The Singers, a professional 44- voice chamber choir from Minneapolis will present a program entitled “Mid-Winter Journey- Songs of Love, Loss and Healing “in Staples Centennial Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 7.30 p.m. Staples Area Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus and Staples Motley High School A Cappella Choir will join The Singers on stage for a portion of the program.

Matthew Culloton, artistic director of The Singers is already known to Staples Motley area community for his work with the Staples Area Men’s Chorus as a singer and commissioned composer. Bryan Blessing, music advisor of The Singers, who sings in the tenor section, grew up in Staples and emphasizes the impact of long, strong choral culture of the area on his career.

“I am thankful to have grown up and been a part of the musical traditions in Staples and am glad for the foundation it has given me as I sing with The Singers and teach music in

Bloomington,” Blessing said. “Director Matthew

Culloton and I met singing in the Staples Men’s

Chorus when I was in high school, with my father standing in between us. I and my colleagues are looking forward to this collaboration.”

The program features a variety of contemplative choral masterpieces, including works by Minnesota composers. The

Singers are joined by the local choirs in Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna for

Chamber Orchestra.

Steve Hoemberg who conducts the high school a cappella choir considers this event to be an excellent opportunity for the students and singers

“They can not only listen, but participate in performing side- by- side with a professional ensemble in a contemporary work for a mass choir,” Homberg said. “ What a learning experience that will be.”

Matthew Culloton and a teaching team of the group will conduct master classes for local community and high school choirs during the week of the concert.

From Staples, The Singers continue to Duluth where they perform a new work from Joshua Shank commissioned in memory of a young missionary who died in the 2010 Haitian earthquake.

This tour is funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on Nov. 4, 2008.

Founded in 2004, The Singers organization is dedicated to giving worldclass performances of the finest choral literature. The Singers exists to serve as artists, educators and ambassadors of the choral art.

The Singers has premiered and commissioned over fifty new works by composers Stephen Paulus, Abbie Betinis, Jocelyn Hagen and Craig Carnahan. In March 2011, The Singers performed at the National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association in Chicago.

Tickets are available from Staples Area Men’s Chorus at www.staplesmen.org or call 218-894-2497.