Emma Lipinski received a special thank you from the rest of the chorale during the event last week.

Lipinski's world is a stage

Minneota sophomore performs with Buffalo Ridge Chorale

Those who fly solo have the strongest wings. And those who sing solo have the strongest voice. Emma Lipinski, who will be a sophomore at Minneota this fall, recently performed as a guest soloist with the Buffalo Ridge Chorale for its spring concert at the St. John's Cantius Church in Wilno. Lipinski and a two other high school singers from Marshall and Lake Benton were selected by Buffalo Ridge Chorale Director Anna DeGraff and board members following auditions.

At the Buffalo Ridge spring concert, Lipinski sang solos in four numbers — “Over the River”, “Climb to the Highest Mountain”, “Let Not Your Heart be Troubled”, and “Pie Jesu.”

"It was really a lot of fun," Lipinski remarked.

Lipinski enjoys performing in front of an audience as evidenced by her involvement in plays and musicals in high school and at the Lake Benton Opera House. She also plays flute and piccolo in band, and is in choir and speech in high school.

She also sang the National Anthem prior to the beginning of the National Robotics Convention in Duluth this past winter, and will sing two or three songs at the Relay for Life June 28 in Ivanhoe.

"I do enjoy performing for people. I don't really get too nervous. It seems like I've been singing since before I could talk," said Lipinski, who will be in “Shrek, the Musical,” from July 28-Aug. 4 at the Lake Benton Opera House.

Notices were sent out by Buffalo Ridge Chorale to music teachers at local high schools informing them about their desire to have soloists perform at their spring concert.

Minneota Music Teacher Mary Kay Rabaey then notified her students to see if anyone was interested. "I filled out a sheet and they asked me to come in and sing for them," said Lipinski.

"I sang a couple of songs for them and it was only about a week later that they emailed my mom and told her I was chosen to be a soloist."

Lipinski auditioned for DeGraff and two board members. "She gave a very beautiful audition," said DeGraff. "And in consultation with the board members, we decided to invite her to be a soloist for this concert."

The Buffalo Ridge Chorale originated in 2010 and the first performance was May 30 of that year in Hendricks. Since then, they have performed a concert every spring and fall; each preceded by at least eight rehearsals in Hendricks. Lipinski also rehearsed with the Chorale before the concert.

"Emma was a very thoughtful singer who prepared her music well and clearly spent time practicing between coachings and rehearsals," DeGraff noted. "She had a clear, resonant voice and was able to connect beautifully with the poetry she was singing."

There are over 40 performers from 15 towns along the Minnesota/South Dakota border (known as the Buffalo Ridge), in the Buffalo Ridge Chorale.

They perform in various churches in Hendricks, Ivanhoe and Wilno. Locally, there are performers from Marshall, Porter, Canby, Tyler, Hendricks and Ivanhoe, in to several towns in South Dakota.

In addition to songs being performed, each of the Buffalo Ridge Chorale's concerts includes a special feature such as guest soloists, visual art or literature.

The primary mission of the Buffalo Ridge Chorale is to provide an opportunity for performers in and around the Lincoln County area to practice and perform challenging choral music that will be appreciated and enjoyed by singers and audience members.

Contact Us

The Minneota Mascot
Address: 201 N. Jefferson
Minneota, MN 56264

Phone:(507) 872-6492