| Choirboys to vie in choral olympics |
| Wednesday, 05 March 2008 | |
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Staff writer The Land of Lakes Choirboys can chalk up another victory to its vast repertoire of performing accolades. The group’s Viking Choir has been selected to compete this summer in the 2008 Fifth World Choir Olympics in Graz, Austria. “They were excited that our work had been recognized and met the standards of their (Olympic Committee) qualifications,” said Viking Choir Director Francis Stockwell. The 34-member international touring choir will represent the United States in a competition that pits hundreds of choirs against each other for the gold, silver and bronze. Started in 2000 and held every two years, this year’s choral olympics, will take place July 9 through 13. Wearing red, white and blue star-studded jackets, the LOL Choirboys, ages nine to 14, will parade through the streets of Graz at the opening ceremonies. But Austria is not the boys’ only stop. Prior to the competition, the group will embark on a five-week tour starting in mid June that will also take them to Belgium, France and Germany. For the olympics, the boys will compete in a two-day qualifying round and then a two-day competition for medals. The winning choirs will perform at the closing-day ceremonies in the “Concert of Champions.” Some of the 40 countries invited to compete are: China, Russia, Germany, Singapore, Hungary, New Zealand and Australia. A panel of seven choral experts from a variety of countries will serve as judges. “It’s very much like the Olympic games,” Stockwell said. To qualify, Stockwell sent an audition tape, photos and a proposed repertoire to the Choir Olympic Committee in December 2007. He also sent publicity of critics ranking the Viking Choir as one of the finest boy choirs in the world. At the olympics, the boys will compete in two categories: sacred and an open category showing the choirs’ strengths. Some of the songs the boys will sing in the competition are: B. Donato’s “All Ye Who Music Love,” “Shenandoah,” arranged by Mary Goetz, and “Waltzing Matilda” arranged by Mark O’Leary. They will also sing “Duo Seraphim Clamaband” by Victoria and “Little David Play on your Harp,” a spiritual arranged by Joy Amani. The World Choir Olympics were last held in Beijing, China. The LOL Choirboys already has two international awards to its credit. In 2004, it won the international Trebby Award for Best Boys’ Choir Album – “Steal Away.” In 2006, it captured the Cruise Festival Overall Grand Championship Award in a 50 Choral Cruise Festival competition. In May the boys will journey to Johnsville, Iowa, to film a PBS holiday special with international singer Tony Sandler. The boys will be holding a series of fund-raising concerts to finance the international tour. A major event is the annual spring concert and silent auction May 3 at Bethel College.Another concert fund-raiser will be May 17 at Faith Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids. The boys rehearse in the organization’s own choir facility located on County Road 24 between St. Francis and Nowthen, just north of Anoka. The LOL Choirboys comprises six choirs: The Prep Choir (ages 5-7), the Training Choir (new members ages 8-12), the Resident Choir (ages 8-14, who perform locally), the Nordic Choir and Viking Choirs (experienced choristers ages 8-14). The Nordic and Viking Choirs travel nationally and internationally. A sixth choir is the Alumni Choir for young men whose voices have changed. Elyse Kaner is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |