The 40th Annual Detroit Lakes All-City Choir Festival will be held Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5.
Over 500 Detroit Lakes choir students in grades 6-12 will be participating in this event.
J. Aaron McDermid of the University of Jamestown (N.D.) will be the clinician and guest conductor of this year’s All-City Choir Festival. A conductor and composer, McDermid is the director of choral activities at the University of Jamestown. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College and Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Michigan. McDermid is currently finishing his doctorate of music at the University of Arizona.
Prior to his arrival in Jamestown, McDermid was the conductor and artistic director of the Tucson Masterworks Chorale, where he conducted performances of the Bach St. John Passion, Durufle’ Requiem, Bach Magnificat and Brahms Nanie.
He was also the assistant conductor of the internationally acclaimed University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club and choral director at Northfield High School in Northfield, where he was named 1999 Outstanding Young Choral Conductor by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota.
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McDermid is a composer. His compositions are performed by choirs throughout the United States and Europe, including performances at American Choral Directors Association National Conventions, the Kentucky, North Dakota and Tennessee All-State Choirs, the International Honor Choir in Berlin, Germany, and the Australian National Choral Association honor Coir in Melbourne, Australia.
At the All-City Grand Finale Concert on Saturday, April 5, McDermid will direct one selection with each participating choir in addition to three mass choir selections featuring all choir students in grades 6-12.
The Grand Concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Ralph Anderson Gymnasium at the Detroit Lakes High School. The public is cordially invited to attend the concert.
Choir members are selling advance tickets, and tickets will also be available at the door. Admission prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students in grades 6-12. Children in grades 5 and under will be admitted free of charge.
