Partners in Praise Girls Choir
Partners in Praise Girls Choir is a non-profit organization consisting of girls in grades 8-12 from around the Twin Cities area. PIP was formed by Julia Fahey in 1994 when Donny Osmond starred in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in Minneapolis, MN. Since “Joseph”, Mrs. Fahey established Partners in Praise Girls Choir consisting of up to 50 to 60 girls from all around the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. Girls are chosen by auditioning with the Choir Director before the new season begins, during the month of August. Partners in Praise has performed for the American Choral Directors Festival (ACDA) and the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA). The Choir conducts its own yearly Choral Festival involving talented choirs from around the area. In addition, Partners in Praise performs at numerous concerts at churches, events, at the Timberwolves Games, at the Holidazzle Parade, at the State Capitol, at the Governor's Mansion, plus at many more events/places. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty wrote a letter on behalf of the choir to ACDA.
Current Plans
Partners in Praise Girls Choir has competed at many international choral competitions and has consistently placed in the top three. At the end of each year, the choir takes a tour either internationally or stateside. Previous international tours have included tours to Italy, Greece, France, Prague and the Czech Republic, Australia, and England. Stateside tours have been to San Francisco and Oregon. The choir performs a wide variety of pieces from gospel to folk music. In May 2011, the choir will host its choral festival with guest conductor Stephen Hatfield. In July 2011, the choir will travel to Australia and perform in the Sydney Opera House.
List of Previous Tours
From website:
- 2010 - Somerset International Choral Festival, England
- 2009 - 15th International Choral Competition and Choral Festival - PREVEZA, GREECE - Awarded second place and a silver medal in the "Youth Division" and a "Special Award" for "Outstanding Original Performance".
- 2008/2009 - 15th SEASON CELEBRATION - The 2008 Minnesota State ACDA Convention. St. Olaf College
- 2008 - Participated in the Pacific International Children’s Choral Festival (PICCFEST), Bob Chilcott, guest Conductor and Bach Festival held in Eugene, Oregon - June 2008
- 2007 - Tuscany International Choral Festival, Montecatini, Italy June 2007.
- 2006 - MMEA Mid-Winter Clinic, 4th Annual “PIP Choral Festival Series”, February 2006 - Golden Gate International Choral Festival and Competition, July 2006 - 1st Place – Historical Division, 2nd Place – Folk Division, 3rd Place – Contemporary Division - 2nd and 3rd Place – Solo competitions.
- 2005 - 3rd Annual “PIP Choral Festival Series”, May 2005 - Prague Children’s Music Festival - Guest Conductor, Joan Gregoryk - Prague, Czech Republic – Vienna & Salzburg, Austria – Berlin, Germany.
- 2004 - 2nd Annual “PIP Choral Festival Series”, February 2004 - Guest conductor, Dr. Z. Randall Stroope ISME (International Society of Music Educators) 50th Anniversary Conference, Auditorio de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
- 2003 - “PIP Choral Festival Series”, February 2003 - MMEA Winter Conference, Canterbury International Choral Festival, Canterbury, England – Conductors, Dr. Z. Randall Stroope and Ronald Corp - Galway Music Festival, Galway, Ireland.
- 2002 - Niagara Falls International Choral Festival ~ Stephen Hatfield, Conductor.
- 2001 - Tuscany International Music Festival, Chiesa Di San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy – Jean Ashworth Bartle, Conductor, with the West London Festival Orchestra - St. Peter's Basilica - Rome, Italy.
- 2000 - ACDA Fall Conference - International Kathaumixw Choral Festival/Competition, British Columbia, Canada – Pekka Kostiainen, Conductor.
- 1999 - Children’s Choral Festival, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia – Jean Ashworth Bartle, Guest Conductor.
- 1995 - “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, starring Donny Osmond, Broadway Production - Minneapolis Historic State Theatre.
- 1994 - Partners in Praise Choir founded by Ms. Julia Fahey."
References
<http://partnersinpraise.org/untitled1.html> <http://partnersinpraise.org/index.html> <http://partnersinpraise.org/untitled4.html> <http://acda.org/forum/american_choir_wins_silver_medal_international_choir_festival_in_preveza_greece>