Placement audition for WAYS scheduled for Sept. 12

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will conduct placement auditions for Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS), at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12, at the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall, 1164 West 10th St.

WAYS is seeking students in grades four through eight who have been introduced to choir/music in their academic school setting and desire additional educational and performance opportunities in vocal music.

Throughout the semester, the choir will rehearse on Mondays, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Performances will include the annual MCA Winter Music Division Concert on Dec. 5, as well as holiday caroling and other community events.

WAYS is directed by Lindsy O’Shea. O’Shea holds a Masters of Arts in Instruction and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music Performance from Saint Mary’s University. She has been involved with choral music, as a singer or director, for 20 years. O’Shea previously taught choral and general music in the Rochester and Faribault Public Schools. Additionally, she worked with the choirs of Blue Lake Fine Arts camp and with the Michigan State University Children's Choir. She is currently adjunct faculty with Saint Mary’s University, directing the Women’s Choir and teaching private voice lessons.

Registration for WAYS, as well as other MCA semester I dance and music programming will be accepted at the MCA registration open house, Thursday, Sept. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. Interested students may also register online at www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org.

WAYS is offered tuition-free for the 2011-2012 academic year. This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. This activity is also made possible in part by a grant from the Young Singer’s Foundation.

For more information about MCA’s music division or other arts programming, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Winona Area Youth Singers winter concert is Nov. 22

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Winona Area Youth Singers’ (WAYS) winter concert, “Art,” at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall, 1164 West 10th St.

The concert will feature texts of famous writers, including Robert Louis Stevenson and Emily Dickinson, as well as the melodies of Handel, Tchaikovsky, and other famous composers.

Reserved tickets are not necessary. Admission is $10 at the door for adults (cash and checks only please). Admission is free for children and students ages 2-21.

The choir will also perform in a special collaboration with the Conservatory’s dance division in the Dance Repertory Company’s production of The Nutcracker, Dec. 2-5, at Saint Mary’s University’s Page Theatre.

WAYS members are students in grades four through eight from Winona and the surrounding areas. WAYS is dedicated to providing quality, artistic and educational vocal music experiences for all young people, regardless of their financial circumstances. WAYS is tuition-free to all students for the 2010-11 academic year.

This activity is made possible in part by a grant provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board, through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008. This activity is also made possible in part by a grant from the Young Singer’s Foundation.

For more information about WAYS or MCA’s other performing arts programming, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Winona Area Youth Singers to hold Spring Concert April 18

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts presents the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS) in a spring concert, American Music History, at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18, at the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall, 1164 West 10th St., Winona.

WAYS members are students in grades four through eight from the Winona area. The youth choir started its second year this past September and has been rehearsing a variety of choral material. This winter the choir performed folk music from around the world, as well as some traditional holiday carols.

The spring concert will feature music from early Americana to contemporary musical theatre, showcasing both sacred and secular aspects of pour nation’s musical growth. Featured works include: The Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful, God Bless America, How Can I Keep From Singing, Simple Gifts, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, O Music, The Merry, Merry Heart, Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, It Don’t Mean a Thing, For Good, You’re Never Fully Dressed, and Do, Re, Mi.

WAYS members include: Philippa Armstrong, Lauren Callahan, Carina Dretske, Jessica Kohner, Justine Meinke, Alexa Morescki, Laura Schleich, Natalie Schleich, Audrey Schmidt and Korto Thrune. WAYS is directed by Lindsy O’Shea.

Reserved tickets are not necessary. Admission is $10 (cash or checks only) at the door for adults or free for children and students ages 2 to 21.

WAYS is the official youth choir of the Minnesota Conservator for the Arts. WAYS is dedicated to providing quality, artistic, and educational vocal music experiences for all young people, regardless of their financial circumstances. WAYS is offered tuition free to all students for the 2009-2010 academic year through a grant from Saint Mary’s University Friends of the School of the Arts.

For more information about WAYS or MCA’s other performing arts programming, visit: www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail: mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5501.

Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts registration open house is Jan. 4

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will conduct semester II registration open house, Monday, Jan. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m., at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

Registration for the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS) choir, private music lessons, and semester II dance classes, which begin Jan. 5, will be accepted at the open house. Tours of the facility will be available, refreshments will be served, and students will have the opportunity to meet new and returning faculty and staff. Additionally, students can be fitted for all their dance attire needs at the open house. MCA’s dance attire boutique offers quality basics including leotards, tights, ballet slippers, jazz shoes and tap shoes.

Dance class offerings are available for youth as young as 3 to adults and include beginning through advanced levels in classical ballet, tap, jazz, creative movement and modern, hip hop, and a special tuition-free boys program. Semester II also provides programming specifically for beginning teens and adults through classes in partnership with Winona County Community Education, including: Clogging I, Clogging II, Dance Fitness, Power Piyo, and Teen and Adult Ballet. Academic credit is available through Cotter High School and Saint Mary’s University for a variety of MCA dance classes.

