Under the direction of Vocal Music Instructor Gordy Moeller, the Minnewaska Area High School Concert Choir performed last week at the Minnesota Music Educators Association Annual State Convention.  

Being invited to perform at the convention is one of the highest honors bestowed on a high school choir. 

It was only the second time in Minnewaska Area School’s history this invitation has been extended with the last invitation in 1995. 

Minnewaska was the only Class A school choir invited. Other schools invited were St. Michael/Albertville, Albert Lea, Austin and St. Louis Park. 

“We were in some very good company,” stated Gordy Moeller, “What an honor for our students!”

The performance was on Thursday, Feb 16, at 1 p.m. at the Minneapolis Convention Center. 

“This performance is a very big deal… As one director in our area told me, this is as rare as playing for a State Championship,” Moeller added. 

“The incredible opportunity for our Laker students to perform at the MMEA Convention provides a chance to showcase our district’s talent and create memories that will last a lifetime,” said MAS Superintendent Chip Rankin.

Nate Meissner, MAHS principal, said Minnewaska values music education and sees its benefits “in our students as part of their well-rounded education.” “We continue to show a high involvement rate in music education in Minnewaska,” Meissner said in the program that was handed out at the convention. “Our high school enrollment is about 400 students, and of those students, 198 participate in music. We are proud and thankful to MMEA for providing us with this invitation (to perform),” Meissner added.

Phil Johnsrud, Activities Director at MAS, said “being a

part of my high school music program was one of the most positive parts of my high school educational and extra-curricular experiences.”  

“To this day, those experiences had a major impact on me as a teacher, coach and as an educational leader. I’m proud to say our Laker music programs are second to none and continue to provide our Laker music students with the same lifelong lessons and experiences that will guide them after leaving Minnewaska Area High School,” Johnsrud stated.  

About MAHS Vocal Music 

Instructor Gordy Moeller 

Moeller was hired as the Vocal Director for Glenwood High School and held that position from 1981-1991. He remained in that position when the schools from Glenwood, Starbuck and Villard merged together in 1991 to form Minnewaska Area High School.  He currently directs High School Concert Choir, the 9th and 10th-grade Varsity Choir, 8th, 7th, 6th and 5th-grade choirs.  In addition, Moeller directs the MAHS Mixed Jazz Choir, Men’s and Women’s Jazz Chorus and Junior High Jazz Choir. During his career, he has also directed school musicals, was the head girl’s track coach from 1998-2016, head boy’s track coach from 2016-2018 and was assistant varsity football coach from 1993 through 2021.

Moeller has been honored by the Minnewaska Parent Teacher Organization receiving its “Excellence in Education Award,” has twice been named Most Inspiring Teacher by senior classes and two times was voted Section 6 Track Coach of the Year. In the fall of 2022, an anonymous donation was given to the school’s Laker Foundation to name the High School Music Suite in his honor. He is an active adjudicator in central Minnesota and has also been involved with community theatre organizations in both Glenwood and Alexandria. He currently directs the Adult Choir and sings with his wife Diane in the Praise Band at Glenwood Lutheran Church. Diane Moeller was the accompanist for the choir at MMEA and has taught private voice lessons from 2001-2018 for Minnewaska Area High School students and adults from the community. She has actively prepared 40+ band/choir students, vocal coaching and accompanying them for both region and state solo/small ensemble contests from 1999 to the present. 

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