Nation's Capital Festival of Youth Choirs

Offers participants the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity of singing in one of the premiere venues in the United States, the Washington National Cathedral.

COVID Statement: YouthCUE requires complete COVID vaccinations (including booster) for all participants in all our events. We are absolutely committed to the safety of our student and adult participants. Although it is difficult to predict what specific protocols will be in place at the time of the event, YouthCUE will meet or exceed the requirements established by the Washington National Cathedral at the time. These protocols will be communicated to registered participants prior to the event.

Spiritual Formation

Providing church for students in the present tense.

Choral Excellence

Through repertoire selection, memorization, and professional orchestral accompaniment.

Leadership Development

Planting seeds with healthy, strong mentoring and opportunity for growth.

YouthCUE's flagship Festival experience in our nation's capital

offers participants the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing in the Washington National Cathedral with professional orchestral accompaniment.
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Quick Facts

Date & Time

Begin: June 29, 2022 – 6:00 pm
End: July 3, 2022 – Noon

Location

Washington National Cathedral
Washington, DC

Cost

$274 per participant through
January 10, 2022

$299 per participant starting
January 11, 2022

What I love about YouthCUE

Reflections on National Honor Choir

“YouthCUE has been an awesome experience because of all the teamwork…it’s united all of us and helped us grow stronger together as well as with our faith in God.

Singing all the songs and seeing all the smiles on peoples’ faces…just seeing everybody from different cultures is also an awesome thing YouthCUE has shown me.”

Mason, NHC '16

Georgia

“My favorite thing about YouthCUE is the joy you get when you get to sing at the beautiful churches and for the elderly.

YouthCUE (National Honor Choir) gives you the music with high expectations you’ll learn it yourself. I’m a hard worker, but this experience taught me I have to work even harder to be at that level.”

Kathryn, NHC '16

Texas

“YouthCUE has taught me a lot of things, especially things that I can use in college, such as the value of teamwork, leadership, and the ability to interact with different people.

Blending our sound, listening to one another and balancing out all of the different parts is definitely a teamwork activity.”

Dominique, NHC '16

Texas

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We’ve organized everything you need right here.

The Nation’s Capital Festival of Youth Choirs offers participants a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity of singing in one of the premiere venues in the United States, the Washington National Cathedral. Accompanied by members of the local professional symphony, participating in the Nation’s Capital Festival of Youth Choirs is an experience every student should have at least once during their tenure in your choir.

Rehearsals take place in the heart of Washington, DC at the historic National City Christian Church, church home of President Lyndon B. Johnson during his presidency and location of his state funeral. National City Christian Church features one of the largest and most versatile pipe organs in the world. Originally built by E.M. Skinner in 1930 and rebuilt by M.P. Möller in 1975, the NCCC Chancel Organ today boasts 141 ranks, 9 divisions and 7,952 pipes. Each year, NCCC organists play a short recital to educate participants and give them the opporunity to experience the instrument in all of its glory.

YouthCUE purposefully schedules generous amounts of free time each afternoon during the Festival week to allow participating choirs to engage in their own activities. We can assist you in planning an incredible tour by recommending tourist attractions and mission opportunities throughout the Beltway area.

**Early-Bird Participation Fee (Through January 10, 2022) $274 per participant
Participation Fee (Starting on January 11, 2022) $299 per participant

Participants include directors, singers, and adult chaperones. A 15% deposit of your total participation fee is due upon registration. This deposit secures your choir’s spot at the Festival and is non-refundable. See Festival Terms & Conditions for more information.

What’s Included

  • All Festival activities
  • Grand Concert at the Washington National Cathedral with members of the local professional symphony orchestra
  • Festival t-shirt
  • Professionally-produced recording of the Grand Concert, provided in downloadable format
  • Opportunities for additional concerts at Annapolis Naval Academy and Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle

What’s NOT included

  • All meals
  • Transportation
  • Lodging
  • Festival repertoire octavos
Wednesday, June 29  
5:45pm Gather at National City Christian Church (NCCC), 5 Thomas Circle, NW
6:00pm Welcome
6:30pm Semi-sectional rehearsals
7:45pm Mass rehearsal 1
8:00pm Meeting with all directors and counselors
9:30pm End – back to lodging places
   
Thursday, June 30  
8:30am Mass rehearsal 2 at NCCC
10:20am Transition break
10:30am Semi-sectional rehearsals
12:00pm End for the day, groups on their own for afternoon and evening
   
Friday, July 1  
8:30am Mass rehearsal 3 at NCCC
10:20am Transition break
10:30am Cathedral of St. Matthew The Apostle concert (check updates for further information)
12:00pm End for the day, groups on their own for afternoon
6:00pm Arrive at Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW
6:30pm Rehearsal with orchestra at Washington National Cathedral
9:30pm End – back to lodging places
   
Saturday, July 2  
9:45am Arrive at Annapolis Naval Academy Chapel (check updates for further information)
10:00am Annapolis Naval Academy concert and organ demonstration
11:00am Travel back to DC, groups on their own until 5:00pm
5:00pm Gather at Washington National Cathedral for group pictures (professional photographer)
6:00pm Choir call
7:00pm Grand Concert at the Washington National Cathedral
8:40pm End of concert
9:00pm Clear Cathedral
   
Sunday, July 3  
10:00am Arrive at First Baptist Church, Washington DC
10:15am Warm up
11:00am Worship
Noon End of Festival

All Festival repertoire is to be learned and memorized prior to the beginning of the Festival. Students will be allowed to use their music for the first few rehearsals before they are asked to put it away and sing from memory. To help students learn the music, a practice recording will be posted here closer to the Festival date.

Anthem Composer Voicing Publisher Catalog Number
Saints Bound for Heaven Wilberg SATB Oxford University Press OU.9780193860568
Psalm 27 Sorenson SATB Brookfield Press HL 0029105
The Lord Is My Light Courtney SATB Beckenhorst Press BP.1764
God Is Doing Something New Sterling SATB www.robertsterlingmusic.com  
Even Here Miller SATB Hinshaw Press HL.8764821
Leaving Us to Say “Goodbye” Sterling SATB www.robertsterlingmusic.com  
Glory Be Sorenson SATB Shawnee Press HL.00357353
Fairest Lord Jesus Hakes SATB Beckenhorst Press BP.1657
Be Thou My Vision Bass SATB Morningstar Music MSM-50-9119
How Blest Are They Bass SATB Morningstar Music MSM-50-5201
Sometimes a Light Surprises Bass SATB Morningstar Music MSM-50-8165
Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord Bass SATB Lifeway 0-7673-9300-7
Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts Bass SATB Lifeway 0-7673-9070-9

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