By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Report
(From the issue of 2/26/04)

Simon Cowell, eat your heart out. A group of 300 youths gathered to sing last weekend — not to compete for a record contract, not even in the hopes of appearing on national television. There were no scantily clad girls or risqué dance moves. The children simply gathered to share their talents, and raise their beautiful voices for God and His glory.

And in the eyes of the audience, nearly filling Paul VI Catholic High School auditorium, they were all winners. No one was voted out of Saturday’s show.

"I thought it was super," said Lee Emery, a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish in Herndon who came to hear his niece and nephew perform. "You could see the happiness of the kids coming off the stage. They were very polished."

Choirs from across the diocese were invited to attend the first Diocesan Youth Choir Festival, sponsored by the Arlington Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Eight parishes and schools brought groups to participate: St. John Parish and St. Luke Parish from McLean, St. Mary Parish in Alexandria, the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, St. James Parish and Corpus Christi School from Falls Church, Holy Spirit Parish in Annandale and St. Mary of Sorrows Parish in Fairfax. Each group prepared two songs, and the choirs joined forces at the end of the program to perform together.

Ashley Fidler, a sixth-grader at St. James in Falls Church, said it was "Very, very nice that all the choirs got to sing together. It was just a wonderful experience."

Diocesan choirs not only teach youths about music and the liturgy, they also teach them discipline and self respect. Clemencia Onesty, a parent of two children in the St. James Choir said, "They enjoy the choir very much. They feel very proud and now enjoy music — all kinds." In the choir, Onesty said Choir Director Larry Clouse has taught her children discipline, structure and organization. Onesty enjoyed the festival and thought it would encourage some of the younger children to continue to be involved in choirs.

Unlike many music festivals where choirs are graded or compete with each other, Sylvia Mulherin, director of musical ministry at St. Mary of Sorrows in Fairfax, said the purpose of this festival was simply to "encourage future choirs of adults" and to learn and gain inspiration from each other. Mulherin organized the festival along with Cindy Conroy from the Cathedral. Mulherin said they were delighted with the response and are looking forward to the possibility of a larger festival next year.