The Albert Lea choir department is a busy place. The choir has been accepted into the prestigious Choral Arts Finale, a choir music festival held at Orchestra Hall. The choir has been chosen for this festival from their audition sent in by choir director, Diane Heaney. This festival has been held for 12 years and will be held for the final time, March 26. The choir will receive a lesson from Dr. Francisco Núñez, creator of the Young People’s Choir of New York. Other choirs accepted include Champlin Park High School, Brainerd High School, Hastings High School Select, Roseville High School and Wayzata High School.
But that isn’t all that’s going on in choir, soon they will be traveling to Memphis and Nashville, Tenn. The semi-annual choir trip will be taking place over spring break. The choirs’ last visit was around 1999, according to Heaney. The previous trip went off without a hitch, the previous choir even bought Heaney a toy whip in case the bass section got out of control. Many exciting events are planned during the trip. The choir wanted to sing at a church in Memphis.
“Nobody was biting,” according to Heaney. Until they found Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, “They aren’t a snooty church like some of the others.” The choir plans to visit Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, go to the Grand Ole’ Opry, visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and visit Graceland. The choir also hopes to sing at the National Civil Rights Museum and at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital. Along with the many restaurants and other significant locations the choir will be able to enjoy. The students going the trip will leave March 10 and return March 15.