Concordia College

The Concordia Chapel Choir

The Concordia Chapel Choir consists of a mixed ensemble of sophomores, juniors and seniors. The choir performs in major concerts on campus including the Concordia Christmas Concerts, and sings regularly for campus chapel services. The choir also tours regionally each spring, and rehearses six hours per week.

A blend of nearly 70 voices creates the stunning sound of the Concordia Chapel Choir. Originally created to enrich the music of Concordia’s morning chapel services, the ensemble still sings regularly at chapel throughout the year. The Chapel Choir, which comprises men and women in their sophomore, junior or senior year is an integral part of the much-loved Concordia Christmas Concerts. Each spring, the choir tours cities in the upper Midwest and performs a collaborative concert with other Concordia ensembles.

The Concordia Chapel Choir, a mixed ensemble of about 70 sophomores, juniors and seniors, performs in major concerts on campus and in the Fargo-Moorhead community. Originally created to enrich the music of Concordia’s morning chapel services, the ensemble still sings regularly at chapel throughout the year. Each spring, the choir tours cities in the upper Midwest and performs a collaborative concert with other Concordia ensembles.

Conductor
Michael Smith, who has a background of 40 years in conducting choral music, recently became the conductor of The Concordia College Chapel Choir, Männerchor and Cantabile. He works closely with Dr. René Clausen in developing the choral music program at Concordia.

Smith began his career in music in 1966 at Aitkin (Minn.) High School, and since 1984 he has been director of vocal music at Brainerd (Minn.) High School. He also taught music and conducted at Willmar High School and Brainerd Community College.

Smith is a 1966 graduate of St. Olaf College and completed his master’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado, and all but his dissertation of his doctorate in music education at the University of Minnesota, where he also served as director of the UofM Male Chorus. Smith received the National Federation of State High School Associations Outstanding Music Educator Award in 2005. In 1990, he was named Minnesota Music Educator of the Year, and in 1999 the Minnesota American Choral Directors Association Choral Director of the Year. Smith has also served as Minnesota ACDA president.

He was the first Minnesota high school director to conduct the Minnesota All-State Men’s Chorus and the first high school director to conduct the Minnesota ACDA Dialogue Conductor’s Chorus.