FA CHAMBER CHOIR HONORED WITH ‘BIG-TIME’ INVITE

11-member ensemble one of four groups featured at SDACDA winter conference

When the South Dakota chapter of the American Choral Directors Association gathers in Sioux Falls for its winter conference on Jan. 19 and 20, those attending will assemble at the First United Methodist Church for a Friday night concert.

They will hear four featured ensembles that were exclusively selected by the SDACDA based on taped auditions late last year:

The SDSU Statesmen

The Aberdeen Vocal Jazz

The Tea Area Concert Choir

The Freeman Academy Chamber Choir

It’s not difficult to surmise which of these groups is not like the other.

With a high school student enrollment just under 30 and a chamber choir of 11, the mass of singers from FA is but a fraction of the other schools, yet worthy enough to join in the fun.

“We’re kind of in the bigtime here,” chuckles Rolf Olson, a career music instructor who is in his second year leading the vocal department at FA after spending six years at Northern State University and 25 years before that at the University of South Dakota, as director of bands at both. “It’s something we have been preparing for. There’s been a little extra pressure for us to get ready for it, but it’s an exciting thing and I think it will be really neat for a broader audience to hear us.”

The FA Chamber Choir will present its 30-minute set at approximately 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 and will follow Aberdeen Vocal Jazz (starting at 7 p.m.) and the Tea Area Concert Choir (at 7:30 p.m.). The SDSU Statesmen will conclude the concert starting at approximately 8:30 p.m.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Also, a home performance will be given at Freeman Academy’s chapel service Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 9 to 10 a.m.; those interested in attending should contact the office ahead of time by calling 605-925-4237 so the school can better accomodate the guests.

The 2023-24 Freeman Academy Chamber Choir includes:

Sopranos: Arianne Fink, Jessica Paschal, Estelle Waltner

Altos: Maddie Anderson, Abigail Bradley, Stefany Cortez

Tenors: Armando Miller, Liam Ortman

Bass/Baritones: Jayson Allison, Thomas Ding, Sam Waltner