Orchestra students playing their instruments during a music concert.
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Wesleyan Honors Choir

Wesleyan Honors Choir

February 6-7, 2025

The Nebraska Wesleyan University Honors Choir gathers 100 of the region's most promising high school singers for an inspiring and immersive choral experience with NWU's choir director, Tom Trenney, and guest composer/conductor, Kyle Pederson.

Nominations

We encourage high school teachers to recommend as many singers as they desire through this choir students nomination form. Nebraska Wesleyan accepts nominations until December 1, 2024 and informs teachers and students of selections by December 18. Selected students are responsible for completing a registration form, including a $50 participation fee (which covers music rental, three meals, snacks, and a t-shirt). Students are expected to prepare the music in advance of the festival. Opportunities to participate in vocal masterclasses (musical theater and classical), conducting classes, and scholarship auditions will be available as well.

Our Conductors

Headshot of Kyle Pederson

Kyle Pederson is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist, and educator. He enjoys working at the intersection of the sacred and secular, and his lyrics and music invite the choir and audience to be agents of hope, grace and compassion in the world. Pederson was awarded the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019, and the ACDA Genesis Prize in 2020. Pederson has an undergraduate degree from Augustana University, a Masters Degree in Education from University of St. Thomas, and an MFA in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Art. His work is commissioned, performed, and recorded by community, school, and professional choirs around the world.

 

Tom Trenney

Tom Trenney is director of choirs at Nebraska Wesleyan University. NWU’s choirs had the honor of performing at state, regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and are award winners in the American Prize for choral ensembles. His 50 published choral compositions are sung at churches and schools across the country, and he was a feature performer at places like Kansas City's Kauffman Center, Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center and NYC's Carnegie Hall.

Schedule

Thursday, February 6

  • 1 p.m. NWU Music Scholarship auditions (optional for seniors considering NWU)
  • 3 p.m. Registration
  • 4 p.m. Rehearsal
  • 5 p.m. Pizza party (included)
  • 6 p.m. Rehearsal
  • 8:30 p.m. Adjourn

Friday, February 7

  • 9 a.m. Rehearsal
  • 10 a.m. Breakout sessions/ sectional rehearsal
  • 11:15 a.m. Lunch (included)
  • 12:15 p.m. Concert by NWU Choirs
  • 1 p.m. Rehearsal
  • 2:30 p.m. Snack break
  • 2:45 p.m. Breakout sessions/sectional rehearsal
  • 4 p.m. Rehearsal on stage
  • 5 p.m. Dinner
  • 6:15 p.m. Warm-up
  • 7 p.m. Concert
  • 7:50 p.m. Farewell

Repertoire

  • Hands Are Knockin' – Kyle Pederson
  • Can We Sing the Darkness to Light? – Kyle Pederson
  • Prayer for Shalom – Kyle Pederson
  • I Dream a World – Rosephanye Powell
  • Abendlied – Josef Rheinberger
  • SA: Thither Will I Go – Tom Trenney
  • TB: The River – Susan LaBarr