2018-2019 WLA Theme Song "The Lord is My Rock"

Download sheet music here.

WLA Traveling Choir Auditions 2017-2018

It's that time of the year again–audition season! WLA students who are interested in singing with the WLA Traveling Choir can find all audition materials and music on this Google Doc. Sign up for a 15-minute audition on the choir room door. Any questions? Email Mr. Witte at dawitte (at) wlavikings.org.

The Lamb of God (2016-2017 WLA Theme Song)

Every year I write a theme song for Winnebago Lutheran Academy students and the students of the WLA Association grade schools which is based on the theme passage of the school year.  This year the theme passage is John 1:29 “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (NIV).

This song tries to teach a couple of key concepts about this passage: (1) God demands blood to pay for sins, as he did throughout the Old Testament, requiring sacrifices from his chosen nation, Israel, for their sins; (2) John the Baptist knew that Jesus was the last sacrifice that God demanded to pay for the world's sins and he pointed everyone to the sinless Lamb of God, the perfect, atoning sacrifice; (3) Everyone in the world still sins every day and we desperately need Jesus' perfect sacrifice of himself to pay for our sins.

Sheet music can be downloaded from Google Drive.

WLA 2016 Spring Concert

AK A Cappella Auditions 2016-2017

ACADEMY KIDS A CAPPELLA AUDITIONS
Monday 5/23/16 & Wednesday 5/25/16

Click here for all audition materials (practice tracks and PDFs).

What to prepare for the audition:

1. Prepare a 30 second solo (unaccompanied) that shows off your voice. Do not sing anything classical (sing pop music, musical theater, songs from radio, etc.)  Prepare like you are auditioning for American Idol.
2. If you are auditioning as a singer prepare at least TWO parts to the attached excerpts (“Believe” for the guys and "Elastic Heart” for the ladies).  DO NOT prepare the solo part.
3. If you are auditioning to beatbox ONLY, prepare the vocal percussion part. Please add any other drum patterns/get creative so Mr. Witte can see what you can do.  Listen to the practice tracks in the Google Drive to get an idea of the vocal percussion patterns and sounds.
4. If you are auditioning for both singing and beatboxing prepare at least ONE vocal part AND the vocal percussion part.
5. Be prepared to vocalize throughout your range if you have not already auditioned for Traveling Choir

How to prepare for the audition:

Mr. Witte has created practice tracks with recordings of every voice part. To access these tracks and other resources, go to https://goo.gl/lJPAgT to access a Google Drive Folder with all the practice tracks. From there you can download the audio files to your own devices or save the folder to your own Google Drive account. Practice tracks and resources are there for you to use as much as you want. THE MORE YOU PRACTICE WITH THE TRACKS THE FASTER YOU WILL LEARN AND MORE CONFIDENT YOU WILL SING IN YOUR AUDITION.

Monday, May 23, 2016 from 6-8 PM will be the rehearsal night for AK auditions.  On this night procedures will be explained and music will be handed out and rehearsed.

On Wednesday night, May 25, 2016 from 6-8 pm students will audition in groups of three or four. Students may be asked to sing more than once, so plan on being at WLA from 6-8 PM.

How you will audition:

You will be grouped with two or three other people for your audition – all of you will sing the excerpt in different combinations at least twice.  You will be the only person on your voice part. Mr. Witte will make the audition schedule and groups.  The sign up sheet will be on the choir room door.

Expectations of being in Academy Kids A Cappella:

Being a member of AK is a special opportunity and should be taken seriously. Mr. Witte is looking for the following qualities. Do your best to showcase these qualities inside and outside of your audition. Your attitude and work ethic in choir class or other music classes makes an impression on your overall eligibility for these ensembles!

This a cappella group will be singing contemporary music that could include pop, rock, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, dubstep, and many other genres. The group may include choreography and may require a purchase of specific outfit pieces.

