By Aurora Deuel, Dan Price, and Nicole Thietje

Student Editors: Ella Schoenbauer, Riley Walker, and Vincent Zhang

The New Prague High School choral program serves students in grades 9-12 in four curricular ensembles. The NPHS choral department is a student-centered learning environment that is designed to challenge students to develop their musical skills while working collaboratively. All music is studied from personal, societal, historical, and cultural contexts in order to foster understanding of why the music was created. Students also have the opportunity to study and perform music of their own choosing and are part of conversations that sculpt their learning. All student voices are valued as an important part of the class culture and learning processes. Rather than a formal audition process, students choose which ensemble to join based on the musical experiences they desire. For those students who want to take part in an adjudication process, they are given the opportunity to audition for the extracurricular show choir, All-State, or honor choirs at the state, regional, or national levels.

NPHS’s show choir, Emotion, is an extracurricular group that utilizes a student-led model. A collaborative student team designs the show, selects their own music, makes creative decisions, creates and teaches choreography, and participates in leadership opportunities. This ensemble is a great opportunity for students to explore their creative talents in a supportive environment. The goal is that these skills transfer to their experiences in other choirs, activities, clubs, the wider school community, and life outside of school.

A Student’s Perspective by Dan Price (11th grade)

Every member of the choir department comes from different backgrounds and interests. Yet, the moment anyone walks through the doors into the choir room, everyone immediately feels excited and determined to work hard, knowing that they can help make a difference for the entire choir. With this hard work, our choir can bring songs to life, creating a beautiful piece that plays out like pure magic. The reason NPHS choirs can perform so distinctly and joyfully is that the pieces performed are often chosen by the students themselves. The students get to request, debate, and decide what to perform. When someone suggests a song, the entire choir speaks their own opinion, whether for or against it. The opinions stated are never spoken from a state of spite or malice; rather, they come from a place of respect and consideration, as everyone is trying to find the hidden gem that the choir can polish and perform the best. From this effort, the students can find a piece that feels incredibly special, which creates a bond between the students and the song. It truly feels far more personal when performing. 

This is just one of the few things that truly make the NPHS choir department special. Considering the amount of time those involved invest, it is clear how much people value choir. Every member will continue to contribute to their choir, not just so that people can hear the time and dedication put into the music, but to support and perform for their fellow students, presenting the magic we have brought to life through song!  

Student Voices by Aurora Deuel (11th grade)

NPHS choir students find the choral department to be a welcoming, safe, supportive, and stress-free environment. As 9th grade Treble Choir member Kayden Sirek puts it, “it’s all about bringing students together to provide a place where students can feel safe, accepted, and given the opportunity to grow into contributing members of society.” Students are allowed to be involved in all aspects of their respective choir classes, which gives each student a voice in the program. Senior Concert Choir officer Ella Schoenbauer says, “I value that every single person is regularly offered opportunities to contribute, whether in design, leadership, organization, creative directing, or really anything else they want. Students can succeed in what they want, whether that’s a big investment in helping manage the group or simply being a part of the choir community.”

For many students, the NPHS choral program is a family and a connected community, as said by Concert Choir member Irelin Brockhoff (11th grade), “I feel that we are very included in our program, and that makes me feel like an integral part. There’s always someone in the room who believes in us even on the hard days. Mrs. Thietje always lets us know that she wants what is best for us, and that she cares about us, making her students feel respected and comfortable in the class setting.”

There is a place for everyone in the NPHS choral department, with four different choirs varying from entry-level to advanced music. Trojan Choir member Sam Meyer (9th grade) puts it simply: “Choir is a fun, relaxing class that allows me to take a break from normal schoolwork and do something different in the middle of the day. Choir is unique and allows students to express themselves in ways that other classes don’t allow.” Overall, the NPHS choral department makes space for each individual student and encourages them to grow and learn. As 9th grader Addisyn Novak says, “It’s filled with students who want to learn and a teacher who loves music and wants to teach it!” 

We are grateful for the opportunity to share about this program that means so much to us. Thank you to ACDA-MN for highlighting and supporting programs throughout the state of Minnesota through the “Star Program” feature.

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About the author

Nicole Thietje is currently serving as Choral Director at New Prague High School, where she directs four curricular choirs, extra curricular show choir, and serves as music director for NPHS musical productions. She is a native of Louisiana and has taught Pre-K-12th grade in both Minnesota and Florida. She is passionate about reimagining music education in order to better serve young musicians and grateful for the opportunity to work with them because they are the best teachers.

She enjoys being a choral musician and serving choral communities. She has worked with and directed for community and youth choirs, including Northfield Youth Choirs and See Change Treble Choir, and works with gospel artist Trey McLaughlin to transcribe his original and arranged gospel music. She is also an active member of MMEA and ACDA-MN, currently serving MMEA as a President-Elect. She served as co-chair for the Vocal Jazz Immersion Choir at the National ACDA conference in 2023. She has also served as presenter and honor choir director for ACDA-MN (2019 7/8 TTB State Honor Choir), MMEA (2023-2024 All State Soprano Alto Choir), and SDMEA. She works with students to achieve their goals of singing in state, regional, and national honor choirs and has prepared ensembles for conference performances in 2019 (MMEA) and 2021 (ACDA-MN). She is a co-recipient of the 2024 MMEA High School Music Educator of the Year award. Nicole has also won a Regional Emmy® Award for her work on a pop choral arrangement used on KSTP-TV Fox 9 in Minneapolis. 

She received an undergraduate degree in Music Teaching/Performance from the University of West Florida, a Masters of Arts in Music Education Choral Concentration from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently working toward a PhD in Music Education at the University of Minnesota. She received additional training for three years in the performing and outreach group called The Young Americans, teaching and traveling on five national and international music outreach tours, including tours in the U.S., Germany, Luxembourg, and Japan.