Our History
David Clarke founded the East Central Minnesota Chorale in 1980. Clarke was choral director at Cambridge High School, and after leaving Cambridge, became director of music at Normandale Lutheran Church in Edina. Dr. Dennis Port, now the conductor of the Bethel University Choir, also served as director for a few years. Over one hundred fifty East Central Minnesota residents have been members of the Chorale. Some of our members have been involved since the Chorale’s first year.
In the spring of 2007, David Clarke retired as director of the chorale. Mark Potvin, Choral Director at Princeton High School, accepted the position of music director of the Chorale in September 2007.
Throughout the years the Chorale performed in several cities in East Central Minnesota, and the Twin Cities. We performed at regional tours in Duluth, Grand Forks, Eau Claire, La Crosse, Rochester, Marshall, and other Minnesota towns for several years. The Chorale performed at the state convention of the American Choral Directors Association, as well as the ACDA regional convention in Lincoln, Nebraska. Locally, we give three concerts Christmas, mid winter, and spring.
Our repertoire includes everything from classical Renaissance to Contemporary choral selections and oratorios, to folk songs and spirituals, as well as Broadway and pops arrangements.
In recent years, we invited local high school choirs to join us in a Major Works concert, performed with orchestra and professional soloists. The concerts provide a unique experience for area high school singers.
At the 2007 Major Works concert, the Chorale awarded a $500 music scholarship to Jillian Boyce, a senior from North Branch High School. The annual scholarship goes to a graduating senior who plans to participate in choral music at the college level.
Director Mark Potvin
Mark Potvin is in his seventh year as vocal music instructor at Princeton High School. He attended Detroit Lakes High School and is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he sang under the direction of Dr. Timothy Peter and Weston Noble. At PHS Mr. Potvin directs the curricular Concert Choir, Women’s Choir, and Ninth Grade Mixed Chorus as well as two extracurricular jazz choirs.
Choirs under his direction have performed at conventions of the Minnesota Music Educators Association and American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota, as well as at the Dorian Vocal Invitational at Luther College, and in the Choral Arts finale at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.
He directs the fall musical and madrigal dinner at PHS, teaches a K-8 musical theater workshop through Princeton and Elk River community education, and directs the Trinity Lutheran Church choir in Princeton.
Mark is married to Susan Potvin, who teaches 7th and 8th grade instrumental music in Rogers, Minnesota.
Accompanist MaryKay O'Neill
Mary Kay O'Neill earned her B.A. degree from Concordia Collge, Moorhead, in elementary education and music, and an M.F.A degree from the University of Minnesota in organ performance and piano pedagogy. She has studied organ with Ruth Berge, Stephen Gabrielsen, and Heinrich Fleischer. Post-graduate piano study was with Celeste O'Brien at Augsburg College for five years, during which time she performed three recitals. Mary Kay is the organist, accompanist, and handbell choir director at Cambridge Lutheran Church, a position she has held since 1987. She is a member of the Twin Cities Area Suzuki Piano Teachers Guild, having served as president for two years. As a certified Suzuki piano teacher, she maintains a private piano studio in Cambridge.
2008-2009 Board of Directors
| Maxwell Kern, President | Maureen Bartz |
| Ellen Siewert, Vice President | Matt Born |
| Lowell Becker, Treasurer | Joanne Ploetz |
| Teri Tou, Secretary | Shannon Shogren |
| Arne Everson, Manager | Marya Willert |
East Central Minnesota Chorale Members 2008-2009
| Soprano | Alto | Tenor | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Knight | Maureen Bartz | Scott Iverson | Phil Anderson |
| Angie O'Keefe | Jennie Becker | Curtis Moe | Matt Born |
| Marlys Olson | Dana Murray | Joanne Ploetz | Donn Hanson |
| Teri Tou | Ellen Siewart | Arne Everson | Neil Johnson |
| Leah Volker | Marya Willert | Donn Fredlund | Charles King |
| Muriel Bungert | Lynn Yueill | Charles Moe | Steve Tou |
| Beth Hanson | Judy Franke | Lowell Becker | |
| Renee King | Linda Hove | Maxwell Kern | |
| LaDonna Larson | Barb Larsen | George Walker | |
| Teresa Rajkowski | Lorrie Larson | ||
| Erin Shogren | Shannon Shogren | ||
| Keilly Nienow | Tammie Walker |