Students from the Riverland Community College Choir and Vocal Ensemble attended the Minnesota Two-Year College Fine Arts Festival at Breezy Point Resort April 7 and 8. The festival is an annual event where choirs and bands from the state’s community colleges gather and make music. Riverland student Kristine Iverson (Austin) was selected as “Outstanding Performer.”

A solo vocal clinic was held in conjunction with the festival. 31 students from various colleges each prepared and presented a song that was critiqued by a judge. The six students who finished with the highest ratings were awarded the title “Outstanding Performers.” These performers, including Iverson, presented their songs in recital before the festival participants. Riverland student Victoria Torkelson (Austin) also participated in the solo vocal clinic.

Another highlight of the festival occurred when Riverland’s Vocal Ensemble received a standing ovation after performing selections from their upcoming "Glee" concert for nearly 300 musicians from around the state in a Showcase Concert on Thursday night.

The following students participated in the festival: McKenzie Anderson (Austin), Tucker Besel (Austin), Kaitlyn Cope (Albert Lea), Jena Helmbrecht (Austin), Andrew Hanson (Hayward), Hannah Hemann (Stacyville, IA), Amelia Holcomb (Albert Lea), Kristine Iverson (Austin), Emma Langemo (Kenyon), Ashley Possin (New Richland), Vida Peterson (Owatonna), Victoria Torkelson (Austin), and Jordan Wylde (Elkton).

Audiences will have an opportunity to see an encore of the vocal ensemble’s performance at “A GLEE-ful Evening with a Bunch of Freqs” on May 10 in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre. The concert will start at 7:30 p.m.