The Albert Lea High School music department recently announced three students will represent Albert Lea in the Minnesota All-State Ensembles for 2016-17, according to a press release.  

Selected for All-State men’s choir is Travis Nemec, and for All-State mixed choir is Heather Wirkus. Andrew Last of Luther College will conduct the men and Jing Ling-Tam of the University of Texas-Arlington will conduct the mixed chorus.

Lydia Boorsma and Sydne Reichel were chosen as choral alternates.

Josh Englin will play in the All-State symphonic band, which will be conducted by Robert Taylor of the University of British Columbia.

The students were selected for the elite organizations out of over 2,000 students who auditioned state-wide. They will rehearse together this summer at camps across the state the first week in August, where they will work with their esteemed conductors on their music. They will perform again in February 2017 at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis. The students are taught by Diane Heaney and Suzanne Mauer.