Practice, commitment propel Huron High School's Huron Choirs to international recognition

Huron junior and member of the A Cappella choir Alexandria Strother said the choir takes up a lot of time during and after school but she doesn’t mind the commitment.

“Choir is definitely worth it,” Strother said. “I love music with all of my heart and singing is my true passion.”

Kidd said those frequent choral rehearsals contribute to the success of the choir, and have helped them receive multiple invitations to perform internationally.

One of the invitations came this year when the A Cappella and Bel Canto sections of the choir were asked to perform in Salzburg, Austria, at the festival “Cantus Salisburgensis.”

During the trip in March 2010, the students got to spend five nights in Europe, visit Mozart’s childhood home and sing with a German choir. Ingram described the trip as a “life changing experience” for many of the students, including some who had never even been on airplane before.

But for Kidd and Ingram, the genuine closeness of the group is more important than the awards, the performances, and the trips.

“It’s really a bonding experience,” Kidd said. “You’re going to make friends that you keep forever—maybe even marry.”

And actually, marriage between two choir students may not be such an outrageous idea. Kidd and Ingram attended a wedding two years ago of former students that graduated from Huron and were involved in the choir.

Ingram said it’s moments like those, getting to share life experiences and “think about what it means to be human,” that are his favorite aspects of teaching music.

“I feel lucky to have a job that I’m passionate about and that’s why, after 35 years, I don’t want to quit yet,” Ingram said.

Click to listen to the Huron Choirs sing Ave Maria