[scattered cheers] - And now it is my privilege to introduce to you the 2023 WSMA High School State Honors Treble Choir and their distinguished conductor, Dr. Julie Skadsem.

[cheers and applause] ["Faith Is the Bird that Feels the Light"] - ♪ Faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ And sings when the dawn is still dark ♪ - ♪ O faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ The bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ The bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ O faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ And sings when the dawn is still dark ♪ ♪ The bird that sings ♪ - ♪ That sings ♪ - ♪ When the dawn is still dark ♪ ♪ When the dawn is dark ♪ ♪ Faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ O faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ That feels the light and sings ♪ ♪ That feels the light and sings ♪ ♪ That feels the light and sings ♪ ♪ And sings, and sings when the dawn is dark ♪ - ♪ O faith is the bird that feels ♪ - ♪ Faith is the bird ♪ - ♪ Feels the light and sings ♪ - ♪ Faith is the bird ♪ - ♪ Sings when the dawn is still dark ♪ - ♪ Faith is the bird, is the bird ♪ ♪ O faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ It is the bird that sings when the dawn is dark ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ And sings when the dawn is still ♪ ♪ Still dark ♪ ♪ Faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ And sings when the dawn is still dark ♪ ♪ O faith is the bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ The bird that feels the light ♪ ♪ The bird that feels the light ♪ [cheers and applause] [Felix Mendelssohn's "Laudate Pueri Dominum"] ♪ ♪ ♪ Laudate pueri Dominum ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate pueri Domini ♪ - ♪ Laudate pueri Domini ♪ - ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate pueri ♪ - ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ - ♪ Laudate nomen ♪ - ♪ Nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Sit nomen Domini benedictum ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ Sit nomen Domini benedictum ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Laudate pueri Dominum ♪ ♪ Laudate Dominum ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate nomen Domini ♪ ♪ Laudate ♪ ♪ Sit nomen Domini benedictum ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ Laudate pueri Dominum ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ ♪ Ex hoc nunc et usque in saecula ♪ [applause] ["I Want to Die While You Love Me"] ♪ ♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ ♪ While yet you hold me fair ♪ ♪ While laughter lies upon my lips ♪ ♪ And lights are in my hair ♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ ♪ While yet you hold me fair ♪ ♪ While laughter lies upon my lips ♪ ♪ And lights are in my hair ♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ ♪ And bear to that still bed ♪ ♪ Your kisses turbulent ♪ ♪ Unspent ♪ ♪ To warm me when I'm dead ♪ ♪ To warm me when I'm dead ♪ ♪ When I'm dead ♪ ♪ And never, never see the glory ♪ ♪ Glory of this day grow dim ♪ ♪ Grow dim or cease to be ♪ ♪ Day grow dim ♪ ♪ Grow dim or cease to be ♪ ♪ Grow dim or cease to be ♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ - ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ - ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Oh, who would care to live ♪ ♪ Till love has nothing more to ask ♪ ♪ And nothing more to give?

♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ ♪ And never, never see the glory ♪ ♪ Of this perfect day ♪ ♪ The glory of this perfect day ♪ ♪ Grow dim ♪ ♪ Or cease to be ♪ ♪ I want to die ♪ ♪ While you love me ♪ [cheers and applause] ["Fire Dance of Luna"] ♪ ♪ ♪ Awake all you who from the lands ♪ ♪ Listen to the evening song ♪ ♪ Fire burn, alight the sky ♪ ♪ The deepest night arise ♪ ♪ Luna, luna, luna, luna ♪ ♪ Luna, luna, luna, luna ♪ ♪ Za za bah dah bah, za za bah dah bah ♪ ♪ Za bah la bah, la bah bah luna ♪ ♪ Mighty luna, sing out to luna ♪ ♪ Sing, sing, sing ♪ ♪ Move the magic into the music ♪ ♪ Luna, luna ♪ ♪ Sing, oh, sing, oh, sing ♪ ♪ Powerful luna ♪ ♪ Dance the night away, luna, whew!

