Decorah Students Shine with 24 Selections for State's Prestigious Opus Honor Choir

DECORAH — Twenty-four students from Decorah were recently selected for participation in the 38th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival. Over 2,400 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition. This is the eighteenth year that Decorah had students audition for the Opus Honor Choirs. Over the past 18 years, more than 415 students from Decorah have been accepted through recordings submitted by Dean Beckman, Jason Rausch, and community youth choir directors. This year, sixteen students were selected from Decorah Middle School by recordings submitted by Dean Beckman. Eight students were selected by recordings submitted by Jason Rausch at the Decorah High School. The following students were accepted: 5th Grade: Clara Garcia-Prats and Ivan Maki 6th Grade: Gray Bassford, Liam Kueny, and Maximus Rinkol 7th Grade: Jorgan Lee-Juve, Lillianna Richmond, Abby Shaw, Haylyn Stowe, and Hayven Stowe 8th Grade: Kenyon Bartels, Crosby Butler, Nathaniel Crose, Hanna Lensch, Veda Shimek, and Graham Torkelson 9th Grade: Kylie Cord, Ella Evelsizer, Cooper Ewing, Derek Hrdlicka, Kaya Johnson, Claire Ko, Davis Walter, and Gavin Wilkins In addition, three students were selected as solo finalists to audition to sing a solo or in a special small group at the concert: Crosby Butler and Nathaniel Crose were two of eight students selected from across the state in 8th grade, and Kaya Johnson was one of five finalists selected in 9th grade. Guest conductors of the choirs include Jennifer Ghelf, 5th & 6th Grade Honor Choir; John Hayden, 7th & 8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir; Rachael Wragge, 7th & 8th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; and Meg Byrne, 9th Grade Mixed Honor Choir. The 2024 Opus Honor Choirs will perform at 4:00 p.m. on November 21 in the C.Y. Stephens Auditorium in the Iowa State Center in Ames. The Opus Honor Choir Festival is made possible by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc. Join the community of savvy subscribers (for free)! Get the latest updates, tips, and insider information by subscribing to the free newsletter today.