MINOT, N.D. – The Northwest International Festival of Music looked quite a bit different this year.
Emerson Eads, director of Choral Activities at Minot State University, said band was done in person, but the choir was forced to make three virtual choirs: Nova (young singers), Cantabile (treble choir), Honor Choir, (advanced singers, and 4-5-year reward singers or singers who have been returning to Honor Choir four to five years in a row. Nearly 300 students participated in the virtual choir project.
“Huge kudos to the high school instructors who bore the weight of this during such unbelievably challenging times,” Eads said.
The virtual choir video projects can be viewed at: https://www.minotstateu.edu/nwmusic/choirs.shtml. The performances include the Nova Choir singing “Londonderry Air (“Danny Boy“) with conductor Matt Goettle and piano, Briana Schwan; the Cantabile Choir singing “Shenandoah,” arranged and conducted by Eads, with piano, Schwan; and the Honor Choir singing “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” conducted by Eads, with organ, Daniel Schwandt.
Some students would have made their fourth or fifth year in the festival but were unable because of COVID-19 quarantine-related issues.
Four and five-year festival awards were presented to the following students:
Annabelle Barcomb, Minot Magic City: 5-year award
Molly Kostek, Minot Magic City: 4-year award
Maleeka Kramlich, Jamestown: 5-year award
Christina Larsen, Surrey: 4-year award
Kamryn Morrison, South Prairie: 5-year award
Sarah Mueller, Barnes County North: 4-year award
Tristen Crist, North Star: 4-year award
Camden Gifford, Minot Magic City: 4-year award
Zachary Kirby, Culbertson, Mont.: 4-year award
Nate Krantz, Bismarck Century: 5-year award
Elizabeth Dean, South Heart: 4-year award
Lillian Effertz, Velva: 4-year award
Lila Farden, Glenburn: 5-year award
Amanda Goldade, Glenburn: 5-year award
Katie Humble, Minot Magic City: 4-year award
Jersey Johnson, Minot Magic City: 4-year award
Kori Nagel, Center-Stanton: 5-year award
Jasmine Rogers, Bottineau: 4-year award
Ciarra Saylor, Jamestown: 4-year award
Tanner Earsley, Wilton: 4-year award
Blake Bernhardt, Wing: 4-year award
Josiah Halton, Minot Magic City: 4-year award
Bo Salander, Larimore: 4-year award
