"In support of their latest album, "The Passion", The University of Notre Dame Folk Choir is embarking on an East Coast tour. This fully staged production, directed by the University of Notre Dame’s Director of Musical Theater and Professor of FTT, Matt Hawkins, features lighting design from Sarah Prince, DPAC and projection designs by Notre Dame alumnus, Ryan Belock ‘12, and musical direction and compositions from Dr. J.J. Wright, ‘14, ‘17. An all-student cast delivers a two act musical dramatic ritualization of the events of Holy Thursday and Good Friday through song and spoken word.

Emerging from a collaborative process between students in the Folk Choir and professional artists, The Passion combines Scripture with original poetry, which is all set to newly composed music. As the disciples gather in the Upper Room to retell their story of Christ’s passion, they are joined by Memory, who guides them towards answering one character’s question, “Can grace abound in grounds turned fallow?” The answer, rendered beautifully by the students of the Folk Choir, is a resounding “Yes.”

Since its founding forty years ago, the Notre Dame Folk Choir has been committed to creating new music for liturgical worship and finding common ground between sacred and secular music.

The 50-person ensemble serves the Notre Dame community, including the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, as one of its principal liturgical choirs and has toured across four continents and released eight studio albums. Led by Grammy® Award winner Dr. J.J. Wright and joined by guitarist Franky Rousseau and bassist Ike Sturm, The Passion was produced by Joe Henry and recorded at the Jerusalem Music Center after a weeklong pilgrimage to the Holy Land in May 2022."