We are pleased to invite high school choir directors to nominate their top high school singers for the 2021 Meistersinger Honor Choir Festival, featuring guest artists André Thomas, Eric Whitacre, and Voces8! This inspirational, educational, and engaging virtual event will take place on Sunday, Jan. 31 with bonus events hosted by Dr. Lee Nelson on the evening of Monday, Feb. 1. In addition to interacting with our special guests, the honor choir participants will have the opportunity to visit with Dr. Lee Nelson, Dr. Nicki Toliver, and Wartburg students to learn more about possible music opportunities after high school.

All participants eligible for music scholarships
An added incentive this year is that all juniors and seniors meeting festival participation requirements and stipulations will be awarded a $1,000 per year Meistersinger Music Scholarship to Wartburg College!  This scholarship is awarded upon the completion of a music audition, which could be increased up to $5,000 per year. All-state selected students are eligible for a $2,500 scholarship upon completion of a music audition, which could be increased up to $5,000 per year. Students are only eligible for the honor festival award OR the all-state award.

Changes to nomination and selection process
Due to the pandemic, the selection process will be a bit different this year. Each school can nominate up to 8 singers of any voice part for this honor choir experience. All nominated students will receive invitations to the Zoom event, and all those who attend the event will be named to the 2021 Meistersinger Honor Choir. Due to extenuating financial circumstances surrounding the pandemic, as well as the virtual format of this event, we are offering a reduced registration fee of $15 per student, with proceeds going to support the professional fees of our guest artists. However, this registration fee should not be a barrier to any nominated student who wishes to attend our event. If your school does not have funding to support student participation for this event, please contact stephanie.klemetson@wartburg.edu to discuss possible solutions. 

Students whose schools are not nominating students for the festival may request an individual application form.