Liturgical Choir
Schedule
10:00 am Solemn Mass
Sunday evening Vespers
Junior Parents Weekend, University Commencement Mass
Special University and Holy Cross liturgies
Style
Acapella and accompanied sacred music, Renaissance to 20th century.
About the Choir
The University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, founded in 1973 as the Chapel Choir, is composed of approximately 70 singers drawn from all areas of the undergraduate and graduate student body. The Choir ministers at the 10 AM Solemn Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The Liturgical Choir is also responsible for providing liturgical music for Sunday Vespers, weddings, dedications, ordinations, Advent Lessons & Carols, and special university liturgies such as Junior Parents’ Weekend and the Baccalaureate Mass. Holy Week is especially important to the Choir, who sings for Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, the Easter Vigil, Easter Mass, and Easter Vespers.
Membership in the Liturgical Choir is open to all undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Notre Dame. Membership is by audition only, and singers from all colleges and departments are welcome. Auditions are conducted in August during the first week of the fall semester. Dates and times are announced by campus bulletin. Limited auditions are sometimes held at other times throughout the year as well.
The Choir is currently headed by director Dr. Gail Walton and assistant director Dr. Andrew McShane. The directors lead the choir in performing a repertoire drawn on the diverse traditions of a cappella and accompanied sacred music from the Renaissance through the twentieth century. In recognition of the Liturgical Choir’s special ministry to the Notre Dame community, Pope John Paul II extended his apostolic blessing upon the Choir in 1989.
In addition to singing in the Basilica, the Choir also makes an annual domestic tour to bring its ministry of music to a wider audience. Past domestic itineraries have included the west coast, the southern states, Florida and the Great Lakes region. In addition, every four years the Choir embarks on an international tour in late May. In 1999 the Choir traveled to France and sang concerts in Paris, Chartres and Reims. During this trip, the Choir also visited LeMans, home of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, the Congregation which founded and now operates the University of Notre Dame. In 2003 the Choir made its second trip to Italy, visiting multiple Italian cities as well as singing at a Papal Audience. This year, the Choir looks forward to touring Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Toledo.
Visit their website: http://litchoir.nd.edu
Contact: Dr. Gail Walton / 574.631.7779 / gwalton@nd.edu or
Andrew McShane / 574.631.5731 / amcshane@nd.edu
