Catholic Youth Choir of Central Iowa
Welcome
Serving the Central Iowa area since 2005, Catholic Youth Choir serves as an accomplished choral program for youths ages eight through eighteen. This is achieved by learning proper singing technique, as well as the basics of pitch, rhythm, and musical notation. Catholic Youth Choir maintains the highest of professional standards, not only teaching students the basic tenets of music, but preparing them for other transferrable skills such as diligence, composure, and teamwork. All are realized through performing sacred music at holy masses and concerts at the Basilica of St. John.
History
The Catholic Youth Choir of Central Iowa was started in 2005 by Meggan Stone (daughter of Maureen and Deacon Kelly Stone, previously an active Columbus Academy family) as a support for homeschooled Catholic families.
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Fr. Aquinas and the Basilica of St. John, with Scott Rieker as the Music Director at that time, offered their location for rehearsals and performance venue. In exchange, the Youth Choir sang for Basilica masses on First Fridays and various Sunday liturgies. It was a win/win situation. The children received the opportunity to rehearse in a marvelous location in a Catholic ensemble and use their music and talents for the honor and glory of God.
Upon Meggan Stone's relocation to a different area, Gail Johll assumed leadership of the Catholic Youth Choir in the fall of 2007. In the fall of 2013, Mrs. Johll also assumed the position of Music Director of the Basilica, which makes it more convenient to intersperse the CYC groups in the Basilica liturgies.
Since the Catholic Youth Choir is an independent entity comprised of families in and outside the Basilica parish, it has been a huge blessing to use the Basilica church for rehearsals and performances, in addition to being able to assist with liturgies.
The choir has grown in number from the original 25 singers divided into 2 choirs, Prep and Select, and is now roughly 90 singers, adding the Seraphic Singers, Bosco Boys (with changed voices), and a Mixed Choir comprised of students from both Seraphic Singers and Bosco Boys. Additional staff has also joined the CYC team including Kirsten Downey, an accomplished accompanist, and two accredited assistant music directors, Mary Wolf and Hillary Wehr.
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Choir Criteria and Guidelines
Each choir serves a unique and vital function to the organization as a whole. Outlined below are the specific requirements necessary to belong to each group.
Cherubim Preparatory Choir
Rehearsals: Monday 3:50pm - 4:40pm
Goals: To match pitch and sing with proper tone quality. Basic note-reading, syllables, and rhythmic exercises reinforced by independent singing in canons or simple two-part music.
Singers must be at least 8 years old, and definitely able to read by September 1. No singing audition required. Must attend weekly rehearsals, concerts, and scheduled First Friday Masses.
St. Cecilia & St. Gregory the Great Select Choirs
Rehearsals: Monday 2:30pm - 3:40pm (St. Gregory) or 4:50pm - 6:00pm (St. Cecilia)
Goals: Singing in 2-3 parts with beautiful tone quality and pitch.
Singers must be at least 10 years old by September 1. Two years of Prep choir is preferred. Basic solo audition required, such as singing Silent Night or another familiar song. Must be able to match pitch and have attention span to focus for intense rehearsals! Audition will determine voice part. Must attend weekly rehearsals, concerts, and the majority of First Friday masses, holy days masses, and one Sunday mass per semester. Both choirs rehearse separately, but primarily will learn the same music preparing for masses and concerts as a combined group. Additional individual music may be added. Placement in choirs is based on schedule preference on a first-come, first-served basis.
Seraphic Singers
Rehearsals: Thursday 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Goals: Elite singing with superb tone quality and excellent musicality
The group ranges between 8-12 female singers who must be in high school and attend the majority of commitments for Select Choir. The audition consists of singing with another singer on a different voice part a cappella on a song of your choice in addition to selected ear training exercises. Those chosen to participate in Seraphic with also sing at the Basilica 8:30 Sunday mass 3-4 times each semester, and for the Holy Thursday and Good Friday Services. Singers in this group are expected to be accountable by email or text for singing engagements. Good communication with the director by each and every singer is critical for this group to function at the highest level of professionalism.
Bosco Boys
Rehearsals: Thursday 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Goals: Confidence in singing 2-3 part sacred music with beautiful, supported tone.
Young Men whose voices have changed will be accepted into this group. Performing commitments include concerts, Sunday 8:30 mass at the Basilica once a semester, and Seven Last Words of Christ Evening of Prayer on a Friday during Lent. Audition will determine voice placement. A firm commitment to rehearsals and performances is necessary.
St. Hildegard Mixed Choir
Rehearsals: Thursday 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Goals: Beautiful balanced multiple voice part singing with a dynamic and supported tone.
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This will be made up of a mixture of Seraphic Singers and Bosco Boys by audition. Possible singing dates will be 8:30 mass on the Feast of Christ the King and Palm Sunday.
Meet Our Staff
Gail Johll
Director
Gail Johll has been serving as the Music Director of the Catholic Youth Choir of Central Iowa since 2008 and Director of Music at the Basilica of St. John since 2014. Her first love in the music realm is choral conducting. She has been kept busy with many choral ensembles over the past years, including an adult choir and bell choir at the Basilica, as well as the growing Catholic Youth Choir program. She dabbles in composition and arranges extensively for a variety of instrumentation for special liturgies and concerts throughout the year.
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In addition to choral work, Mrs. Johll has also taught voice, piano, and organ. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with an emphasis in voice and piano from Viterbo University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and received a Master of Arts Degree from the University of California-Riverside in Vocal Performance.
In addition to her passion for music, Mrs. Johll was privileged to be happily married to Dr. Joseph Johll for 38 years before his passing in April of 2022. They were blessed with seven children who were educated at home before embarking on their collegiate careers.
Kirsten Downey
Accompanist/Assistant Director
Kirsten joined the CYC team in fall 2022 and assists with the Select and Prep Choirs. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, she taught in three Catholic schools, accompanied for a high school choral program, and assisted with a marching band. Her experience includes playing and singing for Masses, directing many musicals, and the opportunity to direct a Vietnamese children’s choir. Currently, she also accompanies for several churches in the Des Moines area and has a private piano studio in West Des Moines where she lives with her husband.
Mary Wolf
Assistant Director
Mrs. Mary Wolf is pleased to be back assisting with the Select and Prep choirs. She started in this role in 2018, and sang in the choir from the year it began in 2005, until she graduated high school. Mrs. Wolf earned a bachelor's degree in Vocal Music Education from Iowa State University in 2016. She taught K-8 Music and Middle School Choir for two years at a local Catholic school before she became a full-time mom. She has also taught private voice lessons since 2018. She lives in Indianola with her husband Michael, and two children.
Hillary Wehr
Assistant Director
Hillary Wehr joined the CYC team in 2021 and assists with the Select and Prep Choirs. She graduated with a master's degree in Voice Pedagogy from Shenandoah Conservatory in 2020. Her experience includes work with Cedar Rapids Opera and Quad City Music Guild where she has had many roles onstage. In addition to her work with the Catholic Youth Choir, she is an active cantor at St. Luke the Evangelist and maintains a private voice studio in Ankeny where she lives with her husband and three children.