Echo Performance 2016

The Glacier Echoes were honored to perform for the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce's Annual Banquet!

2016 AA Choir Festival

Flathead Valley music lovers will be treated to a grand affair to welcome in the holiday season, when three hundred voices present the Western Montana AA Choir Festival Concert at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, November 15, in the Glacier High School Performance Hall.

“This is an event that Kalispell has been waiting for – Bozeman, Missoula Big Sky, Flathead, Glacier and Helena High High School Concert Choirs joining together to make beautiful music, “ says Sandee Sauer, Glacier High School choir director.

Individual choir performances will open Tuesday afternoon’s concert. The choirs will then combine to present five choral masterworks under the direction of one of Seattle’s finest choral conductors, Dr. Geoffrey Boers. 

Geoffrey Boers is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington in Seattle, a program widely recognized as forward thinking, unique, and of great distinction. Under his direction, the graduate choral program has developed a singular mission: to nurture the whole student as conductor-teacher-servant-leader-scholar.  Through his teaching he is exploring the evolution of conducting gesture and rehearsal pedagogy and their connection with the emerging neuroscience of mirror neurons, empathy, perception, learning, and personal transformation. His exploration has led to new thoughts about conducting and teaching with regard to breath, movement, artistry, personal awareness, and cultural development..  He has developed mentorship programs across the United States and Canada. In addition to these thoughts about mentorship he is actively working with other leaders in ACDA and NAfME to develop a more unified and useful system for development of musicianship, assessment, adjudication, and repertoire grading.

The repertoire Dr. Boers has chosen includes John Rutter’s “Shepherd’s Pipe Carol,” Robert Schumann’s “Ziguenerleben” and “Flight Song” with music by Kim Andre’ Arnesen. The choirs will be accompanied by Debby Gardner.

 “The five choirs will rehearse for two days under Dr. Boer’s direction, and I expect that by Tuesday afternoon, the festival choir will be performing at a high level of polish and intensity,” says Jennifer Stephens, Flathead High School Choir Director.  Photos available here (thank you, Pete Sauer):AA Festival 2016

All-State 2016

I am so proud of our All-State Musicians!

Supporting the Special Olympics! 2016

The Advanced Women's Choir was honored to perform the National Anthem for our Flathead Valley Special Olympic Teams.

Flathead, Glacier and KMS Collaborate! 2016

Men's choirs from Flathead and Glacier High Schools joined forces with the Kalispell Middle School boys to perform.  The combined choir performed an exciting medley of Johnny Cash songs.  Thank you to the KMS choir director, Tracy Snipstead, for the invitation!

Fall Concert October 24, 2016

The Glacier High School Choral Department will present “Stand Together” Monday, October 24 at 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm in the Glacier High School Performance Hall.

The concert will open with a beautiful arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” performed by the Glacier Echoes.  The Glacier Girls’ Choir will sing a variety of tunes including “There Will Come Soft Rains.”  Glacier Breeze will bring energy to the stage with a rousing spiritual called “The Storm Is Passing Over.” “The Armed Forces Medley” will be performed by the Glacier Men’s Choir.  The Glacier Echoes will sing several Pentatonix songs including “Na Na Na” and “Take Me Home.”  The concert’s title song, “Stand Together,” will be performed by the Glacier Advanced Women’s Choir.  The Glacier Concert Choir will sing a lovely selection called “After the War.”

The Glacier Concert Choir and the talented audience will combine for the grand finale of the concert.  “We are going to close the concert with Cecil Effinger’s “An American Hymn,” an inspirational setting of “America the Beautiful,” says Glacier’s Choir Director, Sandee Sauer.  “I am looking forward to hearing many voices join together in song.” 

Photos by Pete Sauer are available here:Fall Concert 2016

The Echoes get pom pom hats! 2016

The Glacier Echoes each received a handmade hat today.  The hats were knitted by Brenda Probert aka "Pom Pom Grandma."  Thank you, Brenda - we love them!