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About the Minnetonka Concert Choir
The Minnetonka Concert Choir is a performing, touring, preparatory ensemble for girls in grades six through ninth. Exceptions may be made for reasons of age, prior choir training and/or outstanding musicianship. Participants are expected to possess strong musical skills and be models of excellent attitude and behaviour. Girls in Concert Choir may eventually move on to sing in the Chamber Choir.
Annually, the Concert Choir performs 6-8 times each concert season (September through June), attends two choir camps, and tours nationally (this is optional for members). The choir performs at various community functions, churches and MAM concerts. Recent tour destinations have included Des Moines, IA; Kansas City, MO; New Orleans, LA, Chicago, IL, Orlando, FL. and Denver, CO. In the summer of 2011 the Concert Choir participated in the Festivals of the Americas in Indianapolis, IN.
The Concert Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. and one Saturday a month from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the Arts Center on 7, 18285 Hwy 7, Minnetonka (adjacent to Minnetonka High School). Auditions are arranged at a mutually agreeable time in August, September and January.
To learn more about our Youth Choirs, click here to enjoy our 12-minute video presentation featuring Roger Hoel and Leanne Kampfe, the music directors of the Chamber and Concert Choirs, past and present choir managers, parents and members.
Click here to download and listen to a sampler track from our 2007 CD "If I Could Write A Song" including excerpts from Siyahamba, Ani Ma'Amin & Why We Sing.
At the Pacific Rim Children's Choral Festival At the Festival of America in Indianapolis
Mission
The mission of the Concert Choir is to introduce girls in grades 6-8 to choral singing and expose them to music of increasing complexity in preparation for their participation in future choral ensembles. In addition, it provides a positive and enriching environment in which the girls are able to develop friendships and learn to function as a member of a group.
Specific Objectives
- To understand and have facility of the Cappella Choir objectives
- To increase physical and mental stamina in rehearsal situations
- To begin to understand and perform with historical authenticity
- To develop increasing vocal strength to sustain more sophisticated melodic phrases
- To maintain a consistent vocal blend and balance
- To continue to cultivate a healthy tone quality with correct vowel and consonant release
- To continue the development of listening skills for more accurate in-tune singing
- To increase independence in music reading and music memory
- To sing in three or four-part music with independence and security
- To sing with confidence in repertoire/sight singing evaluations
- To continue study of more advanced theory concepts
- To expand theory knowledge, according to score demands
- To learn a greater variety of foreign languages in vocal music
- To refine performance skills
- To assist and be supportive of fellow choir members
Music Theory Objectives
- Continued scale degree study
- Major/minor intervals
- Rhythmic values: more complex patterns with ties and syncopation
- Meters: reinforce compound meters
- Key signatures: relative and parallel major and minors
- Major and minor triads
- Rhythmic and melodic dictation of longer melodies involving more complex skips
- Sight singing 2-3 part music
- Vocabulary
Goals of the Concert Choir Tour Experience
- Rehearse and perform with people of similar age and music conductors from different parts of the country
- Gain an understanding of how choral music impacts people of similar age from across the country
- Rehearse and perform music particular to various parts of the world, composed by natives of those diverse locations, thus gaining insight into the cultures of those areas
- Learn to be dramatically flexible and controlled while traveling with a large group
About the Director
 Leanne Kampfe is a graduate of Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. After earning her bachelor's degree in music education in 1996, she spent three years teaching K-12 vocal music in Wagner, SD. In 1999, Leanne moved to Minnesota to pursue a Master's Degree in music education at the University of Minnesota, which she completed in 2001. She is presently a vocal music instructor in the Hopkins School District where she teaches middle school students. In addition to her school responsibilities, Leanne is an active member of the Minnesota Chorale.
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