WINONA, Minn. — Singers in Winona and the surrounding areas are invited to join the Valéncia Chorale, a new adult community choir for mixed voices, under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea. The Valéncia Chorale will explore music from a variety of styles and periods. No audition is necessary to register, but the director will want to hear all singers individually at some point to ensure proper sectional placement.
High school-aged singers ages 14-18 may only register with the consent of the director. Rehearsals will be on Thursday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. in the Valéncia Arts Center Recital Hall, beginning Sept. 12. The first performance will be on Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels. The Valéncia Arts Center houses the Minnesota Conservatory of the Arts and is located at 1164 W. 10th St.
About Dr. Patrick O’Shea
A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Patrick O’Shea joined the Saint Mary’s University faculty in August 1997. He holds degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory (voice performance), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Arizona State University (both in choral conducting). He has conducted choirs of all ages, from children’s choirs to adult community choruses, and currently conducts the Saint Mary’s Concert Choir (a 64-voice select ensemble of mixed voices), and the university’s premiere choral ensemble, the Saint Mary’s Chamber Singers (which numbers from 24 to 26 and tours each year, alternating between domestic and international tours).
A composer of choral and instrumental music, Dr. O’Shea’s works have been performed throughout the United States, and in Europe and Asia. He has been active as a church choir director in a number of denominations, and has served as a clinician for numerous choral festivals and workshops. He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), American Composers Forum, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He resides in Winona with his wife, Lindsy O’Shea, who is also a voice teacher, and their five children.
Register online at mca.smumn.edu or in person at Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, 1164 W. 10th St.
About MCA
The Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts, an affiliate program of Saint Mary’s University, is a nonprofit organization offering programming in dance, music, visual art, and theater. Classes, lessons, workshops, and camps are offered for students of all ages from birth through older adults at the Valéncia Arts Center. For more information, go to mca.smumn.edu, email mca@smumn.edu, or call 507-453-5500.