A closer look at Women’s Liturgical Choir, the Liturgical Choir, Folk Choir, and Handbell Choir

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is known for its beautiful architecture and majestic Masses. The booming organ and the cantor’s lyrical voice resonate through the Basilica at every Mass. What may be less common knowledge is that different choirs provide the music for each Mass and that these choirs do much more than just sing.

Founded in 1985, the Women’s Liturgical Choir sang only one concert and one Mass during its first year, and now sings every Saturday for the 5 p.m. Vigil, in addition to singing for other campus liturgies like Opening of the School Year Mass and Junior Parents Weekend Mass and going on tours.  There are about 40 women in this choir.  Director Daniel Bayless explained to the Rover that members of the Women’s Liturgical Choir major in anything from engineering to theology and come from all over the world.

Bayless described the special spirit that comes from singing for the Basilica Masses after football games. “The choir runs from the stadium to Coleman-Morse for a very quick warm-up, and then runs to the Basilica to put on their robes and sing mass,” he told the Rover.

Libby Wright, one of the rising co-presidents of the Women’s Liturgical Choir, agreed that helping others grow closer to God through music is very rewarding.  “We are all connected by three things: being female, sharing a faith, and creating beautiful music,” Wright told the Rover.

The approximately 70 members of the Liturgical Choir are directed by Andrew McShane.  The Liturgical Choir’s voices echo through the Basilica on many occasions.  In addition to singing at 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday and at other campus liturgies, this choir plays a special role in Easter celebrations.  The Liturgical Choir sings during Tenebrae, Good Friday services, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Masses.  Its webpage states that, “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.”

Steve Warner serves as the director of the Folk Choir, which sings mostly contemporary music in four-part harmony. Folk Choir sings for the 11:45 a.m. Sunday Mass in the Basilica, as well as on tour and for other campus events. Many of the Folk Choir’s songs were specially arranged by directors or other composers in the field.  While comprised mostly of undergraduates, this choir also includes graduate students, faculty, and staff.  The Folk Choir webpage states, “The camaraderie between students and professionals within the academic community is one of the things that makes this group unique at Notre Dame.”

Karen Kirner has helped the Handbell Choir develop into an integral component of Notre Dame Masses since she became director in 1997.  The choir just celebrated its 25th year and plays a key part in 11:45 a.m. Sunday Mass at the Basilica.  Kirner has arranged a variety of pieces so that this choir can play along with the other choirs during Mass, rather than just have a few solo songs, as is often the case with handbell choirs.  Playing with the Folk Choir at their last Mass of this academic year, the Handbell Choir played 16 pieces, with only four of these being solos.

Kirner emphasized the sense of connection that forms between the 16 choir members despite an ever-present feeling of change as students come and go.  “Students come into the ensemble already knowing how to read music,” she explained to the Rover, “but have to listen to each other carefully and a lot of concentration is required during rehearsals … because the success of the whole group is dependent on the success of our individual ringers.”

Michael Mercurio told the Rover how he joined the Handbell Choir on a whim when it was in need of an extra member for a Spring Tour and he was working as a postgraduate intern in Campus Ministry.  He has not looked back since.  Mercurio emphasized the special connection and trust that is developed by the structure of the choir.  Each player is in charge of two notes, making it imperative to listen and react to the other players.  “Personally for me as a ringer, there’s something humbling about playing only two notes, and something spiritually uplifting about surrendering control of the song and trusting my fellow ringers to create beautiful music in praise of God,” Mercurio explained.

Natalie Ambrosio is a sophomore Environmental Science major who enjoys competing with the squirrels for the best branches in the trees.  So look up to find her there or email her at nambrosi@nd.edu.