Stan Carlson Stan Carlson of Staples was recently inducted into the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Hall of Fame, recognized for his significant career contributions to music education in Minnesota.

This news should come as no surprise to the hundreds of individuals who have had the privilege of performing in one of the many choirs Stan has conducted over the years.

He was the Director of Choral Activities at Staples Motley High School from 1965 - 1999, the Director of the St. Cloud State University Men’s Choir from 2006 - 2009; and has been the Director of the Staples Area Men’s Chorus since 1971.

Prior to beginning his teaching career, Stan received his A.B. from Hamline University in 1965, and his M.M. degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 1969. Stan said he acknowledges that his education owes much to colleagues at Staples Motley, St. Cloud State, MMEA, AMCA and ACDA. He readily admits that ‘almost all of the things that helped him to succeed, he stole from someone else.’

As a conductor, Stan’s list of accomplishments are impressive.

His community Men’s Chorus, high school A Cappella Choir, Chamber Choir and middle school Changing Voice Boy’s choirs have all sung at numerous invitational festivals as well as at conventions of the MMEA, Music Educator’s National Conference, American Choral Director’s Association and the Minnesota Education Association.

His Men’s Chorus won the Bronze medal at the Minnesota Great American Choral Festival in 1982. In 1987, the Staples High School A Cappella Choir sang under his direction in the Washington National Cathedral. In 2003, the Staples Area Men’s Chorus inaugurated its highly successful Real Men Sing Choral Festival.

Over the years, Stan has conducted workshop and convention sessions on sight-reading, Mixed and Men’s Chorus literature, the Middle School Changing Voice Boy’s Choir, and choral tone, as well as serving on many convention planning committees.

He is also a member of Music Educator’s National Conference (MENC), MMEA, where he served on the state board as Vocal Vice President; and the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) where he has served on the state board as Central District Chair and Membership

Chair. He is a past chair for the Minnesota State ACDA Standing Committee on Repertoire and Standards for Male Choruses.

His compilation, ‘Music for Male Chorus’ was published in 1985 by Associated Male Choruses of America, Inc., and listed over two thousand pieces for male voices currently in print.

His article on the use of computers to control music libraries appeared in Gopher Music Notes; and an article entitled, “Want the Boys in Your Middle School Choir? Use a Competitive Challenge System to Motivate and Teach,” appeared in the ACDA’s Choral Journal.

Stan was heav i ly involved in the fundraising for, design and the construction of Centennial Auditorium, which is connected to SMHS; and served as Volunteer Managing Director for the facility for eight years.

He is also active in the cultural life of his community. He served the Staples Motley Area Arts Council (and its predecessors) in various capacities for nearly 40 years, most recently as their concert programming chair. He leveraged his membership with the Arts Council and the Staples Host Lions Club to found a free summer “Music in the Park” concert series in Staples. He was a member of Staples Community Foundation Board and is currently a member of the Staples City Council.

Being named to the MMEA Hall of fame is an honor he shares with a host of Minnesota’s finest music teachers, including his own high school music teacher, Carl Lipke.

He considers himself fortunate, Stan said, to have been the student of Lipke at North St. Paul High School; as well as Robert Holliday at Hamline University and Ernest Harris at Minnesota State University. “From them, I learned the joy of singing, the elements of the craft and the breadth of the literature,” he added.

Stan said he is blessed to share his life with his wife, Diane, who is his partner and collaborator in both his professional and his private life; and to have had parents who were supportive and who enjoyed music on a daily basis. He is especially honored to see a former student, Steve Hoemberg, doing extraordinary work taking his old program (at SMHS) to new heights.