LCS, Gehlen students chosen for Opus Honor Choir

Gehlen Catholic students selected for Opus Honor Choir are (from left) -- Sara Roder, Adam Nilles, Derek Bretey and Ben Fuentes. [Click to enlarge]

Seven Le Mars Community Schools students and four Gehlen Catholic students have been selected for participation in the 23rd annual Opus Honors Choirs.

The 2008 Opus Honor Choirs will perform at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium in the Iowa State Center in Ames.

LCS students selected are:

Le Mars Community School students selected for Opus Honor Choir are, front row (from left) -- Yashila Permeswaran, Marty Balmer and Austin Mack. Back row -- Catie Meis, Karter Ewing, Blake Wendt and Tim Fett. [Click to enlarge]

Seventh grade: Marty Balmer, son of Kathy Balmer; Karter Ewing, son of Randy and Nancy Ewing; and Austin Mack, son of Matt and Cathy Krommenhoek.

Eighth grade: Tim Fett, son of Margaret Fett; Blake Wendt, son of Todd and Betty Wendt; and Yashila Permeswaran, daughter of Permes and Sherri Permeswaran.

Ninth grade: Catie Meis, daughter of Dave and Linda Meis.

Gehlen students selected are:

Eighth grade: Derek Bretey, son of Keith and Teri Bretey and Adam Nilles, son of Tom and Mary Nilles.

Seventh grade: Sara Roder, daughter Terry and Patty Roder.

Sixth grade: Ben Fuentes, son of Jim and Margaret Fuentes.

More than 3,200 students were nominated by their directors for the 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs, according to Nancy Ewing, LCS middle school vocal director.

"The students were evaluated on each of the following areas: tone quality, rhythm, intonation, and musicianship. Students had to perform parts of the Opus music and were selected by means of a taped audition," said Beverly Evans, Gehlen Catholic elementary and junior high vocal director.

The Opus Honor Choir Festival is under the auspices of the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc.