The history of the Pueri Cantores of Holy Family isn’t long, since it is just a one-year-old choir. But, it is an interesting history nonetheless.

Holy Family Church, having almost 3000 families within the confines of it’s parish community had started a music concert series under the direction of Mr. Michael Bradley, one of the parish musicians. In June 1999 one of the concerts featured the Madison Boychoir of Madison, Wisconsin. The pastor of Holy Family, Father James Swiat, was quietly impressed with this fine choir from the Mid-west and asked Mr. Bradley if he could arrange for Madison to come back and sing the Palm Sunday Service the following year. After this service and an associated concert, Mr. Bradley and Father Swiat kicked around the idea that it would be nice if Holy Family had their own boys’ choir but nothing came of that conversation at the time. However, the seed of thought was planted.

The following summer 2000, Holy Family hosted the Maryland State Boys Choir. The following March 2001, Father Swiat sat down next to Mr. Bradley at a pancake breakfast in the parish center and asked, why Holy Family didn't have a boys' choir yet. Mr. Bradley told Father that it was probably because it was a lot of work. At the time, Holy Family had a children's choir that boasted over 50 members although only 4 were boys. Father Swiat made it pretty plain that he wanted a boys' choir and that he had in fact already talked to several boys that were interested in being a part of this endeavor. Mr. Bradley decided he would investigate what was involved and how this choir could be accomplished. That is Fathers way; he drops an idea on your table, usually over pancakes or spaghetti and leaves you to accomplish his goal. It seems to work, for by April 2001, the preliminary plans for this choir was set on paper.

On May 1^st of 2001, the Pueri Cantores of Holy Family Church was officially formed as part of the Liturgy Department of Holy Family. It wasn’t just the thought that having a boys' choir would be different and unique that motivated Mr. Bradley to start the Pueri Cantores. It was his belief that in these modern times, boys in particular are being marginalized in the church and in music. It’s almost as if the boys didn’t matter or were not being considered as interested in participating in church activities and music programs. The Pueri is proof that this is far from the actual truth. It wasn’t too long after the announcements were made that boys started calling for audition times. It was originally thought that perhaps 8 to 10 boys would be brave enough to audition. By the end of May when the first parents meeting was held, the Pueri numbered an astounding 15 members.

The Cantores Minores from Warsaw, Poland were scheduled to appear in a concert at Holy Family in July 2001 and when the director of the Cantores; Mr. Joseph Herter, knowing that the Pueri Cantores was a brand new choir, suggested that the Pueri should sing something with the Cantores Minores, the new Choirmaster, Mr. Bradley hastily got his boys together and started rehearsals. It was originally thought that the boys who had only met each other a few times for social gatherings while the parents and Mr. Bradley laid the ground work for the choir, wouldn’t actually start rehearsing anything until their summer camp in August 2001. However, as new and musically naïve as they were, the opportunity to perform at least one piece of music with a world-class choir was just too good to pass up. So, the Pueri Cantores started with something easy... an arrangement of the "Ave Verum" by Colin Mawby. Never let it be said that American boys don’t like a challenge. It didn’t matter that the boys for the most part didn’t know a note from a rest, and certainly didn’t have any idea what Latin was. The choirmaster had a gut feeling that these boys could do this piece of music in the Latin language. After only three one-hour rehearsals, the Pueri actually had the rudiments of this music in a fairly presentable form. With one more rehearsal with the Cantores Minores, who simply were awesome to the new Pueri, "Ave Verum" was presented to an audience of over 850 people, the largest ever to hear a concert at Holy Family. Still today, the Pueri perform this "Ave Verum" as well as several other versions of "Ave Verum."

By summer camp, with our clinician from the Fort Bend Boys Choir, Mr. William Adams, the Pueri had increased ranks to 18 members. At the time they celebrated their one year anniversary, they numbered 22. Any boys' choir would be delighted to have 22 members join in just one year. There have actually been 36 boys who have come through the doors of the Pueri, but due to scheduling conflicts or the high expectations, the number of official members is 22. However, many more boys are interested in what the Pueri has to offer them. While the Pueri didn’t accept members in second grade nor members who’s voices were changing or that had changed this next season, Mr. Bradley will be starting a Junior version of the Pueri Cantores for boys 6 years old and up as well as a Tenor/Bass choir for boys and young men with changed voices up to 22 years old. The waiting list for both is already established and growing.

The Pueri Cantores has been lucky in that it has achieved rapid development in quantity and quality due to the emphasis on a quality "Team" concept. Mr. Bradley operates the Pueri Cantores on the same principles that most youth sports activities operate in. Boys love to belong to teams and Mr. Bradley is keenly aware of what it is that they like. The Pueri have team shirts with their names to ‘practice’ in, they have several ‘coaches’ including Mr. Bradley, the choirmaster or "Head Coach", Coach Sylvia Pittman, the head voice chair from the Flint Institute of Music, and Coach Michael Goetz, the former Music Minister of Holy Family as well as the former choral director of the renowned Goodrich, Michigan choral program. The boys faithfully show up for ‘practice’ so they are well prepared for "game day". The best part of playing on Mr. Bradley’s team is that ALL the boys get played ALL the time. "No one is a bench warmer," as Coach Bradley often reminds them. The boys have played many games too, in fact, they have donned their ‘official uniform’ and robes and presented concerts or church services to over 10,500 people in their first year alone. On at least one occasion, several Pueri put on an ad-hock Christmas concert to the amazement of their Cub Scout troop and parents.

The boys, through diligent study, earn medallions and ribbons under the auspices of the Royal School of Church Music. As well as being an RSCM choir, the Pueri Cantores of Holy Family is also affiliated with the Pueri Cantores of America, which is an affiliation of Catholic Choirs. It is thought that the Pueri Cantores is one of perhaps only six boys only Catholic choirs in the United States. Because of the diverse program that extends beyond the confines of the Liturgy Department, the Pueri Cantores of Holy Family has been made part of the Religious Education Department of Holy Family. This will allow the Pueri to have an even greater reach into the school programs offered at Holy Family Parish School.

Mr. Bradley values the chorister’s precious time. In this day and age, when boys have so many activities and responsibilities, the last thing they want or need is something that they feel has no value for them and their families. Boys want a quality program and so, Mr. Bradley challenges them with music that their parents at one time thought was too difficult for them, being new choristers. The Pueri meet two days a week for 2 and ½ hours each time to practice. Time and time again, the Pueri have proven to themselves and their parents that they are up to the task of making and presenting beautiful music.

The Pueri will be going on their first "International" tour from July 20-23, 2002, when they visit Toronto, Canada. They will be appearing in concert at the Toronto Music Garden, as well as at a fund-raiser concert for the Toronto Children’s Hospital. They will end up this short tour singing Mass at St. Paul’s Basilica in Toronto.