About
The National Catholic Youth Choir is a liturgically based choir open to Roman Catholic youth entering 9th-12th grade. The program takes place each summer on the beautiful wooded grounds of Saint John's Abbey and Saint John's University in central Minnesota. Camp includes a multi-state tour, concert performances, CD recording and of course fun! 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.
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.
