Skahen named to honor choir

by Cori Hilsgen

news@thenewsleaders.com

St. John’s Prep eighth-grade student Jack Skahen was recently named to the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota Honor Choir for the second year in a row.

The honor recognizes outstanding young Minnesota choral musicians.

Skahen sings in the SJP middle school choir and has been a member of the St. John’s Boys’ Choir since 2014. He auditioned under the direction of Andrè Heywood for the state choir and is one of seven members of the SJU Boys’ Choir who was named to the ACDA Honor Choir.

The ACDA offers six choirs, with about 2,300 children auditioning for 800 spots. If a child is selected, he or she is required to memorize four or five pieces for the ACDA public performance.

Skahen learned his pieces during rehearsal with Heywood and also practiced more at home.

Besides singing, his interest in music also includes playing the trombone and performing as a member of the St. John’s Prep concert band and jazz band.

“I am excited to be a part of the state honor choir again this year,” Skahen said. “The opportunity allows me to meet other kids who enjoy singing as much as I do, and it’s a great chance for us to share our musical talents.”

“We are thrilled for Jack,” said the choir’s executive director, Angela Klaverkamp.

Members of the SJU Boys’ Choir rehearse between four to 14 hours each week and perform at about 30 events each season.

Skahen was one of seven boys selected from the Boys’ Choir this year and one of five selected last year.

The ACDA seventh- and eighth-grade Boys’ Honor Choir brings together about 120 of the state’s best singers in that age range. Boys are chosen from more than hundreds of auditions across the state.

Heywood said he has served as both a judge for the auditions and as a conductor of the Honor Choir, so he knows the standard for selection is “extremely high.”

As a member of the Boys’ Choir, Skahen has traveled to Chicago and Ireland, and has been featured as a soloist at several events, including the Sept. 25 community memorial service in St. Joseph for the late Jacob Wetterling.

“We are extremely proud of Jack’s selection for the ACDA seventh- and eighth-grade Boys’ Honor Choir for the second year in a row,” Heywood said. “He is an outstanding choirboy, a talented and dedicated musician, and an exceptional leader in our ensemble. We are grateful his local accomplishments are being recognized on the state level.”

Besides Skahen’s musical interests, he also plays soccer, participates in Knowledge Bowl and enjoys photography.

He is unsure what field he would like to pursue after he graduates, but he is certain music and theater will always be a big part of his life.

Skahen is the son of Jennifer and Sean Skahen of St. Joseph. He has two sisters, Brenna and Caitlin, and two brothers, Tom and Brady, and a Boston terrier/pug named Pearl.

Skahen’s brothers and sisters also all play instruments, sing and participate in theater.

His parents said they, too, very much enjoy and support the arts.

“We are both very proud of Jack for his accomplishment,” Jennifer Skahen said. “We know he will be successful in whatever he chooses to do in life but are especially thrilled he has a passion for music. Everyone needs a creative outlet, and music feeds the soul.”

Jennifer and Sean Skahen own Sunset Manufacturing in St. Joseph, a sheet metal-fabrication company which manufactures many dairy industry products.

Other SJU Boys’ Choir members selected for the Honor Choir include:

Dolan Binder, grade 8, Sartell Middle School, son of Annette and Harvey Binder; Clayton Fuller, grade 7, Sartell Middle School, son of Peggy and Bruce Fuller; Paul Heuer, grade 7, Winsted Holy Trinity School in Lester Prairie, son of Sarah and Richard Heuer; Charlie Magnuson, grade 7, Sartell Middle School, son of Kimberly and Chris Magnuson; Dean Rothstein, grade 8, ROCORI Middle School, son of Lois and Marvin Rothstein; and Carter Trombley, grade 8, Sartell Middle School, son of Lisa and Greg Trombley.

“Jack and his peers are evidence there is great music and great teaching happening here in Central Minnesota,” Heywood said.

This year’s ACDA public performance was held on Nov. 19 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi.

Upcoming concerts for the St. John’s Boys’ Choir include: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 “Christmas at Saint John’s” concerts at St. John’s University and at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16 and 17 “A Ceremony of Carols” concerts at the Cathedral of St. Mary, St. Cloud.

Two Sartell Middle School girls were also named for the ACDA seventh- and eighth-grade Honor Choir. They are Emma Lathe, grade 8, daughter of Garrett and Holly Lathe, and Grace Radeke, grade 8, daughter of Kate and Paul Radeke.

The selection of the ACDA Girls’ Honor Choir is the same process as the Boys’ Honor Choir. The audition for 800 spots includes both girls and boys.

Radeke previously participated in Honor Choir in sixth grade. She plays the piano, ukulele and clarinet. This is Radeke’s fifth year with the Cantabile Girls’ Choir. She is also active with GREAT Theatre, Sartell Middle School Theatre and performed in the Wirth Center’s School of Rock.

“It is an honor to be selected to sing with the top vocal musicians in the state,” Radeke said. “I have connected with musicians from other schools through choral and theatrical programs, and I love being able to sing on the same stage with them.”

This is Lathe’s fifth year singing with the Cantabile Girls’ Choir. She said being in the Honor Choir can be challenging.

“It was both fun and challenging,” Lathe said. “Singing in different languages and learning that much music was worth all the work. The concert was energetic and the audience loved it.”

Lathe’s mother is the elementary music teacher at Pine Meadow Elementary School in Sartell, and her father is the director of the Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota. Her mother also directed the Cantabile Girls’ Choir program for two years.