Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Photo provided by Brittany Wierzbach Lakeland College's All-State Choir participants.

Professor Janet Herrick accompanied ten choir students to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where they represented Lakeland at the All-State Collegiate Choir event from Jan. 13-15.

The students that attended the event this year were: Brittany Wierzbach, Emily Rendall-Araujo, April Wasmer, Clarissa Dimel, Holly Helmer, Miho Kaimori, Cody Linder, Aaron Kramer, Ben Endres, and Christopher Grotegut.

The All-State Collegiate Choir Convention is an annual event put on by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association (WCDA). A guest conductor worked with the students for several rehearsal periods, teaching a variety of music ranging from Mendelssohn to Mozart.

Rehearsal took place on Wednesday evening, for nine hours on Thursday, and Friday morning before the group performed a concert for the public. Having a guest conductor can be beneficial to students, as each conductor has a different style of teaching and interpretation.

Directors from colleges and universities around the state nominate students from their choir classes who they would like to see be a part of this event. They are then chosen by a chair member of the WCDA to be part of a choir made up of over 100 music students from around the state.

According to Herrick, the choir was able to sing together beautifully in musical overtones, which are defined as harmonic singing. That occurs when the singer modifies two overtones in the sequence depending on the tone he or she is singing.

"I was very proud of the students," Herrick said. "They represented Lakeland College beautifully. They were terrific in rehearsal, very attentive, and learned as much as they could. They tried to be leaders. The conductor even noticed the students."

Voice performance majors Rendall-Araujo, senior, and Linder, junior, were fortunate enough to be chosen to perform featured solos. This was the third year that Linder attended the event and the second time he was eligible for a solo.

"I tried for a solo last year, but I didn't get it," stated Linder. "This year it was between three bass singers, including me. They narrowed it down to two, and after a tough decision, I got the solo. It was very close."

When asked how he felt after he found out he received a chance to perform a solo, Linder replied, "I felt pretty good. It was very difficult, but I felt well prepared."

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