About the RWHS Choral Program

The Red Wing High School Choral Department is home to over 250 students in grades 8-12, over 30% of the student body! The storied program has only had four directors since 1940: Carl Sutherland from 1940-69, Jay Vanderlinden from 1969-1987, Mikkel Gardner from 1987-2015, and our current director, Scott Perau from 2015-present. The department has a rich tradition of excellence, with multiple performances for MMEA convention, many students selected for All-State Choirs, and a lot of students that sing beyond the walls of RWHS, with many earning collegiate scholarships.

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The program has had the privilege of commissioning two pieces of music: "Wild Geese" in 2003 by composer Cary John Franklin, and "Steadfast, Beating" in 2025 by Linda Kachelmeier. The program also has a robust travel program, with its first international tour taken to Italy in 2024, and its next international tour of Austria and Germany scheduled for March of 2026. We feel strongly about the rigor of our daily classroom routine, focusing on music literacy and high level music making, and are proud of the opportunities our students have in our choral program. Every student has a place in the choir!

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