Posted: 6/19/02

4 from area will travel to New Zealand with Boychoir

When the Minnesota Boychoir departs for New Zealand next Monday, four local boys will be on a trip of their lifetime. The Boychoir, under the direction of Mark Johnson, leaves on Monday for a two-week tour of New Zealand that ends on July 7.

Locals who are part of the travel contingent are: Michael Bahr, 11, Erik Sparby, 14, and Josh Nielsen, 11, of Forest Lake; and Ben Carlson, 10, of Scandia.

The four local boys will join the full choir for the Kiwi Bon Voyage Concert at 7 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at Landmark Center, 75 W. 5th St., St. Paul.

A highlight of the visit to New Zealand will have The Minnesota Boy Choir performing on July 4 for U.S. Ambassador Charles Swindell and families at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington.

The concert tour includes: a welcome concert at the Auckland Cathedral, a concert with the Waikato Youth Choir, a concert with the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir, and a Farewell Concert at Christchurch Cathedral.

The tour is the culmination of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Minnesota Boychoir. Music for the tour has been selected from the repertoire of the past 40 years.

The 100-member strong Minnesota Boychoir is a non-profit, non-denominational group of boys ranging in age from 7-17.

The Minnesota Boychoir nurtures and develops vocal talent in young men providing them with experiences resulting in a life-long love of music and appreciation of the many cultural and musical heritages of the world.

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