Choir collaborates with Notre Dame on album

By Beth Haley
For The Catholic Week
MOBILE — The members of McGill-Toolen Catholic’s Chamber Choir have had great success and many unique opportunities over the years. They bring their considerable talents to the Contemplative Classroom Project, a collaboration that comes from the creative vision of Steven Warner, founding director and director emeritus of the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir. They had the opportunity to contribute to the evangelization of students in Catholic schools throughout the world. They have repeatedly won Superior ratings and top awards in national competitions and received accolades for multiple and diverse performances within the Archdiocese of Mobile. 
“Teach Me How to Pray O Lord” will be an internet-based collection of sacred music that enhances faith building, contemplation and classroom sharing. The musical recording will be available at no cost to Catholic schools all over the world.  The Chamber Singers recorded the collection May 2-4 in Mobile with Dennis Gould and Soundworks Studio.
Steven Warner joined Notre Dame’s campus ministry staff in 1979, where he worked for more than 35 years. Under his leadership, The Folk Choir grew from eight vocalists in 1980 to more than 60 vocalists and instrumentalists in 1996. "Songs of the Notre Dame Folk Choir," published by the World Library Publications, began as an octavo series in 1995 and grew to comprise nearly 100 pieces. The Mass of Charity and Love and Mass for Our Lady, composed by Warner, became nationally published settings for the Eucharist.
Last Spring, Steve and his wife Michele were invited by McGill-Toolen Choir Director, Beth Haley, to work with McGill-Toolen’s elite choir, the Chamber Singers, and to direct a concert of liturgical music. The invitation was inspired by many years of collaborative efforts between Haley and Warner as well as the Chamber singers’ experience with his compositions. Haley’s collaborations with Warner stem from his connections to an institution common to both Steve and McGill-Toolen High School: The University of Notre Dame. McGill-Toolen Catholic High School was one of the first schools to engage in a partnership housed at Notre Dame—the Alliance for Catholic Education. 
ACE has strengthened K-12 schools through innovative practices in four realms integral to school transformation: forming talent, expanding access, enhancing school vitality and conducting research on school improvement. With a presence in every state in the country, the Alliance for Catholic Education strives to ensure that all children, regardless of background, have the opportunity to receive an excellent Catholic education. ACE has partnered with McGill-Toolen and other Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile since its founding in 1993.  
Struck by both the musical talent and the spiritual hunger expressed by members of the choir at last spring’s concert, Steve was reminded of the wisdom of an Irish Sister and colleague, Sr. Mary Rowsome, who had imparted on him a wise, prophetic observation. She noted that by adding contemplative, sung prayer practices to a child’s daily curriculum – even for a short period of time each day – a host of benefits were to be had. Steve stressed the importance of utilizing the talents of an outstanding Catholic high school choir, within the network of the Alliance for Catholic Education, to evangelize students in Catholic schools throughout the country.   
A sample of this “mantra” style music was presented to Catholic school faculty and administration in the diocese of South Bend and received enthusiastic support.