Therefore, as a member of the group, you will make it a priority, and:

1. Attend all rehearsals (if by your conflict schedule you are not readily available for rehearsals that may be reason for your ineligibility to participate in AK)
2. Notify Mr. Witte if you will be late or missing for a rehearsal because of athletic practices, games, or other conflicts.  Work is not an acceptable excuse for missing practice.
3. Participate in all performances and competitions (Choralfest, ICHSA, grade schools, community organizations, churches, etc.  Some may require a travel or participation cost.)
4. Practice on your own outside of rehearsal
5. Come prepared to all rehearsals (arrive on time, with music learned)
6. Have a positive attitude
7. Take constructive criticism
8. Put the group before yourself
9. Be willing to try new things – take risks!
10. Be a leader
11. Listen and communicate well
12. Be ready to work hard

If all members of AK take these expectations to heart, the group will definitely be SUCCESSFUL and FUN! Please see Mr. Witte if you have any further questions or concerns.

2016-2017 WLA Traveling Choir Auditions Announced

Students of Winnebago Lutheran Academy who have (1) sung in a WLA choir for one year, and (2) are a sophomore, junior, or senior, and (3) are WELS members are eligible to audition for the 2016-2017 Traveling Choir.  Click here to read the audition document on Google Docs.  In this document are links for all scores, representative Youtube performances, and accompaniment tracks (coming soon).

Click below to download PDF files of all music and materials by voice:

Soprano Packet

Alto Packet

Tenor Packet

Bass Packet

Auditions will be held May 2-6, 2016 in the WLA Choir Room.  Students who are interested in auditioning should sign up for a 15-minute audition time on the door of the Choir Room.

Betelehemu - Origin, Translation, Performance Practice

The song Betelehemu (Babatunde Olatunji, arr. Wendell Whalum) has earned its place in Christmas choral literature over the past two decades ever since Barrington Brooks arranged it for SATB choir and it was published by Lawson-Gould/Warner Bros. in 1994.

Origins (via Choralnet.org on November 23, 1999)

Thanks to all who responded with information about Wendell Whalum's

arrangement of the Nigerian Christmas song "Betelehemu." Though there are

still some sleuths out there working on leads, I think I have enough to piece

together the story.

Babatunde Olatunji was a student at Atlanta's Morehouse College during the

mid-1950s (he came from Nigeria on a Rotary scholarship). Wendell Whalum was

the choir director, and Olatunji gave him "Betelehemu," which Whalum arranged

the way we still hear and perform it today. So, the piece came to Whalum

"Via" (by way of) Olatunji, as is printed in the arrangement (though I have

to say it's a bit confusing, since "Via" is printed to look like the

composer's first name).

What's not clear is whether this was an original piece by Olatunji or simply

a traditional song that Olatunji taught to or transcribed for Whalum. The

latter is probably true, though if I learn more about it, I'll post it to the

list.

If you'd like to know more about Olatunji, there's an entry in the website of

the Encyclopedia of African Music:

http://africanmusic.org/artists/olatunji.html

Submitted by Frank Albinder, Music Director, Washington Men's Camerata (FSAlbinder(a)aol.com)

Babatunde's Influence on Drumming: (from http://africanmusic.org/artists/olatunji.html)

Baba was the single most important contributor to the popularization of African hand drumming in the United States. Baba created the popular Gun-Dun, Go-Do, Pa-Ta method of learning drum patterns in which these spoken sounds were able to help recall the sounds made on most hand drums -- with the Gun-Dun denoting the bass notes played with right and left hands; the Go-Do denoting the open tones; and the Pa-Ta denoting the slaps. This simple method revolutionized the learning rate for thousands of hand drum students in the West.

Baba's Beginner's Drumming Exercises: http://www.rhythmweb.com/baba.htm

Translation (from http://www.musicanet.org/en/texts/00/00075en.htm)

Translation of "Betelehemu"
(Olatunji, Via) - arr. Wendall Whalum

We are glad that we have a Father to trust.
We are glad that we have a Father to rely upon
Where was Jesus born?
Where was He born?
Bethlehem, the city of wonder.
That is where the Father was born for sure.
Praise, praise, praise be to Him.
We thank thee, we thank Thee, we thank Thee for this day,
Gracious Father.
Praise, praise, praise be to Thee,
Merciful Father.

