Lutheran high school students from across Minnesota participate in this June program. A service of Celebration and Transition welcomed the new addition to the college’s summer programs.
Dr. Michael Culloton, assistant professor of vocal music education and church music, and conductor of the Chapel Choir, Kantorei and Cantabile at Concordia, is looking forward to being MASLC’s new conductor.
“I am very excited to take over the artistic leadership of this great organization, and we are thrilled to host these fine musicians on our campus every summer,” Culloton said.
The 20-day MASLC summer choral camp experience is open to all Minnesota Lutheran students in 10th-12th grade. Choir members are chosen by competitive auditions at various locations across the state and a choir of 45-60 voices is chosen.
Members participate in eight days of rehearsal, Bible study and discussion of the meaning of the texts they will be singing on tour during the last 12 days of camp. Part of each concert on the tour is a congregational hymn-sing in which the choir members sit among the congregation, joining in the hymns of the Lutheran church, old and new. The choir tours a large part of the state each summer singing at 12-14 different Lutheran congregations.
The Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir began in 1969 and has grown to include more than 1,400 alumni who have shared sacred music and Christian witness in approximately 150 churches throughout the state. MASLC, founded by Mark Aamot, has been under the direction of Dr. Thomas Rossin, who retired from the choir in 2016 after serving for 26 years.
The concept of the choir is to provide young people with a spiritually aesthetic experience, and the opportunity to grow in their faith and share that enthusiasm for church music with congregations on the tour.
“MASLC has been a very important choir in the lives of many of my students over the years, and I am honored to carry on the legacy of Mark Aamot and Tom Rossin,” Culloton said.
(10358/kk)
