The students of the Albert Lea High School Concert Choir are almost ready to go on their choir tour to Chicago!

We wish to thank all the wonderful people who supported our fundraising efforts with monetary or gift donations. We were able to help students with their financial obligations for the trip because of the community’s generosity.

We would especially like to thank Hy-Vee, Wal-Mart, KATE Radio, Albert Lea Tribune, Marvik Embroidery, Al and Grizelda Root, Leo and Anissa Lukas, Herberger’s, Bob Sturtz, St. Theodore Church, Select Foods, Nelsons County Market, Wells Federal Bank, Gary and Alice Schrad, Clayton and Jill Petersen, American Legion, Albert Lea Medical Center, Addie’s Floral, Daybreakers Kiwanis, Union Center, Eagles, Moose, Kiwanis Golden KII, the YMCA and many choir alumni parents. We are also thankful for all the organizations that heard us sing and supported us with donations during the holiday season.

The students are singing well and are a great group of kids that Albert Lea should be proud to send out as ambassadors of our town. We will be singing for children at the Shriners Hospital, senior citizens, for a college professor, and for a church service. Of course we will be doing some site-seeing, visiting several great museums, seeing a production of “Mary Poppins,” attending an improvisational comedy experience, and sampling some amazing Chicago style pizza, Chinatown, and Hard Rock Café.

Thanks also to the brave chaperones accompanying the students who have worked hard to raise money and will take time out of their personal lives to go on the trip.

Trips like this are valuable learning tool for students. Thanks for supporting us in our music making and learning! We have a concert coming up where most of the music we will sing will be taken on tour.

Come and hear all the choirs this Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Thanks again, Albert Lea!

Diane Heaney

ALHS vocal director