The official youth choir of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, WAYS offers students in grades four through eight additional educational and choral performance opportunities. Semester II WAYS members will participate in a spring concert, a special mentorship program with Saint Mary’s choirs, and in community outreach by performing at nursing homes and for other charitable events. Placement auditions for new choral students interested in becoming WAYS members will take place at the open house as well. Due to a grant from the Saint Mary’s University Friends of the School of the Arts, WAYS is tuition-free for all students for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Private lessons in voice, guitar and other classical instruments are available for students in grades four through 12. Private music lessons are $75 for five 30-minute lessons or $140 for 10 lessons.

MCA Semester II music and dance programming provides five to 13 weeks of instruction, depending on the specific course/activity. Dance classes conclude with a demonstration week, March 22-27. Those dancers in the Dance Repertory Company will perform in the company’s annual spring concert April 22-24. WAYS will conclude the semester with the presentation of a spring concert April 18 and a performance with the SMU choirs on April 24. Tuition for MCA classes varies, depending on course length and level. Discounts and scholarships are available.

For more information about MCA’s open house, dance classes, WAYS, private music lessons or future performances, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5500. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University.

Winona Area Youth Singers winter concert is Dec. 6

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS) in a winter concert — featuring music from around the world — on Sunday, Dec. 6.

The concert will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall, 1164 West 10th St. The program will include folk music from the Pacific Rim, Africa, Europe and the Americas, and concludes with some traditional Christmas carols.

“The singers have been working hard and are excited to perform songs from different cultures and in different languages,” said Lindsy O’Shea, WAYS director.

WAYS members include: Shae Alcamo, Phillippa Armstrong, Adrian Brietzke, Andrew Behling, Mariah Bruner, Carina Dretske, Daria Goede, Justine Meinke, Alexa Morescki, Shannon O’Brien, Audrey Schmidt, Addison Sim, Noel Thompson and Korto Thrune. The WAYS assistant conductor is Matt Polum, and Laura Rothe serves as accompanist.

Reserved tickets are not necessary. Admission is $10 at the door for adults; cash and checks are accepted. Admission is free for children and students ages 2-21.

In addition to the winter concert, the group will be participating in holiday caroling throughout the Winona community on Monday, Dec. 7.

WAYS members are students in grades four through eight from Winona and the surrounding areas. The youth choir started its second year this past September and has been rehearsing a variety of choral material.

WAYS is the official youth choir of the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts. WAYS is dedicated to providing quality, artistic and educational vocal music experiences for all young people, regardless of their financial circumstances.

WAYS is tuition-free to all students in the 2009-10 academic year, courtesy of a grant from Saint Mary’s University Friends of the School of the Arts. Registration and placement auditions to join WAYS for semester II are Monday, Jan. 4, 2010.

For more information about WAYS or MCA’s other performing arts programming, visit www.mnconservatoryforthearts.org, e-mail mca@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5501. The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University.

Winona Area Youth Singers’ inaugural concert is Nov. 23

WINONA, Minn. — The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts will present the Winona Area Youth Singers (WAYS) in “Musical Menagerie,” an inaugural concert, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Valéncia Arts Center, 1164 West 10th St.

WAYS members are students in grades three through six from the Winona area. The youth choir started in September of this year and has been rehearsing a variety of choral material. The program features music about animals, including German and American folk songs; a familiar hymn text; and modern compositions, both serious and humorous.

“We’re very excited to be presenting our first performance,” said Lindsy O’Shea, WAYS director. “The singers have been working very hard, and their enthusiasm and talent will make it a great concert. We hope that the performance will encourage other young singers to join us next semester.”

WAYS members include: Alexa Akre, Shea Alcamo, Philippa Armstrong, Andrew Behling, Taylor Cada, Libby Crigler, Kate Dulak, Korto Greene, Trinity Hougin, Justine Meinke and Lucy Wilfahrt. The WAYS assistant conductor is Jeff David, and Anthony Freeman serves as accompanist.

Reserved tickets are not necessary. Admission is $5 (cash or check only) at the door.

In addition to its inaugural concert, WAYS will be featured in the snow scene with MCA’s Dance Repertory Company in “The Nutcracker” (Dec. 4-7), will perform a spring concert second semester, and will participate in community outreach by performing at nursing homes and for other charitable events.

WAYS is the official youth choir of the Minnesota Conservator for the Arts. WAYS is dedicated to providing quality, artistic and educational programs for all young people, regardless of their financial circumstances.

For more information about WAYS or MCA’s other performing arts programming, visit www.smumn.edu/mca, e-mail dance@smumn.edu or call (507) 453-5501.

The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University.