Bridget Cooley (left) and Amy Carpenter display the shirt they were given to wear when they performed with the Lake Superior Youth Chorus Honor Choir.
Two Cook County school children participated in the first-ever Lake Superior Youth Chorus Honor Choir held Saturday, March 14 in Duluth at the Mitchell Auditorium at Saint Scholastica.
Amy Carpenter and Bridget Cooley blended their voices with 130 other students that came from more than 30 schools hailing from northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Bret Amundson, artistic director; Jennifer Campbell, choir coordinator; and Jennifer Robbins, associate artistic director; all who work with the Lake Superior Youth Chorus (LSYC) led the one-day event.
To prepare, each student was sent music they could download and then practice before attending the workshop/concert, which was free of charge to the students. Donations and a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation paid for the day of music instruction, concert and fun activities.
Cook County ISD 166 Music Teacher Kerri Bilben nominated the girls. Actually, Bilben nominated six girls, but two didn’t want to perform and two didn’t get their registration back in time.
“Honor ensembles (choir and band) are a great opportunity for students to make friends, learn new music, and work with a different teacher/director” said Bilben. “Cook County students have the benefit of close proximity to Duluth/ Superior and three outstanding universities who host such wonderful events for our students to learn and grow in music.”
This was a first chance for many 4th, 5th and 6th graders a chance to sing with so many people and a chance for them to work with LSYC singers and directors.
“It was really a great event,” said Jennifer Campbell. “It went really smoothly. The kids sang several songs including: If Though Art Nigh by Bach; Dodi-hi, a song in Hebrew, and Banjo Sam,” said Campbell.
Amy is the daughter of Leah and Brian Carpenter. Bridgette is the daughter of Roseanne and Brian Cooley.
Due to the success of the concert another is planned for next winter.
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