MHS Choir to be Featured at South Dakota Music Conference

The MHS Choir will be one of the featured choirs on Thursday, February 13 during the 2025 South Dakota  Music Conference Weekend in Brookings. The MIlbank ensemble will perform at 10 a.m. in the Larson Memorial Concert Hall on the campus of South Dakota State University. The concert is free and open to the public. Miriam Schwenn serves as the MHS Choir Director.

“I am excited to showcase Milbank’s 88-member vocal ensemble in a 25-minute performance with Susan Karels, the MHS band director, serving as our accompanist. Schwenn said. “Susan and I have worked together for many years, and I am thrilled to have her by my side, supporting us from the piano.”  

Schedule of Performance Events*
Thursday
9:30 a.m.    Performance: Tea Area High School Concert Choir, Janice Gilbert, director, (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
10 a.m.   Performance: Milbank High School Choir, Miriam Schwenn, director (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)  
1:15 p.m.    Performance: O’Gorman High School Chamber Singers, Nick Engbers, director (Founders Recital Hall)
1:45 p.m.    Performance: Brookings High School Chorale, Denise Perry and Shawn Stemsrud, directors (Founders Recital Hall) 
4:30 p.m.    Performance: SDSU Choral Day Elementary Honor Choir, Tom Shelton, director (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
7:30 p.m.    Performance: Festival of Song, Will McLean, William Powell, Laura Diddle and Andrew Robinette, directors (Larson Memorial Concert Hall) 

Friday
9 a.m.  Performance: Brandon Valley High School Percussion Ensemble, Devon Melillo, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
10 a.m.  Keynote Address: Lighting a Fire in Kids, Chris Gleason, presenter (Founders Recital Hall)
11:05 a.m.  Performance: Roosevelt High School Symphonic Band, Nicole Decker, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
1 p.m.  Performance: Whittier Middle School Wind Ensemble, Jesse Miller, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
2:45 p.m.    Performance: University of Sioux Falls Wind Ensemble, Jonathan Neiderhiser, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
4 p.m.  Performance: Northern State University Symphonic Band, Audrey Miller, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall) 
5:15 p.m.    Northern State University Alumni Reception (Craft Chophouse and Lounge, 610 Medary Ave.)
5:15 p.m.   South Dakota State University Alumni Reception (Room 193)
5:15 p.m.  University of South Dakota Alumni Reception (Wooden Legs Brewery, downtown Brookings)
7:15 p.m.  South Dakota Bandmasters Awards Ceremony (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
7:30 p.m.   Performance: South Dakota State University Wind Symphony, Jacob Wallace, conductor; Christoper Bianco, guest conductor,  and featuring guest artists Bethany Amundson, Yiqun Chen, Steven Cohen and Aaron Ragsdale (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)

Saturday
9 a.m.  Performance: Brandon Valley Intermediate School 5th Grade Band, Del Hubers, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall)
11:05 a.m.  Performance: Garretson High School Band, Nick Sittig, conductor (Larson Memorial Concert Hall) 
*Interest sessions, meetings, etc. to be held throughout the weekend are not included. 

Submitted Photo: Back row- left to right, Liam Heller, Joe French, Jack ter Denge, Graham Lightfield, Lawson Novy, Braylen Bowsher, Bryan Meyer, Howie Zemlicka, Garrett Weber, Darin Hagen, Emmett Snaza, Devin Brown, James Nelson.
Fourth row- Bryton Blauert, Parker Grabow, Jonathan Deboer, Fischer Hawley, Thomas Bass, Rylan Wendland, Keaton Johnson, Nolan Grabow, Jack Howard, Bennett Hunt, Max Scoular, Beckham Berry, Dane Anderson, Hunter Reede, Carter Folk, Noah Falk.
Third row-, Macy Mueller, Rebecca Lavallee, Drew Anderson, Andrew Karels, Veronica Fonder, Gemma Street, Siera Wenzl, Lydia Gall, Raina Untalan, Paige Korstjens, Aanna Neugebauer, Jasmine Tietjen, Claire Snaza, Morgean French, Brooke Hendricks, Preston Laskowske, Franklin Pederson, Sam Shelstad, Iizabella Glomstad, Taylor Hallquist.
Second row- Heyden Montag, Jenna Kkorstjens, Ashlynn Batchelor, Zayda Townsend, Kenadee Mueller, Keira Steffen, Krista Nies, Rylee Scoular, Jossy Garcia, Ava Sichmeller, Camryn Sovell, Isabella Anderson, Bree Townsend, Addison Brown, Belle Pauli, Ella Sandvig, Katie Kruger, Bianca Berry, Annabelle Schwenn. Front row-Tuesday Gastineau, Kara Fonder, Ella Pederson, Estelle Schweer, Evy Liebe, Marnie Vanlith, Adison Pauli, Allie Meyer, Yanderyn Olivares, Nycole Korstjens, Teaneasha Vogel, Avery Schuneman, Kalli Grong, Jericho Jones, Elexia Quintanilla, Tayla Trapp, Macie Vanlith and Elyssa Tomac.