The Combined Chorus of the 2024 Indiana Music Education Association's All Region Choir perform "If You Want to Go" (Philip E. Silvey) live in concert at Indiana University South Bend on November 5, 2024.
Dr. Becky Marsh, clinician and conductor
Sam Jones, collaborative pianist
The combined ensembles consist of singers from Portage High School, La Lumiere School, Plymouth High School, John Glenn High School, Tri-Township High School, Chesterton High School, Wawasee High School, New Haven High School, Wheeler High School, Pioneer Jr./Sr. High School, Merrillville High School, Hanover Central High School, and Munster High School Chamber and Maverick Choirs.
The Munster High School Choral Department at Munster High School (IN) is comprised of four curricular choirs - Beginning Treble Chorus, Maverick Choir, Chamber Choir, and Chorale - and two extracurricular ensembles - SING (Tenor/Bass Voices) and SONG (Soprano/Alto Voices). These groups sing at five major concerts, multiple community performances throughout the year, sporting events, collaborations with professional and collegiate ensembles, and the MHS commencement each June.
The choirs have performed twice in Carnegie Hall, including once with world-renowned composer/conductor Eric Whitacre, Orlando, Florida (performing in the "Candlelight Processional" at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center), and Anaheim/Los Angeles, California (performing at Disneyland). The Chorale has performed with the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra (NISO) and Chorus, the Northwest Indiana Youth Orchestra (NIYO), at Valparaiso University (world premiere of Symphony No. 5: Return to Middle Earth by Dutch composer Johan de Meij; Northwest Indiana High School Choral Festival), performed at the 2020 IMEA Professional Development Conference in Fort Wayne, opened the second act for the Oak Ridge Boys at the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN, and the program made its international debut in the 2023 Salzburg Choral Festival under the direction of both Dr. Edith Copley and Professor János Czifra.
The Munster High School Chorale is proud to accept an invitation by the United States Air Force and the American Veterans Center to perform in the 2025 National Memorial Day Choral Concert alongside the United States Air Force Band and members of the Singing Sergeants in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, the entire program is set to return to Europe in 2026 and embark on a performance tour across Ireland.
The curricular ensembles have consistently earned Gold or Gold With Distinction ratings at Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) events, and Chorale has appeared at ISSMA State Finals in 2014 (11th), 2015 (5th), and 2016 (12th). The program has released two full-length, albums, Through the Valley, in May 2021 and With Love In Our Heart: Live from Austria in December 2023. Students routinely receive Gold ratings at Regional and State Solo and Ensemble Contests and are frequently selected for state, regional, national, and international honor choirs; many alumni of the program go on to continue to sing in collegiate and professional ensembles across the nation. The nationally renowned program is under the direction of Mr. Luke McGinnis.
View more at linktr.ee/munsterchoirs
2024 Choral Department Patrons
Munster Lions Club
SCM Investment Services
Anonymous
St. Thomas More Catholic Church and School
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Kathy Giannini
Lansing Cleaners
The George Family
The Tsataros Family
Anonymous
Senior Adult Friendship Club of the Jewish Federation of Northwest Indiana
Anonymous
Sharon Bobeck
The Gutierrez Family
The Munster High School Choral Department extends a sincere note of thanks for the generous gifts from our donors. These gifts enable us to enhance the educational experience for our students and underwrite distinctive programming. These donations, no matter the size, are extremely valued.
Credits: "If You Want to Go"
Text: African proverb
Music by Philip E. Silvey
Published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.