OFHS choir students selected to WCDA All-State Choir

OCONTO FALLS — The Wisconsin Choral Directors Association selected five Oconto Falls High School students to perform as part of the WCDA All-State Choirs in January.

Approximately 120 singers from the state were selected for each of the choirs, which represented outstanding choral students from throughout Wisconsin. A final All-State Choir performance was held at Lawrence University in Appleton.

Representing the All-State Bass Clef Choir were Connor Romandine, son of Ron and Carrie Romandine, and Keith Van Dornick, son of Wendy and James Van Dornick Jr. Autumn Canavera, daughter of Scott and Jennifer Canavera; Cedar Olson, daughter of Scott Olson; and Isabella Rennie, daughter of Chad and Heather Rennie, were selected for the All-State Treble Clef Choir. Students were nominated by their high school choral director, Amy Thiel.

The conductor of the All-State Bass Clef Choir was Dr. Anthony Trecek-King, president and artistic director of the award-winning Boston Children’s Choir. The 108-voice men’s ensemble representing 38 high schools’ choral music programs in Wisconsin performed “Ho Boys Cancha Lin’em,” “Song of the Blacksmith,” “Arrow,” “The Warrior,” “Sit Down Servant” and “Hard Times Comes Again No More.”

The conductor of the All-State Treble Clef Choir was Professor Giselle Wyers of the University of Washington, where she conducts the University Chorale. The 119-voice women’s ensemble, representing 46 high school choral music programs in Wisconsin, performed “Vidi Aquam,” “Flower Duet,” “In Freezing Winter Night,” “Nada te Turbe,” “Woodsmoke and Oranges” and “Barso.”

The All-State Choir program is one of four signature programs offered by the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association to promote its mission to foster musical excellence through education, collaboration and inspiration.