Mount Marty College Choir Signs With International Label

BY Randy Dockendorf

YANKTON, SD — As he stood before the Marian Auditorium
audience, Sean Vogt was bursting with news he had waited four years
to receive.

The Mount Marty College choral director had already seen his
choir perform in December 2008 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux
Falls. The appearance, broadcast nationwide on 200 CBS affiliates,
was followed by a March 2009 performance with the Omaha
Symphony.

Now, it was time to go global.

Vogt had learned moments before last week’s concert that Con
Brio Recordings, an international label based in California, had
signed the MMC Choir. Con Brio (Italian for “with brilliance”)
showcases classical musicians from all over the world.

“Our Vespers 2010 performance was recorded by a
nationally-prominent engineer. We then submitted the CD (compact
disc) to Con Brio for consideration,” Vogt said. “They liked it,
and it will be distributed around the world.”

The recording contract has thrust MMC onto the world stage, Vogt
said.

“A CD on an international label is something that can’t help but
promote us by its very nature,” he said. “We are a destination for
the arts. We not a large college, but we can be part of something
good.”

The CD will provide a unique reward for the MMC choir students,
Vogt said.

“This is tangible, something they can hold in their hands and
say, ‘This is me. I did this. This is my music’,” he said. “When
someone pops the CD into a player, they can say it’s them on the
CD.”

Vogt admitted he found it difficult to keep the good news of the
contract to himself, even for a few minutes.