Decorah High School vocalists win Dorian Vocal honors

Each year at the Luther College Dorian Vocal Festival, a solo competition is held to select individuals to perform at the Grand Concert.

Over 300 vocalists auditioned for one of five solo spots. 23 semi-finalists were selected--and two of them were Decorah High School vocalists.

Allison Fretheim, daughter of Cindy and Chris Fretheim, sang "Chi vuola la zingarella" by Paisiello. "Allison has a uniquely mature voice for a high school junior," said Decorah High Vocal Music Director Jason Rausch. "I look forward to seeing more outstanding accomplishments from her."

The other vocalist, Sarah Hammel, was selected to perform at the Grand Concert, making it four years in a row a Decorah High School student has been selected as an outstanding vocalist for the Dorian Vocal Festival.

Hammel, a junior soprano and daughter of Richard and Barbara Hammel, was chosen to perform Tchaikovsky's "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt." Rausch remarked that, "Sarah is a natural performer and people take notice when she is on stage. She continues to be an award winning singer with vocal achievements as an All State Chorus solo finalist, State Solo & Ensemble "Outstanding Performance" winner, and now a Dorian Festival outstanding vocalist."