WISCONSIN DELLS — Those who attended Mass at St. Cecilia Parish in Wisconsin Dells at the end of July this year may have noticed a new “heavenly choir” as the parish hosted its first-ever Chanticle Camp.
Chanticle Camp was inspired by the Church Music Association of America’s Annual Summer Colloquium, an event that Fr. Eric Sternberg, pastor, and Tracey Tolzmann, director of music, attended in June.
At the event, Father Sternberg and Tolzmann learned about chant camps parishes were doing to engage, organize, and grow youth choirs.
They thought the idea would be excellent to try at St. Cecilia and began preparations for the camp.
Their hope was not only to educate youth on singing and reading music but also to allow them to share their musical skills with the Lord, especially in the context of the Mass.
Good attendance
While they knew they would have at least a few participants, they were not expecting to have more than 15.
Before the registration deadline, there were 42 participants, ranging in ages from eight to 16, and they ended up having to cap the enrollment.
The camp theme was Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam or “For the Greater Glory of God”.
The camp ran for five days from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. Each day began with prayer and vocal exercises, followed by two music sessions.
The parish provided lunch for the participants and ended the day with a fun activity (one of these activities was an Upper Dells Boat Tour).
Participants learned the basic chant and music reading skills for Gregorian and Latin chant, as well as learning other music by rote.
By the end of the week, the participants sang at Mass: Ordinaries of the Missa de Angelis (“Kyrie”, “Sanctus”, “Agnus Dei”), entrance antiphon, responsorial psalm, Alleluia, “Panis Angelicus” chant hymn, “Ave Verum” (Mozart), and a beautiful ostinato of “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam”.
After the Mass on Friday participants enjoyed a well-deserved pizza and ice cream party with their families.
Tolzmann shared that “the participants were of various skills, but the beauty of that was the older or more experienced singers were great role models and helpers to the others, and the music was accessible for all, yet had challenges within for those more advanced.”
A ‘huge success’
Needless to say, the camp was a huge success.
Tolzmann and Father Sternberg look forward to hosting another camp next summer in 2023 with ideas being discussed on how to accommodate more kids.
It is their hope those participants from this summer will participate again with many more newcomers.
In the words of Tolzmann, “We are overwhelmed with joy of the success of the Chanticle Camp and appreciation for the many awesome volunteers and sponsors we had.”
They wish to extend special thanks to the Original Wisconsin Ducks, Dells Boat Tours, Dan Gavinski, Greg Fedderly, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory, Tom and Jill Diehl, and Ben Borcher for their sponsorship and donations.