Biography
The nuns of Spokane's Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen have traveled extensively from their Washington base through their musical activities, yet their work has remained anchored in Catholic tradition. Since 1980 they have issued recordings devoted chiefly to Gregorian chant and Catholic hymns, while also producing collections of Irish songs and several Christmas projects. Distinct from many other orders, they maintain their blue habits at all times rather than adopting secular attire. Beyond performance, the sisters oversee St. Michael's Academy, which provides instruction from kindergarten through twelfth grade, and they direct a bookstore, print shop, and mail-order operation. Their vocal endeavors began as a practical effort to meet financial obligations, with the group's roster shifting according to which members could set aside other responsibilities. A first public concert took place in 1979 and led directly to a television appearance; two tours followed in 1980 together with the release of their initial album, O Bambino, centered on the holiday season. Further visibility arrived in 1981 through an appearance on the Merv Griffin Show, a concert at Disneyland, and participation in a regionally televised Christmas program. The subsequent year brought performances in more than a dozen states, including Hawaii, and a featured slot at the World's Fair in Knoxville, TN. Touring continued for several seasons afterward, capped by a 1987 national television commercial for John Deere. Additional albums appeared over time, accompanied by live engagements at Cleveland's Irish Cultural Festival and National Home and Garden Show as well as multiple Victorian Country Christmas presentations in Washington. A local Spokane television commercial was filmed in 1997, and in 2000 the sisters performed at the Home and Garden Show in Calgary, Alberta, and at the Spokane Opera House.
Albums
