This isn’t for everyone.
A large Catholic high school music ensemble, believed to be the largest in the country, is so impressive that it’s common for some participants to faint during their annual Christmas performance.
“I generally expect three or four kids to pass out at a concert,” Franciscan Friar Joshua DiMauro, the long-serving choral director of the St. Anthony’s Ensemble, confessed. “It happens every year.”
“We have a team of dads in the back ready to help, along with teachers and nurses standing by at the front,” he noted about the prestigious program at South Huntington Academy.
However, what truly stands out is the group’s size, featuring 600 members.
“I’ve been part of several professional organizations and seen various choirs and schools,” DiMauro, who has dedicated 45 years to this role, shared. “And we’ve found no one that matches our numbers.”
The choir has previously performed at the Vatican for Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, and will return in 2027 to serenade Pope Leo.
DiMauro, affectionately called “Bro Joe” by students, often mentions how the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which is well-known, has only 360 members, to get supporters excited about their performances.
on wings and a prayer
Organizing a Christmas concert for such a large group (with 150 students for each vocal part) takes some divine assistance, as they perform Latin chants and a mix of classical and festive songs.
Each December’s show requires about 30 teachers and numerous parents backstage to assist with prop changes during rehearsals and breaks, which happen incredibly quickly.
The warm-up is quite a spectacle, with students filling an entire section of bleachers, making animal noises and being told to “kill the mailman” as a silly morale booster.
For the ninth graders, it’s a bit overwhelming, especially when they face DiMauro and Christopher “Señor” Farrell, a Spanish teacher and choir supporter, during their initiation in September.
This dynamic duo selects the brightest, most dedicated, and well-behaved students in each grade to act as “officers” and help run things smoothly.
“When I was in ninth grade, my sister was back there singing in the chorus…she told me to sing loudly so she’d notice me,” recalled Emma Burke, a senior alto serving as section leader. “It was really intimidating, but somehow we found our groove. It’s special to be in this position now.”
Despite the nerves that come with the experience, students like Burke gain a deeper respect for DiMauro and are encouraged to strive for excellence.
“Brother Joshua scared me back then,” senior bass section leader Sean Brady remarked about his earlier impressions. “But I really appreciate him now.”
At St. Anthony’s College, many students agree that few activities foster stronger connections among peers than singing in this esteemed choir.
“The friendships we’ve built are truly meaningful,” said Ruadan Campion, senior tenor section leader. “It’s a demanding environment, but there’s joy in it.”
Vivaldi’s “Gloria in Excelsis Deo” and a 7th-century Latin hymn, “Conditor alme Siderum,” were uniquely sung a cappella by four senior section leaders as the 600 members filled their seats, resonating with today’s generation of teenagers.
“I even catch myself singing these songs in the shower,” Leah Sudentas, senior soprano section leader, shared.
DiMauro encourages students to explore the internet to learn about great composers and to include their works in the performance schedule. “They know about Mozart, Handel, and Bach,” he said. “That’s pretty exciting.”
After the triumph of the 2025 show, upperclassmen from the Friars’ choir will go caroling around New York City on Thursday.
They plan to perform at iconic locations like the Brooklyn Bridge, the World Trade Center, the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Bryant Park, and the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
“I end up singing all over town that day,” DiMauro joked. “It’s one of our most thrilling days.”
