Students Shine in the Spotlight for 10th Annual Fox Cities Choral Music Festival

Students from Kimberly, Hortonville and Weyauwega-Fremont high schools star in the 10th Annual Fox Cities Choral Music Festival tonight. The tradition of choral excellence continues as the schools perform individually and then unite as one for two special numbers under the expert direction of internationally recognized choral director Henry H. Leck.

Students from the schools joined in song for the first time during a mass rehearsal on Monday at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center. During the rehearsal, Leck worked with students and discussed breathing as a group, blending voices, dynamics, enunciation and articulation.

Students practice a dance for tonight’s performance during a rehearsal Monday.

Leck continued to delve deeper into techniques earlier today when he visited with each choir at their respective schools. Each school had an hour-long rehearsal with Leck to polish the three pieces they will perform, along with the two mass choir pieces. Students and directors also were able to ask Leck questions and receive final pointers during the rehearsal.

Students at Hortonville High School rehearse with choral director Henry H. Leck.

Choral director Henry H. Leck offers pointers to students at Kimberly High School.

Weyauwega-Fremont High School students do choral exercises with
choral director Henry H. Leck.

Henry H. Leck

Leck, artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, founded the organization in 1986. It is one of the largest and most respected children’s choirs. The choir tours internationally on an annual basis and has sung throughout the world, including a stop at Super Bowl XLVI where Leck arranged and conducted the national anthem for Kelly Clarkson and the ICC.

He also is professor emeritus of Choral Music and director of Choral Activities for Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. and is an honorary associate professor at the Hong Kong Institute of Teacher Education in Hong Kong. He has conducted mixed, men’s, women’s, junior high, children’s all-state and festival choirs in nearly every state. For 22 years, Leck has conducted a National Youth Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall. He has conducted many international festivals as well.

Tickets are $12 and $6 for students.