Being accepted to the ACDA Choral Arts Finale would be considered an honor to any high school choir. It could be compared to going to state for a sport. Many choirs from all over the state audition to be part of the event. The Albert Lea High School Concert Choir was one of those many choirs, and they actually made it.
“I was thrilled to make it, but it also scares me because this is not only a big honor, but also a big responsibility,” says Ms. Heaney, the director of the Concert Choir.
This is the sixth annual Choral Arts Finale the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) has held. The event began out of a donation given to ACDA by the Frauenshuh family. The family wished for this event to honor high school directors and students for their contribution to the choral arts in Minnesota.
Choirs from all over Minnesota send in recordings of the current choir at the school. They must send in three pieces of contrasting style and one must be a capella.
A panel of directors listen to all the different entries without knowing which choir they are listening to so each director’s bias can stay out of the selection process. The panel then chooses five choirs to perform individually at an evening concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. The five choirs will also join together as a mass choir to perform at the evening concert as well. The clinician for each choir and the mass choir director is Edith Copley, who happens to be a good friend of Ms. Heaney.
The Albert Lea Concert Choir has auditioned four years out of the six the event has existed.
“Albert Lea’s past choirs have been pretty good as well, so it’s an honor that this year’s choir was chosen,” said senior Logan Tufte, a dedicated member of the choir who has participated in many high school choral activities.
Senior Brooke Thompson, another member of the choir and other choral activities, has a similar view: “I was surprised in the beginning, but we’ve worked hard this year and I think we’ve earned it and it will be a good opportunity for us.”
The Choral Arts Finale takes place April 10 at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis. If you would like to witness an evening of high class musical excellence and hear ALHS students perform in one of the most distinguished musical halls ever built, come on out.
