Blaine Woodson
  • Music
  • Class of 2016
  • Ossian

Blaine Woodson performs with Wartburg Choir at National ACDA conference

2017 Apr 6

Blaine Woodson of Ossian was one of 79 Wartburg College students to perform with the Wartburg Choir at the National American Choral Directors Association conference in Minneapolis.

More than 400 choirs from around the world applied to perform at the conference; only 25 were accepted. Of those selected, six were collegiate ensembles.

"This is the most important musical achievement in my career," said Lee Nelson, Wartburg Choir director and the Patricia R. Zahn Endowed Chair in Choral Conducting. "I couldn't be more proud of the Wartburg Choir for being chosen. Singing at this convention is the highest honor a choir can receive in the nation."

Nelson said he has never heard the choir sing as "beautifully and emotionally" as they did in Minnesota.

"There were 15,000 in attendance at the convention, and at the end of our performance there was an instant standing ovation from the most critical crowd we have ever performed in front of," he said. "I couldn't have hoped for anything better. The Wartburg Choir ended up being the talk of the conference."

In addition to its traditational chorale repertoire, the choir also sang "Moonlight Sound Design" by Raimonds Tiguls. Tiguls, who plays the hang, a unique percussion instrument, joined the choir for the performance. The choir also performed "Ain't No Grave Can Hold My Body Down" by Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory. This song included a sign language solo by junior Samantha Hallgren.