Photo provided to the Times Observer Fourteen students from St. Joseph Catholic Church had a special choral opportunity last weekend, performing at the Pueri Cantores at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Pittsburgh.

Fourteen students from St. Joseph Catholic Church had a special choral opportunity last weekend.

It was a trip to Pittsburgh to sing at the Pueri Cantores at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

“The caliber of music these kids were able to accomplish is just amazing,” Joseph Glarner, music teacher said.

Glarner and Christine Kuntz, assistant choir director, chaperoned the students.

Students performed under Dr. Brian Burley, who was conductor for the event as well as the Director of Music and Organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

According to the American Federation Pueri Cantores (which translates to “Boy Singers”), the organization is the “international student choral organization of the Roman Catholic Church, whose mission is to evangelize and catechize choristers through the medium of sacred music, aiding them in growing in their faith and rooting them ever deeper to the Church.”

There are 32 federations comprising 70,000 youth singers around the world.

“Here in the U.S. the American Federation organizes choral festivals at the local and national levels held in the regional Cathedral, Basilica, or other church of architectural significance,” according to the AFPC.

Elementary students, they explain, focus on Eucharistic liturgy like Gregorian chants, classical as well as contemporary pieces.

“It truly was a world class choral experience for these young singers,” Glarner said. “We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work and performance. It was simply majestic.”