hilinernewsBismarck (CSi) Gov. Jack Dalrymple has announced that the Valley City High School Concert Band and the Mott-Regent High School Choir have been selected to serve as the 2015-2016 Governor’s Official State Band and Chorus.

Dalrymple states, “Congratulations to the Valley City High School Concert Band and the Mott-Regent High School Choir for being named this year’s Governor’s Official Band and Chorus and for proudly representing their school, community and added, these are two very impressive and accomplished organizations and I am confident they will serve North Dakota with pride and enthusiasm. They exemplify the outstanding musical talent that exists in schools and communities across our state.”

The Valley City High School Concert Band is directed by Tom Kjelland and is comprised of 75 students from grades 9-12. In addition to concert band, members perform in a variety of ensembles, including pep band, jazz band and marching band. The groups perform for high school, elementary school, Valley City State University, community and private activities such as sporting events, community parades, North Dakota Special Olympics opening ceremonies and seasonal events. The band also performed at the Heritage Festival in New York City, where they competed with schools from the U.S. and Canada and received several gold and silver ratings.

Mott-Regent High School Choir, under the direction of Heather Hertz, is comprised of 52 members, representing just under 70 percent of the total high school enrollment. The choir has been named the First Place Concert Choir in the Region X Music Festival for the past four years, and each year, students perform at the North Dakota High School Activities Association’s State Music Contest, the North Dakota Music Educators Association’s All-State Festival and Dickinson State University’s Northern Plains Music Festival. The choir presents the annual Café Concert, a 52-year tradition that includes singing, dancing, and skits, and performs for several sporting events, parades and community activities.

The Governor’s Band and Chorus were selected from applications submitted by school and civic groups from across the state based on musical talent, achievement and community involvement. The band and chorus may be invited to perform at official state functions held throughout the year.