Choral Festival showcases talented singers, celebrates Catholic identity

High school singers from the Archdiocese of Omaha are coming together to showcase their talents, encourage participation in student choirs, and, most importantly, grow in faith.

The 2026 Omaha Pueri Cantores High School Choral Festival will take place at St. Cecilia Cathedral on Friday, March 20. The event includes Mass at 4:30 p.m., celebrated by Archbishop Michael G. McGovern. The Mass, which is open to the public, will feature music from the Catholic Church’s rich repertoire.

Pueri Cantores, Latin for young singers, is an international student choral organization of the Roman Catholic Church. Its mission is to evangelize and catechize choristers through sacred music, helping them grow in their faith and deepen their roots in the Church.

“Around the country, these festivals have become something of a local tradition,” said Michael Emmerich, archdiocesan director of liturgical formation. “They’re an opportunity for Catholic students to celebrate the core of our identity as worshipping disciples, using the gift of music. Beauty is central to evangelization, and discipleship is not an isolated or isolating thing – it’s family and community.”

Friday’s Choral Festival will include the V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School Chamber Choir and the St. John Paul II Academy Choir, both from Omaha. This is the first Pueri Cantores High School Choral Festival in the archdiocese, which organizers hope will become an annual event.

To learn more, visit https://pcchoirs.org/2026-omaha-high-school-choral-festival.

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