This week on GBW and ACDA Radio/ChoralNet you will be transported to Sioux Falls SD to hear the 45th Annual South Dakota High School Honor Choir and Reunion Choir. Alan Stanga Executive Director told me that the Honors Choir ideas came from him and a colleague at the time, Perry Jones, who wanted to give All State Chorus singers an advanced opportunity to receive a stronger challenge over All-State Chorus. So in 1974 they began the Annual SDHS Honor Choir festival. In contemporary history every five years, those singers who experienced this educational opportunity, are invited back to be part of an Honors Reunion Choir. You will hear from both Groups as this program moves along.
The two directors for this festival were Judith Herrington founder and Artistic Director of the Tacoma Youth Chorus. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon and has over 35 years of teaching and conducting experience. Their accompanist is Deanna Wehrspann…… The Reunion Choir was led by Randolph Stenson who is conductor and serves on the faculty at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo, Japan, Where he leads the St. Mary’s Men’s Choir, The Varsity Male Ensemble and International Show Choir. He is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he studied and sang under Paul J. Christiansen and Larry Flemming. Marilyn Schempp was accompanist for this ensemble
For a look at the CD’s used and a complete list of the music heard, go to the blog of WWW.GONGBEYONDWORDS.COM website and click on show 3126B
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