LCCC vocal group will perform in New York City

CHEYENNE, WYO. — A group of music students at LCCC are about to get an experience that few professionals in their field will ever have.

The Laramie County Community College Cantorei Choir will participate in the Choirs of America Nationals Event at Carnegie Hall and Queen’s College in New York City this April. The event will feature choirs from high schools and colleges, as well as community choirs.

“I spoke at length with the director, who told me that highly qualified choirs are either recommended by the staff at Choirs of America or are selected out of reputation,” said Beth Kean, vocal music instructor and director of LCCC choirs.

LCCC students who are taking part in this event are Mareikel Blake, Sarah Brooksmith, Josh Cooper, Simeon Cooper, Spencer Denning, Jasmine Holian, Sara Madrid, Cameron Norby, Winter Pryor, Kytrul Roof, Hannah Shenefelt, Breanna VanDyke, and Courtney Walston. Iris Zhang serves as the group’s accompanist.

Cantorei is the auditioned vocal ensemble at LCCC. While some of these students are music majors, other are studying in a vast array of fields including education, Spanish, art, accounting, and science.

During the New York event, these Cantorei singers will take part in numerous activities, including adjudicated performances, one-hour clinics with teaching faculty, observational opportunities, and choir exchanges. These students will also enjoy a mass choir rehearsal, followed by a concert performance onstage in Carnegie Hall led by Anton Armstrong, one of COA's master conductors.

“The students have worked really hard the past three years while I’ve been here, and they’re singing with fantastic musicianship and heart,” Kean shared. “The level of repertoire that we perform is of high quality, and I hope this brings positive light to our music program so that we can continue to grow and thrive in Wyoming.”

Funding for the trip was made possible with donations to the group and fundraising done by these students, in addition to support from the college. 

In preparation for the trip and as a “thank you” to the community for its support, the LCCC Cantorei will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 9, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

For more information about the LCCC music program, visit lccc.wy.edu or call 307.778.1316.