Albert Lea singers go All-State

Published 9:40 am Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Albert Lea High School vocal music director Diane Heaney announced that two vocalists have been chosen for the Minnesota All-State Choirs. The students were some of 320 choral students selected for the elite organizations out of over 2,000 students who auditioned statewide.

Scott Gryzbowski will sing in the men’s chorus under the direction of Jonathan Reed from Michigan State University and Rika Boorsma will sing in the women’s chorus under the direction of Mary Kay Geston of the Great River Chorale.

The students will receive their music in early summer and prepare on their own. They will join together in a camp at Concordia College in Moorhead Aug. 4-9 and work all week on their music to present a concert.

Email newsletter signup

The All-State Choirs will assemble again in February 2015 at Orchestra Hall where they will present their programs for the music teachers attending the Minnesota Music Educators Midwinter Conference.

Several young singers recently competed at a solo contest here on May 28. They were critiqued and judged by Richard Jokumsen of St. James and Mike Ellingsen of Blue Earth. Receiving superiors on their solo vocal performance were Kailey Christensen, Rhiannon Farr, Heather Wirkus, Quinn Peterson, Travis Nemec, Loryssa Petersen, Jack Buendorf, Sam Ehrhardt, Bethany Tennis, Amy Sanderson, Justine Nelson, Ryan Nelson, Natalie Weiland, Tristyn Ellingson, Cain Quickstad, Maddy Willey, Liana Schallock, Aaron Zogg, Logan Peterson, Jewleonnah Christensen, Foster Otten, Alexis Tasker, Emma Tewes and Noah Iverson.

Earning an excellent on their solo were Faith Newton, Landon Kirchner, Katelyn Hendrickson, Sandy Balbuena and Haley Simon.

Erin St. Romain earned a good rating.