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K-State Today

July 7, 2015

K-State's Summer Choral Institute honored at Capitol for State Day of Singing

Submitted by Bryan Pinkall

Summer Choral Institute students stand on the south steps of the Capitol

Gov. Sam Brownback recognized Kansas State University's Summer Choral Institute by proclaiming Friday, June 26, as the first State Day of Singing.

To celebrate the proclamation, Summer Choral Institute students spent June 26 in Topeka performing and promoting music education. The students performed in the Capitol Rotunda for the official proclamation of the inaugural State Day of Singing, and later joined a University of Kansas string trio on the steps of the Capitol to sing the state song, "Home on the Range" with state legislators, music educators and the public. At the event, Representative Sydney Carlin of Manhattan spoke to those in attendance about how music and music education has been important to her and her family. Finally, the students performed an afternoon concert for an enthusiastic crowd at Grace Episcopal Cathedral.

This year marks the 37th Summer Choral Institute, which is sponsored by Kansas State University and the Master Teacher Institute for the Arts. The institute is directed by Julie Yu, associate professor of music; Joshua Oppenheim, associate professor of music; and Bryan Pinkall, assistant professor of music.

The State Day of Singing proclamation contains language promoting the benefits of music education and leadership education, Kansas' musical heritage, and specifically honors both Kansas State University and the Master Teacher Institute for the Arts for providing free music and leadership education every year through the Summer Choral Institute.

The Summer Choral Institute was created by the Master Teacher Institute for the Arts in 1979 and has provided thousands of young singers with free leadership and music training. Every year, around 40 of the nation's top high school sophomore and junior choral music students spend a week a Kansas State University participating in an intensive week of rehearsals, master classes, private coachings, musical performances, lectures, piano classes, as well as team-building and character building exercises.