Catholic school choirs gather for annual festival of music

Over 175 young singers from different Catholic school and parish youth choirs around the Archdiocese of Chicago, Joliet and Michigan participated in the American Federation of Pueri Cantores festival and Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on March 12, 2022. The students in grades four through 12 rehearsed together for several hours prior to the celebrating Mass with Bishop Joseph Perry. Pueri Cantores is the national student choral organization of the Catholic Church. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Sophia Allen, a fourth-grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, joins classmates in singing in the prelude before Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Paul French, music director at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 720 W. Belmont Ave., gives students instructions during practice. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Mario Ramos, Ian Jones and Aaron Aranda, and behind them, Alejandro Santiago, all students from Epiphany Catholic School, 4223 W. 25th St., listen to directions during practice. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School Choir in Ann Arbor, Mich., sings during practice. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A girls studies her music. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Isabella Gilberti, a sixth-grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, shares what she likes about singing with festival conductor Bryan Zaros from New York City. Zaros asked her the question. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Arianwen Thulin, a fourth-grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, sings during practice. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Laura Bogan conducts the treble choir from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy as they perform the prelude before Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Nora Keeshin, a fifth-grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, 720 W. Belmont Ave., studies music before Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Vincent Wall, a fourth-grader at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, joins classmates in singing in the prelude before Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student looks at the cathedral ceiling as she toured the church with other students during a break. The students were given a tour during breaks. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Students receive medals from Pueri Cantores before Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student sings in the choir. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student yawns during a break. The group rehearsed for several hours before the festival and Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A student from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School Choir in Ann Arbor, Michigan, celebrates after finishing practice. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Bryan Zaros, festival conductor from New York City, directs the choir during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The singers listen as Katherine Gray Noon cantors Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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