Rib Lake students perform at state, conference Honors Choir

Emily Gojmerac

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Truman Smith, a freshman at Rib Lake High School represented his school during the Wisconsin State Music Association (WSMA)’s State Honors Choir on Oct. 29, in Madison at Verona High School.

Smith auditioned last year, while he was in 8th grade, and received word that he had been accepted into the Honors Choir. Out of 1,000 musicians who auditioned throughout the state, Smith was chosen. Due to the fact that he was in eighth grade when he applied, Smith performed with the 150 member middle school honors choir. Smith and his fellow choir members closed out the state music convention with a standing ovation.

Smith expected the experience to be fun, yet challenging.

Songs he performed were: Sing Dem Herren - Praetorius/arranger Wallace DePue, How Can I Keep from Singing? Traditional/arranger Gwyneth Walker, Where the Earth Meets the Sky: 2. The Pasture - Z. Randall Stroope, Niska Banja - Traditional/arranger Nick Page, Hine Ma Tov - Traditional/arranger Neil Ginsberg and Stand Together - Jim Papoulis.

“It was great to sing along with other kids who took music seriously. We were able to accomplish so much within a short period of time, it was great,” Smith added.

Smith’s conductor was Jabrie Glass, Associate Director of Choral Studies, from the University of South Carolina.

Smith received his music in July and from then on was practicing every spare minute he could. Once he got to Madison, rehearsals lasted long hours with all 150 students singing together for the first time.

“This experience has made me a stronger musician and has definitely given me some great tools to bring back and share with my fellow choir members in the classroom,” Smith said.

While Smith was representing the school at the state level, four other students were representing the school at the Conference level.

Angel Krueger, Brady Heiser, Anna Konrad, and Josie Scheithauer, represented Rib Lake in the Marawood Conference Honors Choir at Phillips High School on November 1.

Krueger, Heiser, Konrad and Scheithauer and two other students from different schools were all part of a six member choir that performed four pieces that evening. Their director was Dr. Brandon Dean who is the seventh conductor of the Gustavus Choir in Minnesota.

Due to illness, Emma Scott, who was also chosen to be a part of the six member choir, wasn’t able to attend the performance. She still cheered on her fellow classmates from her seat in the audience.

Krueger and Konrad had known what to expect from their past experience of being a part of the honors choir back in middle school. Scheithauer also experienced honors choir the year before.

Heiser was lucky to be a member of the State Honors Choir last year so he had some inclination of what he was going to expect when it came to the Conference choir this year.

“When you are in State Honors choir, the expectations are higher for the students because you have to be prepared and able to know your part when you arrive. Conference level preparation is just as important but the atmosphere is a lot less intense”, Heiser said. “There were a lot less tenors than expected so all six of us that were there had to pull our own weight and create a balance to be able to be heard over the basses.”

Songs performed were: Jubilate Deo Peter Anglea, The Gift to Sing - Marianne Forman, The Call - Regina Spektor arranged by Dianne Gryba and I Will Sing - Michael Engelhardt.

Krueger was thrown a curve ball when she arrived and discovered that there were no second sopranos. So she volunteered for the part.

“Accepting the part of the second soprano, when I had been practicing for the first soprano up until then allowed me to think on my feet and be able to learn a different part a lot faster,” Krueger said.

Konrad said “This experience has made us all better leaders not only for our fellow choir members but also for ourselves.”

Scheithauer enjoyed the experience and is hoping to perform again next year.

Connie Leonhard, choir director said “I’m so proud of these students and their accomplishments, this experience only makes them better musicians.”