Honor Choir: Celebrating Musical Excellence
The Festival of Honor Choirs consists of multiple honor choirs for high school singers. The choirs are comprised of students from Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota, who come together for a full day of rehearsals culminating with festival concerts. In 2025, we will offer two days of honor choirs. Mixed choir and treble choir will be Friday, Jan. 31, and music theater will be Wednesday, April 16.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m. Both days will culminate with 4:30 p.m. concerts. Admission per concert will be $5; children 12 and younger are free.
Mixed Honor Choir
Friday, Jan. 31, 2025
Conducted by Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Wayne State College
4:30 p.m. concert in Ramsey Theatre, Peterson Fine Arts Building
Treble Honor Choir
Friday, Jan. 31, 2025
Conducted by Barina Buresh-Crosland, WSC alumnus and president of the Nebraska Choral Directors Association
4:30 p.m. concert in Ramsey Theatre, Peterson Fine Arts Building
Music Theater Honor Choir
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Conducted by Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Wayne State College
4:30 p.m. concert in Ley Theatre, Brandenburg Education Building
Questions? Contact:
Dr. Matthew Armstrong
WSC Director of Choral Studies
402-375-7358
[email protected]
Audition information
Students are selected on the basis of a recorded audition and given the opportunity to work with guest clinicians.
- Complete the online WSC Honor Choir application by 5 p.m. Dec. 6, 2024 (registration is now closed).
- Record the appropriate audition music as MP3, WAV, or MP4 file. If you are unable to send large files, we are also willing to watch auditions posted on YouTube - just send us the link.
- Make each audition a separate file (introduction, scales, and song(s) in same file) and label as follows: Voice Part-Student Name-School
- Email MP3, WAV, or MP4 files or a YouTube video link to Dr. Matthew Armstrong at [email protected].
- Audition fee is $5 per singer. Mail check for total audition fee, due by Dec. 6. Checks should be made out to Wayne State College and mailed to Lauren Rastede at 1111 Main Street, Wayne, NE 68787. Please indicate on your check that this is an "audition fee."
Audition material due date is Dec. 6, 2024.
All recordings will be adjudicated. Results should be announced before the holiday break (via email). Students and directors will be notified of results in December and can expect further details and updates about the honor choirs in January.
Music theater selections will include advanced/complex harmonies. There will be theatrical staging and blocking as time allows, but it will not be a choreographed dancing ensemble. Although sectional rehearsals are planned, students will have a better experience if time is spent preparing the music before the festival.
Registration fee for those selected
A $25 registration fee per singer is required for those selected upon acceptance to the choir. Registration fee includes lunch for the student and director, and a T-shirt for the student. Checks should be made out to Wayne State College and sent to Lauren Rastede at 1111 Main Street, Wayne, NE 68787. Please indicate on your check that this is a "registration fee." Checks for audition and registration fees cannot be combined and require separate payment.
1. Introduction
Student will announce his or her name and voice part. Select one voice part that is the best representation of your voice.
2. Scales
Sing the ascending and descending major scales appropriate to voice part as listed below. Scales should be sung unaccompanied on the syllable “day” at 88 bpm. Only the starting pitch should be played. Modify vowels as needed in extremity of range.
Voice Part | Starting Pitch Ascending Scale | Starting Pitch Descending Scale |
---|---|---|
Soprano I | A above Middle C | C above Middle C |
Soprano II | G above Middle C | B-flat above Middle C |
Alto I | E above Middle C | A above Middle C |
Alto II | D above Middle C | G above Middle C |
Tenor I | G below Middle C | E above Middle C |
Tenor II | F below Middle C | Middle C |
Bass I | E-flat below Middle C | G below Middle C |
Bass II | C below Middle C | E-flat below Middle C |
3. Solo (Required)
Sing “My Country 'Tis of Thee” a cappella (without accompaniment) in a key that best represents the singer’s voice.
4. Second Solo (Optional)
Sing approximately 60 seconds of a folk song, art song, music theater, or jazz selection. When possible, it is preferred that the optional second solo is accompanied, but a cappella submissions will also be accepted.
Honor Choir Playlist
Watch some selections from past Honor Choir performances, including:
- Funiculi, Funicula
- The Call
- Jubilance
- Louder than Words
- Smooth Criminal
- With One Look
- Kuimba Nafsi Yangu
- In Dat Great Gettin' Up Mornin'
- Warrior
Honor Choir Playlist
Watch some selections from past Honor Choir performances, including:
- Funiculi, Funicula
- The Call
- Jubilance
- Louder than Words
- Smooth Criminal
- With One Look
- Kuimba Nafsi Yangu
- In Dat Great Gettin' Up Mornin'
- Warrior
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