2015 WLA Christmas Concert CD

*NEWS FLASH* For the first time in over 23 years, the WLA Christmas Concert will be recorded and made into a CD and...
Posted by Dale Witte on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Click here to order the 2015 WLA Christmas Concert CD

Track List:

1 Carol of the Child by David Haas
2 O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam
3 Still is the Night by Joseph M. Martin
4 Hurry Shepherds, Run! by Douglas E. Wagner
5 Mary, Did You Know? by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene
6 Freedom is Coming by Traditional South African
7 Gaudete arr. Jeff Beck
8 In a Manger by Zachary Unke
9 O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen
10 Betelehemu by Babatunde Olatunji and Wendell Whalum, arr. Barrington Brooks
11 Hallelujah Chorus by G.F. Handel
12 Prayers from Compline II by Dale A. Witte

Parent/Student Orientation Day 2015 Handouts

Now that most of WLA classes are on Google Classroom, the following links are provided Parent Orientation Night 2015.

Block 2 & 3 - Music Technology: Syllabus
Block 4 - Traveling Choir: Syllabus, *NEW in 2015* Choralfest Information
Block 5 - Music Theory: Syllabus
Block 7 - Concert Choir: Syllabus

In addition to the syllabi above, on the student's orientation day, this document, Orientation Day 2015 - Handouts, was given out to each student, summarizing the syllabus and procedures for each class I teach.

For the WLA Fine Arts Calendar, subscribe on WLA's calendar page by clicking on the Google Calendar button at the bottom right corner of the calendar.

You may "Like" the WLA Traveling Choir Facebook page and follow them on Twitter at @TCWLA.

Sign up for Traveling Choir Remind alerts by texting @dwitt to 81010 on your mobile phone. You can also sign up for email alerts. Download the Remind instructions here.

"I Believe" - WLA Theme Song 2015-2016

Click here for PDF scores and and mp3 recording.

The WLA theme passage for the 2015-2016 school year is from Acts 1:8 "You will be my witnesses."  As I've been thinking about that passage and pondering how this year's theme song will go, one thing has stood out for me: the verb tense.  Jesus was speaking to his disciples over 2000 years ago as he was about to ascend into heaven.  He told his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come on them in Jerusalem so that they would be his witnesses after He was gone.  For them, all the action was going to be in the future: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the chance to speak of Jesus to both Jews and Gentiles.

But are we waiting to be Jesus' witnesses too?  Will we only be God's witnesses in the future?

I contend that what was in the future for Jesus' disciples is in the present for us Christians: we are Jesus' witnesses right now.  We who have been baptized have received the same Holy Spirit's power and faith that the disciples were given. Our Great Commission to go into the world, baptizing and preaching in God's name, has been with us as long as we've been alive. I wanted to impress this fact on the WLA high school students by changing the tense of the verb to the present ("we are His witnesses") in this year's theme song.

I also have been pondering how we are witnesses for Jesus.  What does a witness do at an accident scene? They tell the authorities what they have seen and heard.  They tell the truth.  They say what they know.  How do we witness for Christ? We say who he is.  We say what he has done.  We state the facts clearly from God's Word and let his Word be the authority for our witness.

So it was with the lyrics for this year's theme song.  I tried in the refrain to plainly state who God is: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each verse is a very simple exposition on the chief act of each person of the Trinity.  The bridge is the comforting passage from Matthew 10:32 where Jesus tells us that if we witness for him, he will be our witness to his heavenly father that we have been his witnesses on earth.

May this year's theme song be a blessing to anyone who sings it or hears it.  I give my permission for it to be used without copyright restriction in any of the churches of the WLA Association.  Any other people who would like to use it, I ask that you email me to ask permission to use it.

Thank you and God's blessings!

WLA Spring Concert 2015

The 2015 WLA Spring Concert will go live at 7:00 PM CDT (GMT-5) Sunday, May 17, 2015. Click here for the concert program.
Live streaming video by Ustream

Favorite TC Pieces 2014-2015

Click here to record your favorites

2015 State Finalist's Recital

Everyone is invited to the State Finalist's Recital, Wednesday, April 22, 2015 night at 6 PM in the WLA Choir Room.  Sixteen events are going to State Solo Ensemble this Saturday at UW-Oshkosh and UW-Platteville by WLA students and this recital is your only chance to hear them all in one location! In addition, the Academy Kids will perform four a cappella pieces throughout the recital that they will be also be performing this Friday at the reception for the MPTC Culinary Arts program’s 2015 Gourmet Dinner.  Come enjoy a night of good music and share in the musical talents given by God to our students!

