The choir room at Albert Lea High School was buzzing last week at the surprise announcement that they had been selected as one of the five choirs for the sixth annual Choral Arts Finale. This premier high school choral festival takes place on April 10 at Concordia University, St. Paul and Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The invitation stated that this year’s auditions were the most competitive yet for the festival. Auditioning choirs sent in a recording of this year’s group from a performance sometime in the present school year. The five outstanding groups were judged in a blind audition process by an American Choral Directors of America panel, and those chosen reflect the proportion of applications from larger/smaller schools, metro/outstate, and mixed/female choirs. Chiors selected were: Albert lea High School concert choir, directed by Diane Heaney, Andover High School concert choir, directed by Melanie Kjellberg, Stillwater Area High School’s Belle Chanter, directed by Angela Mitchell, Roseville Area High School’s Cantus Certus, directed by Dean Jilek and Champlin Park High School concert choir, directed by Laura Tempel.

This year’s festival begins at 12:30 p.m. on April 10 at Concordia University St. Paul with massed choir rehearsals and clinic sessions for the choirs led by Dr. Edith Copley from Northern Arizona University. The day concludes with a gala concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis at 7:30 p.m., with each choir performing individually (as well as the hosting choir, the Concordia University, St. Paul Christus Chorus) and as a massed choir. Community members and parents are encouraged to buy a ticket for this concert and come to listen to the choir sing at Orchestra Hall.

The Choral Arts Finale is co-sponsored by ACDA of Minnesota and Concordia University, St. Paul. It is made possible through the support of David and Sandra Frauenshuh, significant donors to Concordia University, St. Paul and many other causes. In addition to receiving the clinic and a solo performance in Orchestra Hall, each choir is awarded an honorary plaque, a $500 honorarium, travel expenses and supper at Concordia University. More than 2,000 singers have enjoyed the honor of participating in the Choral Arts Finale since its inception in 2006.