Minnetonka High School Choir
Posted by Steve Frazier
Our Program on December 21st was the annual holiday concert by the Minnetonka High School Choir, directed by Paula Holmberg. The fifty-four member choir came in wearing the traditional white-trimmed blue gowns with the letter M on the front. Their first song, Sorida, was a song of greeting from Zimbabwe, and had the choir gathering from all parts of the room. The second song, My Spirit Sang All Day, was written in 1930 by British composer Gerald Finzi and embraced the poetry of Robert Bridges. The entire group then tested their Latin by singing O Magnum Mysterium, a Christmas nativity scene written by Morten Lauridsen.
The Chamber Singers stepped forward and presented a barbershop version of Silver Bells, followed by a traditional sacred song sung in Hebrew, Yedid Nefesh. Breaking out of the larger group, a men's quartet enjoyed singing an American spiritual, De Animal's A-comin. The whole choir sang a Gloria fanfare, John Playford's To Drive the Cold Winter Away, and closed the concert with the traditional choral benediction, The Lord Bless You and Keep You.
A surprise addition to the program was Bob William's Merry Christmas Past. Paula said that the members of the group liked the song, and wanted to include it in the program. The song is becoming a choir standard at Christmas, as Bob tells me that over 500 choirs around the country have purchased the music and many include it in their seasonal concerts each year. After the song, Bob spoke to the choir members and said that they should treasure their time in the choir as they'll look back on the experience every time they hear one of the songs they have learned and preformed. (Story by Tad Shaw and photo and posting by Steve Frazier)
The Chamber Singers stepped forward and presented a barbershop version of Silver Bells, followed by a traditional sacred song sung in Hebrew, Yedid Nefesh. Breaking out of the larger group, a men's quartet enjoyed singing an American spiritual, De Animal's A-comin. The whole choir sang a Gloria fanfare, John Playford's To Drive the Cold Winter Away, and closed the concert with the traditional choral benediction, The Lord Bless You and Keep You.
A surprise addition to the program was Bob William's Merry Christmas Past. Paula said that the members of the group liked the song, and wanted to include it in the program. The song is becoming a choir standard at Christmas, as Bob tells me that over 500 choirs around the country have purchased the music and many include it in their seasonal concerts each year. After the song, Bob spoke to the choir members and said that they should treasure their time in the choir as they'll look back on the experience every time they hear one of the songs they have learned and preformed. (Story by Tad Shaw and photo and posting by Steve Frazier)