French, music director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Chicago, and conductor of Saturday’s choir.

The concert will have pieces from two 17th century German composers, and current compositions, like Mary Lynn Lightfoot’s “A Jubilant Song,” as well as “Ode to Joy.”

“Blending some familiar pieces with older works will provide an outstanding balance of beautiful sung music,” French said.

The concert is free and is expected to last about 90 minutes.

French said the concert will highlight areas of church musical history he believes deserves more attention.

“The music is actually sung better with young voices,” he added.

Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago and the episcopal moderator of Pueri Cantores, will preside at the Mass celebrating Catholic Schools Week.

“It brings me great joy to see young people playing such an important role in this celebration,” he said. “We are blessed to have such an active Pueri Cantores movement in this area.”

“The important part of this concert is for the young people to sing with each other and realize they aren’t alone singing God’s praises,” added French, who has conducted many national choirs and composed at least 200 instrumental and choral works.

Pueri Cantores was founded internationally in 1944 and started in the U.S. in 1953. Currently, there are 150 U.S. choirs with membership from 72 Catholic dioceses. This year, Pueri Cantores will host 13 regional student choral festivals for Catholic parish and school choirs.

The U.S. group aims to grow the number of choirs significantly in the next two years with the aim of having 400 choirs and 10,000 student singers nationwide.

For further information about joining the choir, contact Paul French by email at pkmcfrench@aol.com.