EFHC Invitation Letter

This message serves as an invitation to you and your talented singers to participate in SDSU Choral Day’s Elementary Festival Honor Choir. The EFHC is an independent honor choir of fourth, fifth and sixth grade students who are chosen by recorded audition. 

We are pleased to announce that nationally recognized youth chorus director, Ken Berg, will be joining us as guest conductor for this year’s event!

Ken Berg has served as the Birmingham (Alabama) Boys Choir choirmaster since 1978.  He continues to raise the level of excellence which the choir enjoys, and it flourishes under his leadership. Ken Berg is a graduate of Samford University where he received both his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees.

Ken is a published composer with several different publishing companies as well as Bella Voce Press, (www.bellavocepress.com). He has served as State President, High School R&S Chair and Southern Division High School R&S Chair for the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA).  In 2021, Ken was inducted into the Alabama Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

More About Ken

The South Dakota Elementary Festival Honor Choir is being held in conjunction with the 52^nd Annual South Dakota Choral Day held on the SDSU campus on February 9, 2023. The choir is comprised of young singers from across South Dakota.

Audition Requirements:

1. Students must be in the fourth, fifth and sixth grade.
2. Students must be recommended by their school music teacher, director or private instructor
3. Teachers and students must work together to upload an audition form and audio file.
4. A $5 registration fee is required of each student that auditions. Auditions are due by Monday, October 24, 2022. Teachers will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, November 22, 2022.
5. Students chosen to be part of the Elementary Honor Choir must be accompanied by their music teacher on the day of the festival.

Students selected for the Elementary Honor Choir in Brookings will practice during the day. The concert begins at 4:45 p.m.

An additional charge of $30 per student is assessed upon acceptance into the honor choir. The charge covers the cost of a T- shirt (worn for the performance), lunch, break treats, a group photo for each director (with the option for singers to purchase) and music. An additional set of music will be provided for each teacher whose students have been chosen to participate.

Please email Andie Star with any questions. If you know of any new elementary music teacher, please feel free to pass this invitation onto them. All are welcome to apply. We look forward to seeing everyone in Brookings on February 10, 2022!

Sincerely,