TWELVE AREA CHOIRS AT 11TH ANNUAL HEARTLAND HONOR CHOIR

(Estherville, Iowa) Iowa Lakes Community College will host twelve area high school choirs for the Heartland Honor Choir on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Singers from Okoboji, South O’Brien, Pocahontas, Spencer, Estherville-Lincoln-Central, Manson Northwest-Webster, North Union, Alta-Aurelia, Le Mars, Graettinger-Terril Ruthven-Ayrshire, OABCIG HS and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock school districts will all be part of the mass choir of over 180 singers.

“This is our 11th year for the Heartland Honor Choir, and it has been a great event to bring talented high school singers together.  The singers work together all day to create an amazing choral sound and grow as musicians,” said Iowa Lakes Choir Director Brett Fuelberth.

This year’s Heartland Honor Choir will feature guest conductor Dr. Kurt Runestad from Doane College.  Dr. Runestad has been the Director of Choral/Vocal Activities at Doane College for over 19 years, and he conducts the acclaimed Doane Choir, which tours nationally and internationally. Runestad is a frequent clinician, arranger, and adjudicator for choirs throughout the Midwest. He has received the “Outstanding Teacher of the Year” award twice from Doane’s Student Congress.  Area residents might remember Dr. Runestad as the choir director at Spirit Lake Community School District many years ago.

The Heartland Honor Choir is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, with a concert at 6:00 pm at the Janice K. Lund Performing Arts Center on the Estherville Campus of Iowa Lakes Community College.  Tickets for the show are $5 for adults.  The Iowa Lakes Community College Choirs will provide additional musical entertainment at this year’s event.