Children's Choir
Grades: 5-6
Dates: Saturday, January 17, 2026 (Registration 8:00am; Concert at 4:00pm)
Coordinator: McKenzie Reimann childrensallstate@wischoral.org
Nominations: The All-State Children's Choir will consist of approximately 90 singers from grades 5 and 6. Each director may submit up to 8 names, ranked 1-8.
Registration Fee: Coming soon…
Guest Clinician-Conductor: Shekela Wanyama
Dr. Shekela Wanyama is a collaborative and community-centered conductor-educator based in Minneapolis. She conducts the Hamline University A Cappella Choir and the Minnesota Chorale's Prelude Children's Choir. She is active as a guest conductor with local ensembles and state and regional honor choirs. Her rehearsals and concerts are joyful, thoughtfully-crafted, and interdisciplinary.
A passionate educator, Dr. Wanyama taught middle and high school choir for over ten years in public, charter, and independent schools before taking on teaching appointments at Augsburg University (choir) and the University of Minnesota (choral methods). She has presented at choral and education conferences on repertoire for developing voices, building community in choir, contemporary repertoire by composers of the Global Majority, and holistic chorus preparation. Her writing has appeared in Choral Journal, the International Choral Bulletin, and two GIA publications. She participated in Chorus America's Choral Orchestral Conducting Academy and was a member of the inaugural cohort of Chorus America’s Executive Leadership Academy. She serves on the board of Border CrosSing and on the staff of Schubert Club.
Dr. Wanyama holds a DMA in conducting from the University of Minnesota, an MM in choral conducting from Temple University, a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and is a proud graduate of the Minneapolis Public Schools.
She lives and gardens on Dakota land.
Dates: Saturday, January 17, 2026 (Registration 8:00am; Concert at 4:00pm)
Coordinator: McKenzie Reimann childrensallstate@wischoral.org
Nominations: The All-State Children's Choir will consist of approximately 90 singers from grades 5 and 6. Each director may submit up to 8 names, ranked 1-8.
Registration Fee: Coming soon…
Guest Clinician-Conductor: Shekela Wanyama
Dr. Shekela Wanyama is a collaborative and community-centered conductor-educator based in Minneapolis. She conducts the Hamline University A Cappella Choir and the Minnesota Chorale's Prelude Children's Choir. She is active as a guest conductor with local ensembles and state and regional honor choirs. Her rehearsals and concerts are joyful, thoughtfully-crafted, and interdisciplinary.
A passionate educator, Dr. Wanyama taught middle and high school choir for over ten years in public, charter, and independent schools before taking on teaching appointments at Augsburg University (choir) and the University of Minnesota (choral methods). She has presented at choral and education conferences on repertoire for developing voices, building community in choir, contemporary repertoire by composers of the Global Majority, and holistic chorus preparation. Her writing has appeared in Choral Journal, the International Choral Bulletin, and two GIA publications. She participated in Chorus America's Choral Orchestral Conducting Academy and was a member of the inaugural cohort of Chorus America’s Executive Leadership Academy. She serves on the board of Border CrosSing and on the staff of Schubert Club.
Dr. Wanyama holds a DMA in conducting from the University of Minnesota, an MM in choral conducting from Temple University, a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Minnesota, and is a proud graduate of the Minneapolis Public Schools.
She lives and gardens on Dakota land.
