Waseca students attend 2026 Honor Choir

A middle school honor choir concert at Winona’s Hope Lutheran High School’s Music Department put on a choir performance that pulled in students from across three states: Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. It included 120 students from 20 different schools and featured 11 different songs. Directed by Hope Lutheran’s music department head Thomas Johnson, this was the first year Hope Lutheran High School hosted the event. The choir performed inside the beautiful St. Martin’s Lutheran Church of Winona; not only were the pews full, but many additional audience members stood.

 

Performers were students in sixth through eighth grades nominated to Honor Choir. Students from Waseca were required to be on the bus by 5:50 a.m. sharp on Saturday, Jan. 24, and didn’t return until 7 p.m. In addition to the performance by the full group, some participants were nominated for an inaugural mixed chorus. According to Johnson, “Students spent the day immersed in high quality music and learned skills applicable to all choral music such as expression, enunciation, vocal techn:ique, and listening skills. 

 

“The day culminated in a performance of the pieces and skills learned throughout the morning and afternoon rehearsals. There is no better way to inspire your students and create buy-in for your program than to show them what is possible.”

 

The 11 songs performed were a combination of religious hymns and Christmas music, said Johnson, “Part of our practice was done over Christmas, so a few of today’s songs will be holiday music.” Jemsslie Rugger, Waseca sixth grade Honor Choir student, said about the day, “We got here at 8 a.m. We practiced in the church for a long time and then we got chicken tenders, Hawaiian buns, mashed potatoes, wedges and mac and cheese.” 

 

Abrianna Potter, an eighth-grader from St. Martin is in her second year in the honor choir. Of her experiences, she said, “I’m confident after all the practice we did that we’ll do well today. I’m a drummer, but in band I'm a clarinet. For the concert today I’m just singing, but I’m looking forward to it!”