Two MHS Vocal Quartets Perform in All-State Concert

Two Milbank High School mixed vocal quartets joined nearly 1000 voices and a full symphony orchestra for the 72nd Annual South Dakota All-State Chorus and Orchestra on November 1-2. Sopranos included Veronica Fonder and Ashlynn Batchelor. Altos were Anna Neugebauer and Camryn Sovell. Tenors were Garrett Weber and Sam Shelstad. Basses included Graham Lightfield and Bryan Meyer. Miriam Schwenn serves as the student’s vocal director at MHS. 

Rehearsals and the culminating Grand Concert were held at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls. The choir was under the direction of Dr. Michael Hanawalt of Florida State University and the orchestra was under the direction of  Luis Viquez, a professor at the University of Rhode Island. 

Orchestra concert selections included “Overture to La Forza Del Destino” by Guiseppe Verdi, “Munamiktia” by Juan Guerra Gonzalez, and “Danse Bacchanale” from Samson et Dalila by Camille Saint Saëns. 

The combined orchestra and chorus selections included: “Hallelujah Chorus” by G.F. Handel and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky. The vocal selections include: “Gloria” by Andre Thomas, “Auld Lang Syne” arranged by Mairi Campbell and David Francis, “Sure On This Shining Night” by Morten Lauridsen, and two movements by W.A. Mozart.  

The concert was broadcast live on South Dakota Public Television on Saturday evening November 2. The concert will be re-aired on SDPT at 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Submitted Photo:
Row 1 – Ashlynn Batchelor, Veronica Fonder, Anna Neugebuaer, Camryn Sovell
Row 2 – Bryan Myer, Garrett Weber, Graham Lightfield, Sam Shelstad