St. Columba Cathedral stages Youth Choir Festival today

Staff report

youngstown

The Diocese of Youngstown’s 2013 Youth Choir Festival is planned today at St. Columba Cathedral, 164 W. Wood St.

More than 70 students in third through 12th grade from across the six-county diocese will rehearse and then sing music of the Catholic liturgy at the 5:30 p.m. Mass.

Schools and parishes participating include Cardinal Mooney High School; Holy Family Church and School in Poland; Immaculate Heart of Mary/St. Joseph School in Austintown; Regina Coeli Parish in Alliance; St. Charles Borromeo Church in Boardman; St. Christine School; St. Joseph Church in Maximo; St. Mary Church in Orwell; and St. Nicholas School in Struthers.

Conductor for the event is Dr. Daniel Laginya, director of Music at St. Columba and instructor at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University.

Mary Ann Bilas Bush, director of music at Holy Family, is organist and pianist and Mark Vollmer of St. Columba and Cardinal Mooney, is the cantor.

Students from YSU’s Dana School of Music will assist with percussion and vocals.

A prelude of liturgical music presented by the festival choir will begin at 5:15 p.m.

Barb Zorn, cantor at St. Columba and Holy Family, organized the event.