At the beginning of November, 21 choir students from Concordia’s Concert Choir, Mr. Palomaki, and three parent chaperones made the trip up to Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), to participate in their National Honor Choir Day. These 21 students submitted a video audition in September and were selected into the honor choir, which was picked from over 250 auditions from high school students around the country to form a selected choir of 140 singers from 15 states.
While in Nebraska, Mr. Palomaki showed the group some of the scenic sights of “The Good Life” on their way to Concordia University in Seward, Neb. The group got to visit and sing at St John’s Church on the campus of Creighton University, as well as the Holy Family Shrine in Gretna - two incredibly beautiful churches with wonderful acoustics. Singing in these places was one of the main highlights of the trip! Finally, they stopped at Mahoney State Park and spent time at the top of an observation tower overlooking the Platte River.
The National Honor Choir members experienced extensive rehearsals on the CUNE campus led by the university’s renowned music department chair, Dr. Kurt von Kampen. The setting was the state-of-the-art Borland Center for Music and Theatre on Concordia’s campus.
Following a day full of rehearsals, the festivities culminated with an evening concert at St. John Lutheran Church in Seward, Nebraska. The concert included four selections from the National Honor Choir as well as three pieces from the world-renowned University A Cappella Choir from CUNE. The final piece featured both groups which was a special moment to finish the event. It was a wonderful day of growing as musicians and singers, meeting new people, and having the experience to perform with other talented students from around the country.
One very special part of this trip was getting to see two CLHS Concert Choir alumni, Melissa Oblinger ’24 and Angelicia Garcia ’25. Oblinger is also part of the A Cappella and Chamber Choirs at CUNE, which meant we were able to hear her sing in the concert on Friday when the A Cappella Choir performed!
Please join us for our upcoming Christmas Concert at Trinity Klein Lutheran Church on Sunday, December 14th at 7 pm. Admission is free for this annual event, that is sure to put you in the mood for Christmas to celebrate the greatest gift we have ever received!
The following students earned a spot in the National Honor Choir. A big congratulations to them as we are very proud while also very blessed to have such talented young men and women at CLHS. Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!
- Amelia Schmidt ’27 – Soprano 1 (3rd year selected)
- Marley Wheless ’26 – Soprano 1 (3rd year)
- Myla Wheless ’28 – Soprano 1 (2nd year)
- Abby Bridwell ’26 – Soprano 2 (2nd year)
- Angelina Elsisi ’26 – Soprano 2 (2nd year)
- Cate Hustmyre ’29 – Soprano 2 (1st year)
- Mary Kate Moore ‘27 – Soprano 2 (3rd year)
- Clara Straub ’27 – Soprano 2 (1st year)
- Elizabeth Tedesco ’27 – Soprano 2 (1st year)
- Eleanor Oswick ’26 – Alto 1 (2nd year)
- Anna Bui ’27 – Alto 2 (1st year)
- Ella Gribnau ’29 – Alto 2 (1st year)
- Madelyn Monsive ’29 – Alto 2 (1st year)
- Ella Reed ’26 – Alto 2 (3rd year)
- Ian Schleicher ’27 – Tenor 1 (2nd year)
- Lucas Winetrout ’26 – Tenor 1 (3rd year)
- Jordan Brown ’26 – Tenor 2 (1st year)
- Sebastian Lazcano ’29 – Bass 1 (1st year)
- Nathan Okikiolu ’26 – Bass 1 (3rd year)
- Vincent Neuhaus ’27 – Bass 1 (3rd year)
- Caleb Lueckemeyer ’27 – Bass 2 (1st year)
CLICK HERE for more information about becoming a student at Concordia. To learn more about vocal music at Concordia, visit www.sadernationtx.com/choir