News : Vinton-Shellsburg High School participates in Augustana Chamber Choir Festival

Two hundred singers from eight schools across Iowa and Illinois will join together in making music at the sixth annual Augustana High School Chamber Choir Festival on October 16-17. Schools include: Byron (Ill.) High School; Elgin (Ill.) High School; Highland Community Schools (Riverside, Iowa); John Hersey High School (Arlington Heights, Ill.); Lockport Township (Ill.) High School; Vinton-Shellsburg High School (Vinton, Iowa); Waubonsie Valley High School (Aurora, Ill.); and Mid-Prairie High School (Wellman, Iowa). Led by Augustana's Director of Choral Activities Dr. Jon Hurty and Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education Dr. Michael Zemek, the festival involves a performance by three of Augustana's leading choral ensembles, a mass choir rehearsal with the combined groups, individual choir clinics with Augustana directors, and a final concert by the high school ensembles. The choirs primarily will work on madrigal and vocal jazz works during their time at Augustana. Dr. Hurty is excited by the growth and development of the festival and the opportunity to "make music with both new and returning groups this year." He also believes being able to interact with college directors and choirs, work with and listen to peer high school groups, and learn music to take back to their schools has "a great impact on these students and their choral programs." The Choral Sampler Concert by Augustana's choral ensembles will take place Sunday, October 16, at 8:30 p.m., and the Chamber Choir Festival Concert featuring the participating high schools will be held Monday, October 17, at 4:30 p.m. For more information or to set up an interview, contact Andrew Walter, Events & Outreach Manager, at clydeandrewwalter@augustana.edu or (309) 230-9879. About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.