The Eucharistic Congress in Ocean City, Md., is an occasion for Catholics from across the Diocese of Wilmington to gather, and the uniqueness of the event called for a choir to match.
The call went out, and talent from two states answered.
Three veteran music directors were selected to coordinate the music for the closing liturgy. They are David Ifkovits, the music director at St. Mary Magdalen Parish in north Wilmington; Lisa Papili-Carlsen of St. John the Beloved Parish in Pike Creek; and Dana Brehany, music director at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception and St. Patrick churches in Wilmington.
Ifkovits, who also teaches at Archmere Academy, said Father Michael Preston, director of the Office of Worship for the diocese, contacted him. St. Mary Magdalen’s choir had provided the music for the priestly ordination of Father James Gebhart in May. This is not the first time Ifkovits has been tabbed for such a big diocesan occasion.
“Way back, 24 years ago at Sonrise 2000, I did the music for that,” he said. He also sang in the choir in Philadelphia when Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 2015.
He said 90 people from 22 parishes are taking part. He and the other two coordinators contacted pastors at the end of June asking them to have their music directors submit the names of five or six people who might be interested in being part of this choir.
“We didn’t do an audition or anything like that,” Ifkovits said. “We just trusted the recommendations of each of the music directors. They know the voices.
“We were hoping for maybe 40-50 people, we got 90.”
A large age range is represented. There are at least four high school students, and Ifkovits is aware of one lady in her 80s who is taking part. Papili-Carlsen will play the piano, while Ifkovits and Brehany will share conducting duties. The Capital Brass will be on hand as well, he added.
Mary Powell, 14, of St. Benedict Parish in Ridgely, Md., is one of the high-school students. The 14-year-old freshman said the music director at her parish selected her and her friend, 13-year-old Addie Meyer, to participate.
“We’re pretty much the youngest people in the group,” Powell said.
The choir, she said, has been impressive from the start. “Even the first practice, everyone sounded really good together.”
Meyer, an eighth-grader, said rehearsals went well. The choir will be going through everything at a sound check prior to Mass at the convention center.
“I’m not nervous because there’s many other people in the choir,” she said. “I think it’s a great experience and an honor to sing in such a big choir.”
The group had three rehearsals, two at St. Mary Magdalen and one at Holy Cross Church in Dover. Papili-Carlsen said they will sing some choral anthems and some hymns, along with the entrance antiphon and at the offertory and communion. Preparation has been encouraging, she said.
“It’s been really high-energy. I think everyone has appreciated the opportunity to participate,” she said. “They volunteered to do this, so the faith energy in the space is very special.”
Ifkovits said with so many people from that many different locations, they have tried to balance the familiar with music that perhaps they might not know. By introducing some unfamiliar music, they hoped to keep the interest level high.
There was one overriding factor in all of the preparations, however,
“We had to make sure it all fit with the Eucharist since that is what the congress is all about,” he said.
It will be a busy weekend for the three coordinators. They will be at the convention center in Ocean City on Friday to help set up. A sound check with the choir is set for 2 p.m. Saturday. They expect to be able to attend some of the events in the morning.
Ifkovits is happy with the way everything came together.
“The first rehearsal, you don’t know what you’re going to have,” he said. “Once you get through the first song and you hear what you have, it’s eye-opening. I’m not going to say it was easy, but easier than we all thought it would be.”
Papili-Carlsen said working with a different group of musicians is invigorating. She’s excited about the experience.
“We get very used to the feel of our own parish and our own musicians,” she said. “It’s always a learning experience and a challenge. It invites you to be at the top of your game as well.”
