A pair of singers from the Lawrence Academy of Music Girl Choir will represent Wisconsin at the 2016 “Let Freedom SING!” Girlchoir National Convention.
Elena Anderla of Appleton and Haley Corcoran of Kaukauna will serve as singer delegates at the six-day choral festival July 24-29 in Philadelphia. The festival will be held at the same time in the same city as the Democratic National Convention.
“The fact that these two conventions are taking place at the same time is no coincidence,” said Steven Fisher, founder and artistic director of the “Let Freedom SING!” festival. “In presidential election seasons, I, like most Americans, grow weary of partisan politics dividing us as a country. It seemed like a perfect opportunity to showcase choral music and its extraordinary ability to quite literally unite all 50 states.”
Convention organizers asked only one youth choir from each state to send delegates to the convention according to Karen Bruno, director of the Academy of Music, artisitic director of the Girl Choir program and conductor of the Girl Choir Bel Canto singers.
“We are honored to know that our Girl Choir program has been recognized nationally for its outstanding musicianship, and thrilled that two of our singers have the opportunity to participate in this unique event,” said Bruno.
Anderla, a senior Xavier High School, has been a member of the Lawrence Academy Girl Choir for eight years.
“I’m honored to have been chosen for this amazing experience to sing with new voices and a new director in Philadelphia for a week,” said Anderla. “This convention will be a great way to show the country that music truly has the power to unite us despite our many different backgrounds.”
“We are honored to know that our Girl Choir program has been recognized nationally for its outstanding musicianship, and thrilled that two of our singers have the opportunity to participate in this unique event.”
— Karen Bruno
Corcoran, who has sung with the Girl Choir program the past six years, is a junior at Kaukauna High School.
“Music is a big part of my life and I am honored to be selected to represent Wisconsin at the convention,” said Corcoran. “I am most looking forward to meeting new people who share the same passions as I do. I’m sure this will be the highlight of my high school music career. I I’m excited for this opportunity.”
Like all of the singer delegates, Anderla and Corcoran will need to learn a repertoire of 10 songs before they arrive in Philadelphia. In addition to a culminating “Let Freedom SING!” concert on July 27 at Arcadia University, Anderla and Corcoran will participate in other “pop up” performance at historic sites throughout Philadelphia.
“It will be a magical choral moment at the opening of the convention when these young women get to hear for the first time what 50 states singing together sounds like,” said Fisher. “As a founder of an organization that aims to transform the lives of young people through the power of making music together, I’m keenly aware of how choral music empowers young women in a unique way when they have the opportunity to make it surround by other girls, helping them to develop into strong, confident women who are at the ready to literally let their voices be heard.”
About Lawrence University
Founded in 1847, Lawrence University uniquely integrates a college of liberal arts and sciences with a nationally recognized conservatory of music, both devoted exclusively to undergraduate education. It was selected for inclusion in the book “Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About College” and Fiske’s Guide to Colleges 2016. Engaged learning, the development of multiple interests and community outreach are central to the Lawrence experience. Lawrence draws its 1,500 students from nearly every state and more than 50 countries.
