MN Music Educators Association Mid-Winter Conference

We had several students take part in various state honors groups over the weekend as a part of the annual MMEA (MN Music Educators Association in Minneapolis.

Emmaline Bushman ’29, Ben Zahasky ’28, and Theo Reisinger ’29 participated in the MNSOTA 7-9^th Grade Honors Orchestra MN String and Orchestra Teachers Association, with Ben given the special honor of having participated all three years! After an all-day rehearsal at Northwestern on Friday, they performed under the direction of Angelique Rowell Eden Prairie High School on Saturday morning in the Main Auditorium of the Minneapolis Convention Center with over 70 other students from around the state. They were chosen from hundreds of auditions this past Fall, and we are very proud to have had such a great representation of SJP! 

Hendrick Schlude ’27 performed with the ACDA 9-10^th grade SATB Honor Choir American Choral Directors Association. After an all-day rehearsal at the Hilton Hotel, the performance was on Saturday Evening with over 80 other students not including the 160 others in the SSAA and TTB choirs! in Ballroom A of the Minneapolis Convention Center. With over 900 people in attendance, the choir sang out under the very energetic and inspiring direction of Jasmine Fripp from Nashville, TN. Hendrick was chosen among over 1,000 submitted auditions. It was a moving and tremendous performance!

Andrew Zahasky ’26 participated in the MMEA All-State Orchestra, the top honors orchestra in the state, on Saturday afternoon with a stunning performance in iconic Orchestra Hall under the incredible direction of Dr. LaSaundra Belcher from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Belcher is also Chair-Elect for NAfME’s National Association for Music Educators Council for Orchestra Education. Over 120 students from all over Minnesota participated in this astounding performance of very advanced literature creating a sound of epic proportions!

Peter Kraft ’26 performed with the MMEA All-State Concert Band, one of two top honors bands in the state, on Saturday afternoon at Orchestra Hall in downtown Minneapolis, under the direction of Dr. Heidi Johanna Miller of Gustavus Adolphus College. Peter plays the alto saxophone. Consisting of just under 100 of the top high school musicians in the state, Peter and the band gave an impressive and inspiring performance of highly advanced music that truly left the rafters ringing!

Congratulations to all our SJP students who honored SJP by representing and sharing the stage with the best musicians in the state. What an incredible weekend of music making!

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Every year the invites the top high school musicians from across the state to audition for selection in the All-State Ensembles. Out of the hundreds of students who apply every year, Lincoln ’24 and Levi ’24 were selected for state honors.

Lincoln was selected to participate on bass clarinet in the concert band. Last week Lincoln traveled to Concordia College for the state honors band camp hosted.. He learned from All-State camp is an intense week of building musicianship, making friends and performing. Up next for Lincoln is the all-state concert in Minneapolis in February.

Levi ’24 was selected to was selected to sing Alto II in the Soprano Alto Choir by the MMEA. Last week Levi participated in the state choir camp at Saint John’s University. All-State singers gather at all state choir camp to learn from world-class conductors and top coaches from across Minnesota. 

“I got to meet people who were passionate about music from all over the state, practice and perform with them! I can’t wait to see  them all again in February for our performance at Orchestra Hall.”

Levi will sing with the all-state choir at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis in February.

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Founded in 1981, the Wirth Center seeks to inspire artistic excellence and personal growth. For more than four decades, the Center has brought high quality performance instruction to Central Minnesota students of all ages including piano, voice, violin, guitar, drums, marimba, and more. The Wirth Center/Saint John’s Prep partnership will support the outstanding performing arts faculty at Prep while offering individualized lessons for students interested in learning an instrument or for those seeking to advance their current musical skills.

We look forward to growing the partnership and working with the Wirth Center for years to come! If you have questions about the Wirth Center and their offerings, please contact Prep parent James Newman, Executive Director of the Wirth Center, by phone (320) 255-0318 or via email. Saint John’s Prep students and families interested in piano or voice lessons can also register on-line .

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