Isle youths fill new choir with harmony

By Pat Gee

HONOLULU — The Rev. Daniel J. Werning led the Hawaii Sacred
Choir during practice at the Cathedral of St. Theresa on Thursday.
The nondenominational choir, which includes youth and adult
singers, will give its first public concert next Saturday at the
Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa.

Most members of the new Hawaii Sacred Choir are young local
kids, but they don English accents whenever they sing classic
cathedral music, complete with rolling R’s.

It’s not only about the singing. Members have to learn diction,
good posture and the meaning of Latin lyrics in songs centuries
old, among a multitude of new disciplines.

“They love it — absolutely!” said the choirmaster, the Rev.
Daniel J. Werning.

He and his wife, Terry, have been teaching them since September,
when the Hawaii Sacred Choir was formed. The choir has six adults
and 16 children — a rare blend of choral ages — and their intent
was to have many more treble, or children’s, voices, he said.

“Anybody who listens to these voices soaring in the high notes,
above anybody else, they usually say, ‘That sounded like angels
singing,'” he said.

The choir will be introduced to the public in a concert at 3
p.m. next Saturday at the Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa, 712 N.
School St. The concert is free but offerings will be accepted.

“It’s astounding how far they’ve come, since most of the
children are third-, fourth- or fifth-graders,” he said. “And
they’re singing Latin and doing beautifully. … Only three
children have had formal voice training. Some sang in their church
or school choirs, but the others just enjoyed singing. They’re very
fine musicians already.” Most of the adults have choral
experience.