Joliet Catholic youth choir raising funds to sing in RomeWellington

May 15, 2015

JOLIET, Illinois: David Halbur said he and his friends quip that they are “the cool kids” – not because they are trendsetters but because they sing in a Catholic youth choir.

“We’re doing something substantial,” said Halbur, 17, of Joliet. “It’s a great way to glorify God.” On April 26, in the Cathedral of St Raymond in Joliet, all age levels — kindergarten through high school — of the Cathedral Children’s Choir will perform a concert to raise money for 33 members to travel to Rome from Dec. 26 to Jan 2 for the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.

Joining the 100 youth choristers will be about 20 adult members of the Cathedral’s music programme, said Claire Halbur, associate director for the children’s choirs and David’s oldest sister.

The choristers will participate in a music festival that is part of Pueri Cantores, the Catholic Church’s official student choral organization. The Cathedral Youth Choir is a member.

The culminating event will be singing Mass at the Vatican, Claire Halbur said.

This is not the first time some of the choir members have participated in a larger Pueri Cantores event.

In 2013, when Claire Halbur directed the Joliet-based Cherubim Catholic Children’s Choir, those choristers participated in a variety of Independence Day events in Washington, D.C. They concluded that event by singing Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, as part of the 38th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.

Claire Halbur said she travelled to Rome once with her family and called that trip transformative, because it greatly affected her in terms of art, culture and the history of the Catholic Church. She wants that same experience for the youth singers she helps direct.

“My prayer for each of these young people is that they will experience, in a new way, what it is to be part of a Church that is universal and worldwide,” she said, “and has over 2,000 years of great tradition and beauty behind us.”

The choir’s premise
Randall Swanson, director of the Children’s Choir, came to the Cathedral in the fall of 2012 and began the choir. The following summer, Swanson invited Claire to assist him, and her choristers joined his, Swanson said.

About 100 youth now belong to the choir. They represent about 15 parishes and 15 schools – including home schools – in the Diocese of Joliet, Claire said. Although Swanson has taken adult choirs to sing in Rome, this is the first time he will bring a youth choir.

Swanson is a big believer in choirs for children. Their voices, he said, add beauty to the services, and their participation increases the chances they will become lifelong singers.

“It’s an opportunity to expose children to music and to ministry in the Church through music,” Swanson said, “and to build their faith through the music they sing and that they provide in the liturgy.”

Swanson selects various music for the choristers, from Gregorian chant to music recently composed, he said. Katie Fobert of Channahon was surprised her daughter, Brighid Fobert, 15, likes the music, since it’s not what typical high school students sing.

Benefits to students
But then, Fobert added, the choir has provided enjoyment for Brighid on many levels, including friendships with the other choristers and the satisfaction of giving to others in an artistic way.

“I enjoy it because I get to listen to it,” Fobert said. “I find it amazing how beautiful the kids sound.”

Two sisters and choristers who will make the Rome pilgrimage are Ygnacia Berman, 16, and Genevieve Berman, 14, both of Joliet. Their younger brothers – Joseph, 11; Francis, 8; and Joaquin, 5 – also sing with the choir.

Genevieve said she is working harder at following Swanson’s directions during practise so she will sing her best in Rome. Ygnacia is excited about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing for Pope Francis.

Their mother, Georgina Berman, who home-schools her children, said the choir serves as music lessons for the boys, although they often would rather play than attend practice.

Still, Georgina has seen the benefits for her sons, in their confidence and their ability to decipher music. They notice when singers in other venues are off-key and they have begun to compose music on the piano at home.

“Nothing like Mozart, of course,” Georgina said, “but little things they can figure out on their own.” -- The Herald News