If the World Choir Games are the Olympics of choral music, then the North Star Boys Choir of Maple Grove is a group of shining stars at the top of their game.
The area youth choir, with 25 boys between the ages of 9 to 14, beat out hundreds of singers from all over the world to take home a silver and a bronze medal at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati July 12 -14. What's even more impressive is the North Star Boys' Choir just formed last November.
With more than 15,000 singers of all ages competing in 23 different categories at the World Choir Games, the North Star Boys' Choir took a bronze in the Barbershop category and a silver medal in the Children's Choir category.
"Our boys competed against 150-member male and female choruses who have won medals and sing professionally," said artistic director Francis Stockwell. "They held their own against those groups, and we are proud."
Wednesday evening, family and friends gathered at a church in Albertville to welcome the boys home from their three-week East Coast tour. As the tour bus rolled into the church parking lot a chorus of cheers greeted the boys as they stepped off the vehicle. The choir also gave a homecoming performance for the local crowd.
Marc Duran, 13, described the concert tour and competition experience as "amazing." Alec Staricka, 11, said he was pleased with how his choir performed, especially given the tough competition and the novelty of the group.
"We did our best, I mean, we're not barbershoppers like the people who won were doing like the exact same stuff for like 10 years, we did it for like three months," said Staricka.
Alexandra Renslo reporting
arenslo@twelve.tv
Thursday, July 19, 2012