Albert Lea High School choral musicians have had a busy fall. On Oct. 26 eight 10th grade singers attended the 24th annual American Choral Directors of Minnesota Mens and Womens Choral Festival at St. John’s University in Collegeville.

The singers had prepared their music ahead of time. They sang with more than 600 other high school and college singers in same gender groups under the direction of several college choral conductors. They also listened to college groups sing in two separate concerts during the day. The day culminated in a finale concert with all mass groups singing and the St. John’s University Brass Ensemble accompanying the singers at the St. John’s Abbey Church.

Singers attending from Albert Lea were Tianna Abrego, Skyler Hanson, Marybeth Abts, Ashley Willett, Matt Tate, Andy Woitas, Foster Otten and Parker Mullenbach. The students are under the direction of Diane Heaney.

On Nov. 3, a busload of Albert Lea singers attended the St. Olaf Choral Festival.

They sang with more than 1,100 high school, college, and adult singers at Skogland Auditorium under the direction of Anton Armstrong. A grand concert finished the day with solo performances by Owatonna High School, Worthington High School, and Northfield High School along with the St. Olaf Norsemen and St. Olaf choir.

Mary Bissen chaperoned the group. The singers were Rika Boorsma, Bailey Ford, Dan Gould, Savannah Simpson, James Young, Kristine Bergeron, Sam Ehrhardt, Tiffany Hallisy, Brianna Shea, Mike Smith, Alexis Tasker, Maddie Willey, Heather Wirkus, Terri Wolfe, Tianna Abrego, Melanie Lazaro, Jazmyn Sellner, Cheyenne Severtson, Ashley Willett, Rhiannon, Beighley, Emily Martin, Josie Moreno, Mitzy Vasguez and Nallely Vasguez.