Arrowhead Chorale, Duluth
Stanley R. Wold, Artistic Director
Janika Vandervelde, Composer

Bemidji Chorale, Bemidji

Patricia Mason, Director
Paul Brandvik, Composer

Choral Arts Ensemble, Rochester

Michael Culloton, Artistic Director
J. David Moore, Composer

Minneapolis Youth Chorus, Minneapolis
Patrice Arasim, Conductor
Edie Hill, Composer

Minnesota Valley Chorale, Mankato*

Rodney Urtel, Artistic Director

Prairie Arts Chorale, southwest Minnesota*

Patricia Kazarow, Musical Director
Brian Schmidt, Composer

*Minnesota Valley Chorale and Prairie Arts Chorale will share a commission.

Choirs participating in Minnesota Voices:

Conducted by Stanley Wold, Duluth's Arrowhead Chorale is a 24-voice ensemble that performs several concerts annually. While the singers of the Chorale are representative of a wide variety of professions, many of them have musical degrees; all have at least collegiate level choral singing experience. The official mission of the Arrowhead Chorale is to bring fine performances of distinctive vocal ensemble literature to the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, and beyond. Its repertoire spans five centuries of Western Music traditions, sacred and secular, folksong and artsong, opera chorus and vocal jazz, music with humorous texts and occasional full operetta performances.

The 50-voice Bemidji Chorale provides an opportunity for singers from throughout the Bemidji area to perform challenging choral literature in a variety of styles. In addition to presenting two concerts annually, the ensemble has performed at Minnesota Music Educator's Association and American Choral Director's Association conventions, and has joined forces with the Bemidji State University Choir and the Bemidji Symphony on several occasions to perform large choral works such as Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and the Requiems by Johannes Brahms and John Rutter. The ensemble is conducted by Patricia Mason.

Since 1985, the forty voices of Rochester's Choral Arts Ensemble have inspired audiences with performances of marvelous choral repertoire. The Ensemble is equally dedicated to the creation and performance of exciting new music as well as the sensitive presentation of masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th Century. Their recently completed season included four unique programs of widely varied a cappella and choral/orchestral repertoire, featuring the Mozart Requiem as well the premieres of three newly commissioned works. Michael Culloton is Artistic Director.

The Minneapolis Youth Chorus is a select ensemble of 4^th through 7^th graders who are enrolled in the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). Established and operated by the Minnesota Chorale in partnership with MPS, the aim of the chorus is to enable participants to develop their musical gifts in a setting dedicated to celebrating diversity and pursuing artistic excellence. Membership is offered at no charge to participants. Chorus members come from neighborhoods throughout the city of Minneapolis, and are enrolled in more than 20 different city schools. The 70-member chorus rehearses weekly throughout the school year. The Minneapolis Youth Chorus is directed by Patrice Arasim, a noted conductor of children?s choirs and a 31-year veteran of MPS.

Based in Mankato, the 44-voice Minnesota Valley Chorale strives to bring the finest in choral literature to communities throughout southern Minnesota. The Minnesota Valley Chorale offers its audiences the opportunity to experience great choral literature and a performance style that is associated with the art of singing in Minnesota, which has become an international trademark. With a commitment to the great sacred and secular works of the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods, the Chorale also presents contemporary vocal music, and showcases works by Minnesota composers. The Chorale is conducted by Rodney Urtel.

The Prairie Arts Chorale is a regional choral group in Southwestern Minnesota, drawing members from Willmar, Marshall, Montevideo, Redwood Falls, Olivia, Prinsburg, and Tracy, among other cities. The 28- voice Chorale prepares two concerts each year: the fall concert presents classical and sacred music, while the spring season is selected from folk songs, popular tunes, and themes from Broadway and musical theater. The group has performed regionally since 1980, and has toured England (1993) and the Republic of Belarus (1996). Patricia Kazarow is Musical Director.