In order to qualify, choral students had to submit a video audition (usually this process is done in person) consisting of singing a major scale appropriate for their voice part, a choral excerpt, this year it was a Latin piece called "Sicut Cervus" and then "America the Beautiful. Students are then assessed based on specific criteria by two judges assigned to specific voice parts. Students are then selected based on their overall audition score and placement.
These ensembles require lengthy preparation and auditions for a seat. Students receive audition materials and audition for the ensembles in the fall, and each ensemble practices a few times leading up to a large performance for each group.
Congrats to the following students chosen to represent Notre Dame with this exciting honor: Middle School Honor Band: Isabelle Mendoza, flute 1, and Charlotte Hiscott, French Horn; High School Chorus: Shannon Clark, Sarah Deeney and Lorna Petrizzo; High School Orchestra: Hannah Jackson, Violin 1, and Beatrice Aloi, Violin 2; High School Band: Andrea Wat, 1st Chair Flute 1.
This year, the dates of the festivals are as follows: All-Catholic String Orchestra - Saturday, Mar. 6 at Archbishop Ryan; All-Catholic Chorus - Saturday, Mar. 20 at Conwell Egan; All Catholic Concert Band: Saturday, Apr. 10 at Cardinal O'Hara. Middle School Honor Band will resume in 2022.