Thirteen Clarkson and Leigh Students Attend Choral Clinic
Monday, January 13, 2020, marked the 75th Annual Choral Clinic held at Boone Central High School. Approximately 275 students from 17 area schools attended. This year’s clinic was conducted by Dr. Kurt von Kampen, director of choirs at Concordia University in Seward.
The students from Leigh and Clarkson that attended were Taya Gross, Cassandra Brabec, Lexi Schroeder, Rylee Olson, Natalie Reeves, Darian Ober-Brown, Abbi Brabec, Alicia Holmberg, Morgan Brabec, Joy Mapel, Hazel Mundt, Cortlynn Cadwallader, and Ashley Guillen.
The first clinic was held in Albion in 1944 with 100 students from 13 schools attending. It was an effort to provide a mass choir experience for area students during the war because the State Clinic was limited due to transportation and fuel rations.
The public was invited to attend a concert by the Mass Choir, as well as several groups from the attending schools at 5:30 p.m. in the Boone Central gym.
In honor of the 75th Anniversary, all past clinic participants and directors were invited to join the Mass Choir in singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which has been sung at every clinic for many years.
Junior, Alicia Holmberg, said, "The Boone Central Choir Clinic was a really fun event to attend. Being as this was our second year going, we were better prepared for the day's events. I really enjoyed the music, even though the Hebrew song through me for a loop a little. Getting to sing and meet other choir kids was just a great way to spend the day."
All the practice that these students put in was put to good use at 5:30 pm when the concert commenced. They sang five songs as a full group, with five small groups from surrounding schools singing in between.
Mrs. Cindy Settje said, “Dr. Kurt von Kampen was very firm and disciplined with this group at first, reminding them of the energy and stamina it takes to sing correctly. Once the students realized he meant business about proper posture, breath support, etc., it was amazing to see the results. All the students worked hard and the end concert showed it. Once again, it was an awesome opportunity for our students to sing new music with other singers from around Nebraska."