Notre Dame Liturgical Choir to Perform at St. Bede the Venerable Church

The University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir will be performing at St. Bede Catholic Chuch, 215 Foothill Blvd., on Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Typically, the Choir rings in the new year by embarking on a tour to bring its ministry of music to a wider audience.

According to its Web site, the University of Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, founded in 1973 as the Chapel Choir, is composed of approximately 65 singers drawn from all areas of the undergraduate and graduate student body. The Choir regularly ministers at the 10 a.m. solemn Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a French Gothic structure built in 1871 by University founder Father Edward Sorin. It has been renovated several times since, most recently in 1989. In addition, the choir performs at Sunday Vespers, weddings, dedications, ordinations, Advent Lessons & Carols and special university liturgies such as Junior Parents’ Weekend and the Baccalaureate Mass. The highlight of the choir’s liturgical year is Holy Week, for which it sings Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday Tenebrae, the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass and Vespers.

The choir is currently headed by director Gail Walton and assistant director Andrew McShane. They work together, along with graduate assistants, to put together and perform a repertoire drawing on the diverse traditions of a cappella and accompanied sacred music from the Renaissance through the 20th century.

In May 2003, the Choir made its second trip to Italy, visiting multiple Italian cities, and singing at a papal audience. In January 2002, the choir ventured to Ohio, upstate New York and parts of Quebec and Ontario, Canada. In May of 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. In May 1995 the Liturgical Choir made its first international excursion to Italy. Past domestic itineraries have included the West Coast, the Southern states, Florida and the Great Lakes region. Over the course of its history, the choir has visited the majority of the continental United States.

A freewill donation of $10 and $5 for children is requested. For more information, call 790-5155.