Assumption Choir member Will Emerle ’26 was recently selected for participation in the 36th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival as part of the 9th Grade Mixed Choir. Over 2100 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition. Guest conductors of the choirs include Christina Svec, Iowa State University, 5th & 6th Grade Honor Choir; Nick Oswald, Southview Middle School, 7th & 8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir; Amy Kotsonis, University of New Hampshire, 7th & 8th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; and Andrew Last, Luther College, 9th Grade Mixed Honor Choir. The 2022 Opus Honor Choirs will perform at 4:00 p.m. November 17th in 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.
Arts
Choir News
Choir Earns Superior Rating
On Friday, May 6th, the Assumption Choir participated in the IHSMA District Large Group Festival, an adjudicated and rated state event hosted at Central DeWitt High School. The choir, from a panel of three judges, earned a Division 1 “Superior” rating including a perfect score from one of the judges. Congratulations, Choir!
Choir to sing for Mass
This Sunday, May 15th, the Assumption Choir will help lead music at the 9:00 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. The choir will also help lead at the 11:00 a.m. Mass at St. Paul the Apostle in Davenport on Sunday, May 22nd. Please join them in worship!
IHSMA District Solo/Small Ensemble Festival
On Saturday, March 26th ten choir members participated in the Class 3A District Solo/Small Ensemble hosted at Central DeWitt High School. The students gave fantastic performances as indicated by the six students earning a Division 2 rating and four students earning a Division 1 rating. Students earning a Division 1 rating include Paige Lansing ’23, Maegan Dolan ’22, Bailey Lehnert ’22, and Tatyana DelPreore ’23. Bailey Lehnert was listed as the “Outstanding Performer” for her center, qualifying her to participate in the State Solo/Small Ensemble Festival held at Iowa State University on May 17th.
Students Participate in the Dorian Vocal Festival
Four students were selected and participated in the annual Dorian Vocal Festival at Luther College in Decorah, IA on March 14th. Congratulations to Bailey Lehnert, Ben Castrey, Maegan Dolan, and Josh Riesberg, all from the class of 2022
Assumption Choir Concert Next Tuesday!
The Assumption Choir and Jazz Choir will present their Winter Concert on Tuesday, March 29th at 7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 4105 N. Division St., Davenport. Please join us for this brief, 40-minute program that will feature a variety of styles and genres, including selections suitable for this Lenten and Easter season.
Assumption Bands to present “…with Special Guest” on Sunday, March 27 at 3 PM
The Assumption Bands will perform their March concert “…with Special Guest” on Sunday, March 27 at 3 PM at Sunderbruch Auditorium. This concert will feature members of the Quad Cities music community in performance with the Assumption Band students. The Assumption Wind Ensemble will perform Blue and Green Music by Samuel Hazo with members of the Assumption Art Club creating art work inspired by the music. The Assumption Symphonic Band will be joined by the Quad Cities Ukulele Club in performing Spirit of Aloha by Brian Balmages. Dr. Rob Elfline, a piano professor from Augustana College, will perform the first movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, accompanied by the Assumption Symphonic Band. Dr. Nick Enz, Director of Bands at St. Ambrose University, will be conducting Infinity by Katahj Copley with the Assumption Symphonic Band. Admission is free.
Congratulations to Honor Band Students!
Congratulations to our band students, who had a very busy week with 3 separate honor bands! On Monday, January 17, Central-DeWitt High School hosted the first Crossroads (MAC) Music Festival. Students from the area were divided into two bands. A 9th and 10th grade band was directed by Mr. Dan Terrell, band director at Linn-Mar High School, and the 11th and 12th grade band was directed by Mr. David Lang, retired band director from Independence High School. Assumption had 25 students participate in the Crossroads Music Festival. 9th and 10th graders selected for the festival were: Bianca Connelly – Flute, Maggie Burchett – Clarinet, Geno DelPreore – Alto Sax, Tristen Gray – Tenor Sax, Liam Ryan – Trumpet, Lucas Steining – Trombone, AJ Barry – Euphonium, Ralph Armstrong – Tuba, and Noah Whitlock – Percussion. 11th and 12th graders selected for the festival were: Dylan Whitlock- Flute, Charles James-Hoos – Oboe, Michael Lochner- Clarinet, Maegan Dolan – Clarinet, Kristen Byrne – Clarinet, Tatyana DelPreore – ContraAlto Clarinet, Stephanie Chanez – Tenor Sax, Leah Wilson – Trumpet, Grace Hagerman – Trumpet, Hank Gallagher – Trumpet, David Lochner – Trombone, Lindsey Gerlach – Trombone, Wes Ossowski – Euphonium, Nathan Roman – Tuba, Anna Schuster – Percussion, and Cooper Timmerman – Percussion.
On Friday, January 21, 15 Assumption students participated in an honor band at the University of Dubuque. Assumption students joined other students from Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin for a full day of music. Students worked with Dr. Nolan Hauta and Dr. Evan Glickman from the University of Dubuque and with world-renowned composer, Dr. Aaron Perrine. Assumption students especially enjoyed working with Dr. Perrine on pieces he composed. Students selected for the University of Dubuque Honor Band are: Dylan Whitlock- Flute, Alison Byrne- Flute, Maegan Dolan – Clarinet, David Lochner – Clarinet, Kristen Byrne – Clarinet, Ellen Jardine – Alto Sax, Leah Wilson – Trumpet, Grace Hagerman – Trumpet, David Lochner – Trombone, Lindsey Gerlach – Trombone, Lucas Steining – Trombone, AJ Barry – Euphonium, Adie Craig – Percussion, Anna Schuster – Percussion, and Cooper Timmerman – Percussion.
To cap off a busy week, Michael Lochner auditioned and was selected on clarinet for the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (SEIBA) Honor Band, which took place at Clear Creek-Amana High School on Saturday, January 22. Students from southeast Iowa rehearsed all day with Dr. Steve Shanley from Coe College and performed an excellent concert displaying a wide variety of music that evening.
Assumption Choir Christmas Concert
The Assumption Choir will present its Christmas concert this Monday, Dec. 13th at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 E. 10th St., Davenport. This 30 min. program will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will feature the choir as well as the jazz choir. Masks are strongly encouraged, especially for those who are not vaccinated. We would love to see you there, and we wish you a most blessed and merry Christmas.
Musicians Selected for the All-State Music Festival
Two musicians have been selected to perform at the 75th Annual Iowa All-State Music Festival at Iowa State University this Nov. 18 – 20. Bailey Lehnert ’22 will be a Soprano 1 in the chorus, and AJ Barry ’24 will play euphonium in the band. Congratulations Bailey and AJ! The concert will be recorded by Iowa Public Television and aired on Thanksgiving Day at 7:00 p.m.
Assumption Choir to present Fall Concert
The Assumption Choir will present its Fall Concert next Tuesday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m. This 30-minute program will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 422 E. 10th St., Davenport, and there is no charge for admission.