Sixth-graders Greg Opseth and Rebecca Bryson are singing a different tune this month.

Tuesday, November 02, 1999

Sixth-graders Greg Opseth and Rebecca Bryson are singing a different tune this month.

The Alden-Conger students are among 100 students statewide who were selected to participate in the 1999-2000 Minnesota Elementary Honors Choir at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Applicants were judged on vocal quality, pitch, rhythm, musical independence and overall musicianship. This is the first time that choral director Sharon Astrup-Scott has had students accepted into the choir.

Bryson and Opseth will perform with the rest of the Honors Choir at the University Ted Mann Concert Hall on Nov. 20. The performance is open to the public and tickets are available at the door. The group will perform again at the Minnesota Music Educators’ mid winter clinic in February.

Opseth and Bryson are practicing with the aid of tapes and sheet music they received in the mail.

The choir is scheduled to perform eight songs, including songs written in Spanish, Russian, French and German. They must learn the songs on their own before they practice with the rest of the Honors Choir on Nov. 19.

Both students are active in the Alden-Conger middle school choir, and participate in small choral groups offered through the school. In addition, Opseth sings solos for his church.

Bryson has always enjoyed singing. She has participated in many talent shows and Christmas programs, and says that her mother jokes about her &uot;grabbing the microphone at Christmas pageants.&uot;