The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s All Catholic Orchestra to Perform Annual Concert

Thirty-two students representing Archdiocesan Secondary Schools and private Catholic High Schools throughout the five-county region have been selected to participate in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s 2026 All Catholic Orchestra to perform in the annual concert.

This year’s All Catholic Orchestra, is under the direction of guest conductor, Dr. Timothy Dixon, Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Studies, Messiah University in Mechanicsburg (Upper Allen Township). Mrs. Marusia Lynn, Fine Arts Department Chair, Performing Arts Director, Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford (Montgomery County), will serve as the Festival host.

Saturday, March 21, 2026
2:00 p.m.
Pope John Paul II High School
181 Rittenhouse Road
Royersford, PA 19468

Students from Archdiocesan Secondary Schools including Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philadelphia; Archbishop Wood High School in Warminster (Bucks County); Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown (Chester County); Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield (Delaware County); Father Judge High School for Boys in Northeast Philadelphia; Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls in the Hunting Park section of Philadelphia; and Pope John Paul II High School in Royersford (Montgomery County) will participate.

Students from private Catholic High Schools including Holy Ghost Preparatory School in Bensalem (Bucks County); Saint Joseph’s Preparatory School in North Philadelphia; Merion Mercy Academy in Merion Station (Montgomery County); Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Flourtown (Montgomery County); Nazareth Academy High School in Northeast Philadelphia; Sacred Heart Academy Bryn Mawr in Bryn Mawr (Montgomery County); and Villa Joseph Marie High School in Holland (Bucks County) will also participate.

The students will perform pieces selected from Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppe arranged by Merle J. Isaac; Overture to Rienzi by Richard Wagner arranged by Sandra Dackow; The Myth of Lorelei by Natalie Dolan*; The Star Wars Epic – Part 1 (Suite) by John Williams arranged by Robert W. Smith; and Symphony No. 2 (Finale) by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky arranged by Sandra Dackow.

*Natalie Dolan is a 2019 graduate of Gwynedd Mercy High School in Lower Gwynedd (Montgomery County) and a member of the All Catholic Orchestra 2016-2019. Natalie is a well-established and recognized composer of film, media, and orchestral works.

Four Year awards will be presented to Charlotte Hiscott, Cardinal O’Hara High School in Springfield (Delaware County) and Bailey Boyer, Nazareth Academy High School in Northeast Philadelphia.

Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased online or at the door.  Children 12 and under are admitted free.

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Editor’s Note:

For additional information about the All Catholic Music Festivals, please visit allcatholicmusic.org/.