Del Norte Senior to Join National Choral Ensemble

Lydia Nelson will perform at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville on Oct. 29.

Lydia Nelson from Del Norte High School has been named to the 2014 All-National Mixed Choir Honor Ensemble sponsored by the National Association for Music Education.

“It is a great honor to represent Del Norte High School and New Mexico,” Nelson said. “I am looking forward to flying for the first time, getting to know other musicians from across the United States, and being a part of such a prestigious choral ensemble.

Nelson will join 350 of the most musically talented and skilled high school vocalists in the country for a once-in-a-lifetime experience: performing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 29.

A total of 670 students were selected to join the All-National Honors Ensembles, which consist of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed chorus and jazz ensemble. The students, named the “best of the best” out of approximately 2.5 million students nationwide from local, district and state music festivals, will rehearse a repertoire of remarkably challenging music, performing under four prominent conductors.

“This is a dream come true for a student who not only has enjoyed singing in vocal festivals, competitions and honor ensembles in New Mexico over the years, but who also plans to major in music education after she graduates,” Katherine Green, choral director at Del Norte High School, said. “We are so lucky to have such a brilliant musician, and I am so proud of her.”

The All-National Honor Ensembles Concert is one of the many highlights planned for the four-day conference taking place October 26–29, where the main theme centers around ways in which “Music Education Orchestrates Success" in school, in work, and in life. 

The National Association for Music Education, among the world’s largest arts education organizations, advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers.