ALHS choir students earn state honors
Published 8:46 am Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Three Albert Lea High School vocalists were chosen for the Minnesota All-State Choirs last March and performed in their finale concert this month. The students were some of 320 choral students selected for the elite organizations out of more than 2,000 students who auditioned statewide. Senior Adam Blanshan sings tenor in the men’s chorus under the direction of Diane Loomer from British Columbia, Canada. Junior Mikaela Pierson and senior, Kelli Hanson sing in the women’s chorus under the direction of Vijay Singh from Washington State. The All-State Choirs rehearsed this summer at Concordia College in Moorhead and assembled again on Feb. 13 for a brush-up rehearsal day. They performed at Orchestra Hall on Feb. 14, where they presented their program for family and friends and the many music teachers attending the state Minnesota Music Educators Midwinter Conference.
Also performing at the midwinter conference was the ninth- and 10th-grade honor choir. Holly Ryks, a sophomore at Albert Lea High School, was chosen to sing soprano in the choir. Students from all over the state submitted a taped audition, and students were chosen in November. They have been working on their music individually and met together for the first time on Feb. 13. They rehearsed all day under the direction of Angela Broeker from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and performed at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis at 5 p.m.
The Honors Choir project is sponsored by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota and All-State is sponsored by the Minnesota Music Educators Association.