The Wartburg Choir is among a select group invited to sing at the six-state regional conference of choral directors in mid-March.

The Wartburg Choir will be one of 14 choirs performing at the North Central division of the American Choral Directors Association’s conference, “Celebrating Choral Diversity,” in Des Moines, March 19-22. The choir was chosen in a peer-review blind audition based on submitted recordings.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected to sing for this conference,” said Dr. Lee Nelson, director of Wartburg College choral activities.

The Wartburg Choir will sing Thursday, March 20, at 11 a.m. in St. Ambrose Cathedral in downtown Des Moines during a concert open to public.

Nelson described the choir’s program of seven songs — ranging from Italian composers of the Renaissance Era to Americans from the mid-20^th century — as “very eclectic and diverse. The choir has put together a very difficult program that will showcase the best of their immense talents.”

Regional conferences are on even-numbered years, and this will be the second consecutive North Central ACDA performance for the Wartburg Choir.

Nelson gave a nod to choirs during the past three years — whose recordings were submitted — for their “unwavering work ethic, dedication and outstanding musicianship that helped secure the invitation.”

The conference brings together choral directors from all school levels — elementary through college, public and private — in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.