Recognizing sacred arts' ability to foster Hope, and desiring an opportunity for artists and musicians throughout the diocese to come together for a communal expression of hope and prayer, the Diocese of Ogdensburg is organizing an arts festival entitled ”The Look, Feel, & Sound of Hope” on August 24th starting at 3 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Saranac Lake. The event is part of the diocese’s 2025 Jubilee Year Celebration and aims to bring a greater share of hope and prayer to our lives, our communities and our world.
We are looking for visual and/or tactile art that express the theme of HOPE. These works do not have to be overtly religious, but must represent the Look, Feel and Sound of Hope. For questions about the art portion of the event please email Carol Gonthier cgonthier@twcny.rr.com or Christy Clark Collins christyclarkcollins@gmail.com.
For your artwork to be considered for inclusion in the visual/tactile Art Show on August 24:
- Step 1: DOWNLOAD the fillable art form by clicking HERE and emailing the completed form to Carol Gonthier at cgonthier@twcny.rr.com by June 30, 2025
- Step 2: If the artist is a minor, parents or guardians must download and fill out the minor release form by clicking HERE and emailing it with the Art form to Carol Gonthier at cgonthier@twcny.rr.com by June 30, 2025
- Step 3: Submit a photo of your artwork by July 14 at this SUBMISSION LINK
For musicians from around the diocese, there are three ways to participate in this initiative: as a member of the Diocesan Choir, as a Soloist/part of a chamber music group, and/or the Invitational Diocesan Schola Select Choir.
For questions about the music portion of the event please email Father Lukas Gruber lgruber@rcdony.org or Christine Bookman ogdensburgmusic@rcdony.org
Diocesan Choir Participation:
The Diocesan Choir will be responsible for leading the following three hymns:
- O God, Our Help in Ages Past (ST. ANNE)
- Let The Earth Acclaim Christ Jesus (the official hymn for the ongoing Eucharistic Revival)
- The refrain of ”Pilgrims of Hope” (the official hymn for the 2025 Jubilee Year)
Register for the Diocesan Choir by clicking DIOCESAN CHOIR REGISTRATION
Soloist/Chamber Group Participation
In between choral works and hymns provided by the Diocesan Choir and Diocesan Schola, there is space for seven pieces of chamber music. These can be instrumental or vocal soloists, or groups of instrumentalists and/or vocalists. If you have experience performing high-quality chamber music, we welcome you to audition for one of those seven slots. Each individual or group will need to select a piece of authentic sacred music related to the virtue of hope.
Register your interest to participate as a Soloist by clicking SOLOIST REGISTRATION by June 30, 2025
Register your interest to participate as a Chamber Music Group by clicking CHAMBER MUSIC REGISTRATION by June 30, 2025
After you register for Soloist or Chamber Group, please record yourself, name the file with your name, and submit it by July 14, 2025 at this SUBMISSION LINK
Once we have gathered all the submissions, our committee will select about seven of them to round out the musical portion of our celebration in Saranac Lake. We will be examining not only the musicality of the group, but also how well the selected music fits into the general program. If groups or soloists that are geographically close submit the same or similar music, we may inquire if there could possibly be a way that they could collaborate with one another, and we also may ask applicants to submit another selection of music if we end up with a lot of similar submissions. Therefore, it might not be a bad idea for each group and soloist to think of an alternative piece should the need arise. In fact, there is nothing preventing a group or soloist from making multiple submissions.
For questions about the art portion of the event:
Please email Carol Gonthier cgonthier@twcny.rr.com or Christy Clark Collins christyclarkcollins@gmail.com.
For questions about the music portion of the event:
Please email Father Lukas Gruber lgruber@rcdony.org or Christine Bookman ogdensburgmusic@rcdony.org