♪ ♪ Za ba da sha ta ka, za ba da sha ta ka ta ka ♪ ♪ Luna, luna, sing out to luna ♪ ♪ Sha ba ta ka, beautiful luna ♪ ♪ Za ba da sha ta ka za ba, da sha ta ka ta ka ta ka ya ♪ ♪ Luna, luna, dance out to luna ♪ ♪ Sha ba ta ka, powerful luna ♪ ♪ Za ba da sha ta ka za ba, da sha ta ka ta ka ta ka ya ♪ ♪ Way, dance away, away ♪ ♪ Sing away, away ♪ ♪ Dance away, away ♪ Shh.

♪ Let the world be filled with desire ♪ ♪ Oh, magical luna, light our fire ♪ ♪ Through the mystic lights that appear ♪ ♪ You save all from fear of dark and gray ♪ ♪ Luna, luna ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Luna, luna ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ ♪ ♪ Mighty luna, sing out to luna ♪ ♪ Sing, sing, sing ♪ ♪ Za ba dalehya sha ta kalehya ya ♪ Whew!

♪ Sing, oh, sing, oh, sing, powerful luna ♪ ♪ Dance the night away ♪ ♪ Luna ♪ [vocalizing] ♪ Ah, ah, ah ♪ ♪ Show us, luna ♪ ♪ Shine your light and power ♪ ♪ Trust our eyes to see ♪ ♪ Make us see the light ♪ ♪ Beauty, glory, and enchanting mystery ♪ ♪ Magic beams ♪ ♪ It begins ♪ ♪ Za ba dalehya sha ta kalehya ya ♪ Yo leh ya lah da ba da, sha lah ya sha ta ka ta ka, ya ♪ [cheers and applause] ["Carrickfergus"] ♪ ♪ ♪ I wish I was in Carrickfergus ♪ ♪ Only for nights in Ballygrant ♪ ♪ I would swim over the deepest ocean ♪ ♪ Only for nights in Ballygrant ♪ ♪ But the sea is wide ♪ ♪ And I can't swim over ♪ ♪ Nor have I the wings to fly ♪ ♪ If I could find me ♪ ♪ A handsome boatsman ♪ ♪ To ferry me over ♪ ♪ To my love to die ♪ ♪ Now in Kilkenny ♪ - ♪ Now in Kilkenny ♪ - ♪ They have reported ♪ ♪ Marble stones there ♪ - ♪ Marble stones ♪ - ♪ As black as night ♪ - ♪ As black as night ♪ ♪ With gold and silver ♪ - ♪ With gold and silver ♪ - ♪ I would transport them ♪ - ♪ I would transport them ♪ - ♪ To the bonny homeland ♪ ♪ That was my delight ♪ ♪ Tho' I'm here today ♪ ♪ I'll be gone tomorrow ♪ ♪ An endless rover from town to town ♪ ♪ Ah, to be home now ♪ ♪ In Carrickfergus ♪ ♪ To be together ♪ ♪ My love and I ♪ ♪ ♪ [lyrical violin and piano music] ♪ I wish I was in Carrickfergus ♪ ♪ Only for nights in Ballygrant ♪ ♪ I would swim over the deepest ocean ♪ ♪ Only for nights in Ballygrant ♪ ♪ But the sea is wide ♪ - ♪ The sea is wide ♪ ♪ And I can't swim over ♪ ♪ Nor have I wings to fly ♪ - ♪ Wings to fly ♪ ♪ If I could find me ♪ ♪ A handsome boatsman ♪ ♪ To ferry me over ♪ ♪ To my love to die ♪ ♪ To ferry me over ♪ ♪ To my love to die ♪ [cheers and applause] ["Vichten", a joyful modern Acadian folk song] [nonsense French syllables] - Soloist: ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria a ka ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria ka ta ka shoon ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a va ♪ [nonsense French syllables] - Choir: ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria a ka ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ta ka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria ka ta ka shoon vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla Ha!

♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla Ha!

♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Bodnah bi bodne bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Bodnah bi bodne ♪ ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria oo!

♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla lizabeta ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ [clap] ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla lizabeta ♪ ♪ Ala couchi oom shoo shla ♪ [clap] ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria ♪ ♪ Bodnah bi bodne ♪ [stomp] ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bit'n taria bodnah bi bodne ♪ ♪ Stalawala w'd da lia bibodn ne' ♪ ♪ Bi bi bi ten oo!

♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!

♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!

♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven Vichten a ven a va ♪ ♪ Vichten a ven a ven a ven a ven a va va ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon taka shoon taka shoon ♪ ