The Universityof Notre Dame Liturgical Choir, founded in 1973 as the Chapel Choir, is composed of approximately 70 singers drawn from all areas of the undergraduate and graduate student body.  The Choir ministers at the 10 AM Solemn Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a French Gothic structure built in 1871 by University founder Fr. Edward Sorin.

    The Liturgical Choir is also responsible for providing liturgical music for Sunday Vespers, weddings, dedications, ordinations, Advent Lessons & Carols, and special university liturgies such as Junior Parents' Weekend and the Baccalaureate Mass.  Holy Week (the week preceding Easter Sunday) is especially important to the Choir, which sings for Palm Sunday, Tenebrae, the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion, the Easter Vigil, Easter Mass, and Easter Vespers.

    Membership in the Liturgical Choir is open to all undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Notre Dame.  Membership is by audition only; singers from all colleges and departments are welcome.  General auditions for all University choirs are held at the beginning of each academic year   Limited auditions are sometimes held at other times throughout the year as well.

    The Choir is currently headed by director Dr. Gail Walton and assistant director Dr. Andrew McShane.  The directors lead the choir in performing a repertoire drawn on the diverse traditions of a cappella and accompanied sacred music from the Renaissance through the twentieth century.  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.

    In addition to singing in the Basilica, the Choir also makes an annual domestic tour to bring its ministry of music to a wider audience.  Past domestic itineraries have included New England, the west coast, the southern states, Floridaand the Great Lakesregion.  In addition, every four years the Choir embarks on an international tour in late May.  This past May, the Choir toured Spain, performing in the cities of Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and on the Mediterranean islandof Mallorca.  In May 2003, the Choir made its second trip to Italy, visiting multiple Italian cities and singing at a Papal Audience.

    In January 2002 the Choir ventured to Ohio, upstate New York, and parts of Quebec and Ontario, Canada.  In May of 1999 the Choir traveled to Franceand sang concerts in Paris, Chartresand Reims.  During this trip, the Choir also visited LeMans, home of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, the Congregation which founded and now operates the University of Notre Dame.

    The Choir has recorded several CDs over the years featuring many of our favorite anthems, hymns, and motets. For more information on these CDs please visit our Recordings page. They are availabe for purchase via the Student Shop ND sponsored by the Notre Dame Student Activities Office. Purchase of these CDs from the Student Shop is of direct benefit to the Choir.