Click here for the 2015 recital program

State Solo Ensemble Schedules 2015

Click here for WLA's 2015 WSMA State results from UW-Oshkosh and UW-Parkside.

For the first time ever, WLA has students at two different state sites:

More information about the UW-Oshksoh State site can be found here.

More information about the UW-Platteville State site can be found here.

WLA Traveling Choir 2015-2016 Audition Materials

Students of Winnebago Lutheran Academy who desire to sing with WLA Traveling Choir in the 2015-2016 school year must audition between April 21-23 and Apr. 27-May 1, 2015.  To be eligible for WLA's Traveling Choir, students must have sung in a WLA choir for one year or have the consent of Mr. Witte.

1. Click here to sign up for a 15-minute audition time slot on Google Calendar.

• Choose any available time slot which works for your schedule.
• Type your name into the "What" field, replacing what I have typed there.

• If you need to change or delete your appointment time, go to your own Google calendar (click on the Rubic's cube button on the top right corner of the www.google.com page and choose "Calendar"). Go to the day and date that you reserved and click on your appointment on your calendar. Look for "Going?" on the bottom of the popup and click on "Delete".  Then go back to the appointment link in #1 above and choose a different time slot.

2. Click to see the 2015-2016 audition requirements (Google Doc).

3. Click to download America the Beautiful:

Soprano 1 (PDF) | Soprano 1 (Noteflight)
Soprano 2 (PDF) | Soprano 2 (Noteflight) 

Alto 1 (PDF) | Alto 1 (Noteflight)
Alto 2 (PDF) | Alto 2 (Noteflight)

Tenor 1 (PDF) | Tenor 1 (Noteflight)
Tenor 2 (PDF) | Tenor 2 (Noteflight) 

Bass 1 (PDF) | Bass 1 (Noteflight)
Bass 2 (PDF) | Bass 2 (Noteflight)

4. Audition piece: God So Loved the World (from "The Crucifixion") by John Stainer

(Choral Score PDF) "God So Loved the World" (from "The Crucifixion") by John Stainer.

(Noteflight Score) "God So Loved the World" (from "The Crucifixion") by John Stainer

5. Sightreading: At the audition you’ll be asked to sight sing three short exercises (rhythm, major, minor) to help determine your level of musicianship. You may use solfege (do, re, mi) or “la” but solfege is prefered.  Takadimi syllables may be used for the rhythm exercise. Sight reading examples may be found at Indiana Choral Directors Association - All-State Honor Choir Sight Reading Examples

6. Fill out the following form before your audition:

WLA Easter Hymnfest Livestream - April 12, 2015, 2 PM CDT (GMT/UMC -5)

Click here for the WLA Easter Hymnfest 2015 Concert Program
Live streaming video by Ustream

Vote for WSMA Class A Concert Festival Selections

The Flyway District Concert Festival is March 25, 2015.

1. View the Youtube Playlist: WSMA Event 1000 - A Cappella Standard Repertoire
2. Consult the 2014-2015 WSMA Festival Music List (Event 1000)
3. Vote below for your favorite piece from this list by Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015.

WLA Homecoming Skit Night 2014

With all the live streaming of WLA concerts and events now being embedding into  WLA's website (look for the Videos link on the right side of the home page), I haven't been posting streams on my blog for a couple of WLA events now.  But I have gotten a number of questions about how to see the 2014 Homecoming Skit Night video, probably because it was on a Thursday this year instead of normally being on a Friday.  So, here are the video streams from Skit Night 2014.  There are two of them because, apparently, internet dropped during the live stream.  I'm not sure if that's Ustream's problem or WLA's.  That's what we get for trying to do live streaming for free, I suppose.  Click here for the 2014 Skit Night Program.
Part 1
Part 2

Auditioning to Sing the National Anthem for Professional Sports Teams

The WLA Traveling Choir has been singing a new SATB arrangement of the Gaither Vocal Band setting of the Star-Spangled Banner this school year.  After one of our recent performances for the 6th Annual Derek Dobogai Memorial Run/Walk, an audience member pulled me aside and said,"I go to about 17 or 18 Brewers games a year.  The version your choir sang today was way better than anyone I have heard sing for the Brewers.  You should audition to sing for the Brewers."

