November 5, 2024 — The community is invited to the first concert series of the new VOCE Community Choir on November 16 and 17 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wayzata. VOCE Community Choir is a new adult mixed choral ensemble, directed by Mound Westonka High School choir director Kelly Newell. 

The mission of this choir is to provide singers with an opportunity to sing quality repertoire, at a high level, and have a rewarding adult choral experience.  Concert programs will be shared with the Mound community at local venues.  Donations collected at concerts will help support non-profit organizations within the community.  This fall’s donations will support VOCE and the Westonka Community Education's Sponsor-a-Student Program and the Wings Up Scholarship Fund. 

“Through singing we can connect, share the gift of music, and give back to the community of Mound,” said Newell.

This inaugural season, the VOCE Community Choir will perform two concert series. In addition to the first series on November 16 at 7 p.m. and November 17 at 2 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the second concert series will be on June 8 and 9.  Performances will include choral music by wonderful composers including Ola Gjeilo, Jake Runestad, Craig Hella Johnson, Susan LaBarr, and Kyle Pederson.  The choir will also sing stunning world music from Estonia and Haiti.  Finally, “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” made popular by Bob Dylan, rounds out the inaugural season theme of “We Are the Music Makers.”