Choral Festival
The 29th Annual Children’s Choral Festival will be held Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Olivet Lutheran Church located on the corner of 13th Ave. and University in Fargo, ND. The guest conductor will be Dr. Michael Johnson from MSUM.
Each instructor may bring up to ten students from grades 5-8 for an SSA choir. Registration fees are $25.00 per singer (non-refundable). Lunch is included with the registration fee. Festival music (not included) can be ordered directly from Poppler’s Music in Grand Forks, ND (1.800.437.1755) after December 11th. Scholarships are available, if needed.
Tentative schedule:
8:30-8:45 Registration opens
8:45-8:50 Seating and announcements (Bring music, pencil, and a water bottle)
8:50-10:15 Rehearsal with Dr. Johnson (teachers and parents may observe)
10:15-10:30 Snack break (bring your own healthy snack)
10:30-11:30 Rehearsal and NPKC Business Meeting
11:30-12:15 Lunch (provided by NPKC)
12:15-2:30 Final Rehearsal
2:30-3:15 Break with teacher or parents (parents pick up at 2:30)
3:30 Return to the church in black bottoms and white top
4:00 Final concert at Olivet Lutheran Church. Family and friends are invited to attend.
There is no charge for admission to the concert, but a free-will offering will be taken.
Registration:
Registration fees and forms must be postmarked by December 1, 2023. Late registrations will not be accepted. Please make copies of the registration forms (one student per sheet) and mail to Gretchen Byer (1720 Whitestone Circle South Fargo ND, 58103). Instructors can collect all of the registrations and send them at one time. Instructors, please ensure that all music is prepared and memorized prior to the festival. We look forward to an amazing musical experience!
NPKC Festival Registration Form 2024.pdfSong Selection:
Below is the songs for the 2024 Choral Fest.
Ah, Poor Bird is a free piece and can be downloaded and printed from this link
The other four pieces will be available as a packet that can be ordered directly from Poppler’s Music in Grand Forks, ND (1.800.437.1755) after December 11th.
About our Conductor:
Michael Johnson, DMA, MM, BA (He/Him/His)
Assistant Professor - Director of Choral Activities/Music Education
School of Performing Arts
Minnesota State University Moorhead
Dr. Michael J. Johnson serves as Director of Choral Activities and Vocal Music Education at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He directs the Concert Choir, University Choir, and Solfire while also teaching a range of choral and general music education courses. Previously, Dr. Johnson conducted choirs and taught conducting classes at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting with a Composition minor. While at the University of Wisconsin, his doctoral research centered on the modern choral music of social justice. He also holds a Master of Music degree in Conducting from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Luther College. Dr. Johnson has taught K-12 music and choir in Minnesota and within an array of community, collegiate, and church choirs around the country. Dr. Johnson was the recipient of the 2020 Mullen Prize for composition and took first place in the 2018 ACDA conducting competition in Oklahoma City. He studied with Stefan Parkman as a 2019 Conducting Fellow for the International Choral Conducting Masterclass at Baylor University and was named a 2019 University of Wisconsin-Madison Honored Instructor by his students. He spends his free time biking, composing, and enjoying life with his wife Kelsey, son Shea, daughter Summer, and French bulldog Dot.
Bio taken from: https://www.mnstate.edu/academics/majors/music/faculty-staff/