SDSO's LA BOHEME to Feature Local Children's Chorus

The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (SDSO) will perform Puccini's La Bohe?me on Saturday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Washington Pavilion. The concert will feature professional soloists, the SDSO chorus, and a children's chorus comprised of over 30 students from middle schools across Sioux Falls. The SDSO formed the children's chorus speci cally for this production.

Children were nominated for the chorus by their youth choir and middle school choir directors, and have rehearsed the material every Sunday afternoon since early January. The students are under the direction of Tara Stadem, choir director at Patrick Henry Middle School, and Gene LeVasseur, Director of Worship at Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

"The primary bene t is getting the opportunity to perform very challenging music with the best musicians and performance professionals in the area," said LeVasseur. "Singing Puccini's music in Italian at such a fast pace with the SDSO, the Symphony Chorus, and amazing soloists is going to be an extraordinary experience that will impact their musical life journey. "

LeVasseur also spoke about how the rehearsal process has also created new friendships for the students. "At our rst rehearsal, the room was very quiet as they sat next to strangers. By the end of that rst rehearsal they began interacting and those strangers have now become great friends. Throughout this experience these amazing young people have made the extremely hard work of learning this music fun!"

La Bohe?me is the opera that inspired the Broadway hit musical and lm, Rent. This marks the second year that the SDSO has brought opera to their concert season. Tickets can be purchased online at www.sdsymphony.org or by calling the Washington Pavilion box of ce at (605) 367 - 6000. For more information, visit www.sdsymphony.org.

The Crescendo Program offers $10 tickets to all Classical Series performances, which includes La Bohe?me, to anyone under the age of 35 as well as free tickets for children ages 5-18 with the purchase of an adult ticket to any Classical Series concert. In addition, members of the community who have never attended an SDSO performance before can receive a complimentary ticket to their rst Classical Series concert. To participate in the Crescendo Program, please call the box of ce at (605) 367-6000.

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