I have had this same encouragement from other parents in the past, so it's high time we did it.  So how does one audition?  Here is the most current information I have found for Wisconsin teams:

Milwaukee Brewers | Fan FAQs

I AM INTERESTED IN SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM PRIOR TO A BREWERS GAME. HOW DO I APPLY?

To apply to sing the anthem prior to a Brewers game, please send in an audition of the anthem sung a cappella, 90 seconds or less, plus a performance history (if any) to:

• Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club
• Attn: Aleta Mercer
• One Brewers Way
• Milwaukee, WI 53214

Audition CDs are accepted in the off-season, between November 1 and February 14 each year.

Milwaukee Bucks | National Anthem Auditions

National Anthem Auditions – Wednesday, September 17th

Registration begins at 7:00am Doors close at 7:00P

BMO Harris Bradley Center 

• Entrance: Potawatomi Gate – 4th & Highland
• Perform in the order you enter (each candidate will receive a number)
• Open to all ages - 18 and under need to be accompanied by a legal guardian
• Encouraged to bring a performance resume but not mandatory
• Must find your own parking
• The audition will be open to the public and will require each individual / group to sing the entire song to be considered.

What do I need to bring to auditions? Driver’s License, or other form of photo identification


Green Bay Packers | National Anthem Requests

The Green Bay Packers thank you for your interest in singing the National Anthem at Lambeau Field on gameday. As the Packers collect and review your request to sing the national anthem, please note that many of our games are themed, have special requirements, and have been booked well in advance. In order for your request to be considered, please submit the following information: (online form at Packers.com)

Please provide a URL to any audio/video clips of your performances. If you are sending a hard copy, please indicate. [Send performance samples] by e-mail to gameentertainment@packers.com or mail hard copy information/samples to: Gameday Entertainment P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI 54307

Please note that the Packers will keep all items they receive by mail. Samples of work will not be returned. We look forward to your request.


UW Athletics seeks National Anthem performers (Sept. 23, 2012)

Badgers looking for talented performers to sing the National Anthem. Would you like to sing the National Anthem at a UW sporting event?

The University of Wisconsin Athletic Department is looking for performers to sing the National Anthem at Badger sporting events this season.

The search committee is looking for a variety of Madison-area solo artists, duets, groups, etc. with and without instruments to perform. Please note that due to NCAA rules, high school performers/groups cannot be considered.  

Those interested in participating should submit their audition materials (link to performance or performance on CD/DVD) including contact information to ata@athletics.wisc.edu or via mail to:

Wisconsin Athletics
Attn: National Anthem Search
Marketing Office
1440 Monroe Street
Madison, WI 53711

 NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE

 After the selection committee has reviewed all performances, individuals will be contacted to schedule a performance at a game. 

Deadline for receipt of audition materials is Friday, Oct. 12 (2012) at 5 p.m.


Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | National Anthem FAQs

WSMA Festival Music Lists 2014-2015

On the first day of each school year, the Wisconsin State Music Association releases its new Festival Music List for the current school year.  This list is important for all music students who are preparing for Solo Ensemble (Vocal/Piano is the last Saturday in Feb. 2015 at Omro HS, Instrumental/Piano is the first Saturday in March at Omro HS) and Concert Festivals (Horace Mann HS, North FDL is hosting the Large Group Choir Concert Festival on Wednesday, March 25, 2015).

See Mr. Witte if you have any other questions.


1000s – Vocal
2000s – Orchestra
3000s – Band/Woodwind
4000s – Brass
5000s – Percussion
6000s – Jazz/Show Choir/Alt. Strings
7000s – Piano
8000s – Handbell/Guitar
9000s – Misc./Ethnic