Praising God with many voices in ‘Gathering of Choirs’

Story and Photos By Christine Bordelon, Clarion Herald

Ten choirs from across New Orleans participated Oct. 17 in St. Clement of Rome’s 30th annual Gathering of Choirs.

St. Clement’s choir, directed by Louis Hackett, sang “Soli Deo Gloria” and “Ever We Praise You,” and its brass and percussion ensemble, led by Gina Helm, performed “How Great Though Art” and “Will the Circle be Unbroken.”

Other choirs who performed were St. Rita (Harahan), St. Dominic Contemporaries, St. Ann’s Children’s Choir, Munholland Methodist Church, Congregation Gates of Prayer, Archbishop Chapelle Concert Choir, St. Basil Antiochian Orthodox Church, St. Philip Neri’s Adult Choir and New Light Baptist Church’s Men of Valor.

At the conclusion, the entire assembly sang “America the Beautiful.” Father Andrew Rudmann, parochial vicar, closed the night with a prayer. 

Click here to see the full performances from all six choirs on our YouTube channel

• Congregation Gates of Prayer – Singing “Sow in Tears/Mourning into Dancing”

• Congregation Gates of Prayer – Singing “This is the Prayer”

• Archbishop Chapelle High School Concert Choir – Singing ” Kyrie from Mass in G” By F. Schubert

• Munholland United Methodist Church Singing “Here’s One”

• Munholland United Methodist Church Singing “Clap Hands”

• St. Ann Children’s Choir Singing “You are the Light”