The St. John the Baptist Catholic School Clover Choir is counting down the days until their April departure for Washington, D.C., where they will participate in the Heritage Music Festival. Travel is such an integral part of the choral program, and the choristers really look forward to each trip.
The Clovers have toured the country, participating in liturgies in some of the most beautiful historic U.S. cathedrals, including the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., the Old Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in San Francisco and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At school, members of the Clover Choir lead their fellow students as cantors at weekly Masses. The choristers also put their faith into action by volunteering and using their voices to create awareness of social issues. They actively serve in and around the parish community performing at events such as the gala hosted by the pro-life organization, Mary’s Path. The Los Angeles Clippers have invited the Clovers to perform the national anthem at a game in April at the Staples Center.
“We are so proud of our Clover Choir. They represent the best of St. John the Baptist. Whenever they perform, whether it is at Mass or in the greater community, each chorister praises Our Lord by their gift of music and their behavior,” said Fr. Patrick Foutts, the school’s rector.
The choral program at St. John the Baptist has three choirs and the school is a member of the American Federation of Pueri Cantores. Under the direction of Yvette Itano, the middle school choir has consistently earned superior ratings at Southern California Vocal Association choral festivals and all national music festivals since 2009. The Clover Choir was selected as the featured choir at the 2014 National Invitational Middle School Festival at Carnegie Hall, and in 2016 the choir was invited to participate in the Festival of Gold Music Festival in Chicago. This elite performance series provided an opportunity for the Clovers to perform at the Chicago Symphony Center Orchestra Hall.