The sound of singing couldn’t be contained in Austin High School, so the AHS concert choir is making its way to Orchestra Hall.

The concert choir will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis as a part of the prestigious Minnesota Choral Arts Finale. The choir was one of six chosen after a rigorous audition process. The choir will perform three individual pieces and two pieces with the combined choirs, directed by Janet Galvan. This is the choir’s second appearance at Orchestra Hall since 2010.

For senior Adam Bergstrom, the opportunity is once in a lifetime.

“Orchestra Hall is kind of a special place to perform,” he said. “It’s kind of bigger, not a lot of schools get the opportunity to go there. It’s kind of cool that we sent in a recording of some of our pieces and were selected out of how many choirs that submitted things.”

Adam has never been to Orchestra Hall and is excited about the upcoming performance. He hopes to learn from the other choirs performing and from the experience.

“Maybe another choir will do something that we don’t do that we can pick up on,” he added. “Or something we can learn from the instructor that’s going to be helping us out.”

According to choir director Brian Johnson, the Choral Arts Finale started about 10 years ago when state leaders thought it would be a good way to reward and honor choir programs that were doing an outstanding job. Choirs submit a recording, as well as a series of programs the choir has done in the last three years so the listening panel can see the consistency of the choir, though they don’t know which choirs they listen to.

“It’s a double blind process,” Johnson said. “It’s pretty extensive. To be selected is a pretty big deal.”

Johnson said when he read the acceptance letter to the choir, choir members started cheering.

“They were pretty excited,” he said. “They started applauding and cheering. It’s a little like that feeling of going to the state meet, knowing that you won that final and you’re moving on.”

Although senior Katie Maxa recently sang at Orchestra Hall — she was on the All-State Women’s Choir which performed there in February — she is still excited about the opportunity and hopes to gain different perspectives from the other choirs.

“It’d be nice for people to just listen because it’s really eye opening, though it’s ears,” she laughed.

Yet she also hopes other choirs can take something away from the Austin choir.

“I think there’s a lot other choirs can learn from ours,” she said.

This is second time Johnson has submitted the application and recording. Choir programs can only submit an application every few years to encourage every choir to get a chance to perform at Orchestra Hall.

“Knowing what the experience was like the first time through, I was more excited for the kids than myself, because it’s a really fantastic place to sing and perform,” Johnson said. “The audience is great and it’s fun to sing with these other choirs.”

Superintendent David Krenz was also excited about the opportunity for one of the school’s programs to shine.

“It is a tremendous opportunity for our students and our program to be highlighted, and it is a wonderful evening,” he said during the Austin Public Schools Board meeting Monday night. “The last time that this happened it was 2010, and it is a tremendous privilege to be selected to participate. I think it says a lot about our programs and Mr. Johnson and our students.”

Since the competition season is over, Johnson said the choirs are more collaborative once they get to Orchestra Hall.

“That’s what I think is cool about this particular program,” Johnson said. “There is competition to get there — that’s obvious — but with making music and singing in part with choir, once we’re there there’s a sense of achievement and being able to collaborate.”

Johnson said being invited to the concert both times he’s submitted the application shows a lot of consistency and high quality of the students.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for these kids that get to go this year,” he said.

“It’s a pretty exciting opportunity,” Johnson added.

The event is open to the public. Tickets can be purchased on the Minnesota Orchestra website, by phone or at the door before the concert. For further details about this experience, contact Johnson at brian.johnson@austin.k12.mn.us or 507-460-1800.