The Rev. Arthur S. Harvey, C.S.C., Award - 2023: AnnaMaria Cardinalli '04 Ph.D.
AnnaMaria Cardinalli '04 Ph.D.
In recognition of her advocacy for a Catholic vision of social justice through her outstanding musical achievement and public service to our country, AnnaMaria Cardinalli, ’04 Ph.D. is honored with this award.
A proud 18th-generation New Mexican, AnnaMaria Cardinalli earned a doctoral degree from the University of Notre Dame in theology with a concentration in liturgical studies and an emphasis in Latino studies. She is most noted for her extraordinary achievement as an operatic contralto and Spanish guitarist. Making her solo recital debut at the Kennedy Center as a teen, Cardinalli has also performed in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and for personages from St. John Paul II to Spain’s King Felipe. She has over 15 successful albums to her credit, many as a soloist and one as a collaborator on a CD including John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, and Adam Levine.
Cardinalli places her art fully at the service of her Catholic Faith. Her most recent book, Music and Meaning in the Mass, links her artistic expertise and theological background at their most critical point of influence and calls upon the power of music to draw souls anew to Christ in the Eucharist. She aims to both evangelize through beauty and channel the notoriety of her music toward the charitable ends of her community, Familia Victricis, which seeks to open a home for children at risk for human trafficking.
She is also a veteran whose groundbreaking intelligence work in Iraq and Afghanistan revealed the human rights abuses that Familia Victricis works to combat wherever they occur, especially on her home soil near the U.S.-Mexico border. She asks for prayers and support for their mission at www.ranchosantacatarina.org.
“Notre Dame was the cradle that allowed me to grow into the adventurous life of art and service that God had in mind. I can only express my deep gratitude for this award with the hope that it encourages other students like me to find their path through Our Lady’s University as well!”