Singing runs in the family

Singing has been a part of Shea Henderson's life for almost as long as she can remember.

"When I was little, that's all I wanted to do," she said.

Henderson comes by it naturally -- her father, Marc, once sang in the men's chorus at St. John's University in Collegeville.

Her mother, Courtney, and older sister Sydney are singers also.

"My parents were always singing, so I kind of picked up on that," Henderson said.

The summer before starting seventh grade in Detroit Lakes, Shea decided to take her talent to the next level and began taking singing lessons from Detroit Lakes High School vocal music director Kathy Larson.

"I'll be starting my fourth year with her," said the soon-to-be DLHS sophomore.

Since starting to work with Larson, Henderson has been selected for both the regional and state honor choirs twice, and has taken first place in the Minnesota Music Teacher's Association vocal competition for the past two years in a row.

So when her mother found some information about the National Catholic Youth Choir on the Internet, "I was pretty excited," Henderson said.

She started getting her application ready that day. The application included a CD recording of her singing a scale and one song selection, a written essay and recommendations from Larson and one of her Sunday school instructors.

Henderson was accepted, and took part in the weeklong music camp at St. John's University on June 15-29. As it happened, the director for the NCYC this summer was Dr. Axel Theimer -- the same man who directed her father in the chorus at St. John's when he was still in college.

"He's (Dr. Theimer) been at St. John's for 41 years," said Henderson, adding, "He was a member of the Vienna Boy's Choir, so he's really experienced."

Henderson had met Dr. Theimer when he was working as a clinician at various singing events, and was excited by the opportunity to work with him again.

She was equally enthused by the chance to "be with people who really enjoyed singing, for two whole weeks."

During those two weeks, Henderson not only had the chance to work with Dr. Theimer, but to sing at a wide variety of venues.

"We toured Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota," she said. "We went to Sioux Falls, Staples, Aberdeen, Wayzata -- whatever church would host us."

Next year, Henderson said, she hopes her home church at Holy Rosary "will get on board" and host one of the NCYC concerts.

During the tour Henderson was also given the opportunity to sing a solo each evening.

"I was the youngest person to sing a solo," she said proudly.

Henderson plans to continue pursuing vocal music opportunities whenever and wherever she can. Though she's not sure if she would ever pursue a professional singing career, "I could see myself doing it if the opportunity came up."

Unsurprisingly, she is also a big fan of the Fox television series "Glee," which focuses on the trials and tribulations of a high school glee club.

Henderson said she doesn't have any particular genre of music that she likes to sing -- "I like anything that has music and lyrics."

She also enjoys playing piano, although not competitively.

"I play for stress relief and enjoyment," she added.