The mission of the WELS Choral Fest is to foster Christian fellowship among WELS high school students as they prepare, rehearse, and perform choral music, so that with one heart and voice they may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 15:6)
To expose students to a wide variety of sacred choral literature that promotes spiritual, technical, and aesthetic musical growth.
To foster Christian fellowship among WELS high school students
Provide an opportunity for the students to develop Christian friendships during rehearsals and social activities
Create an environment of cooperation rather than competition
To promote the music program and ministry of the host school in their association and the community
To make Choral Fest financially feasible for all WELS high schools
Create and sustain a central WELS’ Choral Fest account to fund the Executive committee, commissions, and other joint Choral Fest projects.
Provide a WELS’ Choral Fest music library database to clinicians so they can program literature from past festivals
Since 1998 GPL has participated in the WELS Choral Festival. This festival is a three day (Fri-Sun) event and has 2 concerts. Other participants in these concerts include students from most of the Area Lutheran High Schools and Synod Preparatory schools. There is a Friday evening Pops Concert and Sunday afternoon Sacred Concert. This festival is hosted by a different WELS High School or Prep School each year. For specific information about this year's Choral Festival, please visit: www.welsfinearts.org
Members of Honor Choir attend this festival at no cost (other than a couple meals on the road) to the student. While attending the festival students are housed in groups of two or more with families in the host school area. This significantly reduces the cost of attending the festival. Transportation is provided by the school and is usually by bus but occasionally in vans.
The schedule is usually as follows (a festival specific schedule is available on the Choral Festival website.)
Thursday: Travel (depending on location)
Day 1: Rehearse all day, evening concert
Day 2: Rehearse all day, evening activity
Day 3: Sing in worship at host congregation; Concert; travel home.
For those unable to attend the concerts, you will be able to watch them via internet streaming. That information is available the week before the concert.
Academic eligibility, as outlined in the student handbook, applies.
Please email emartens@gplhs.org with questions.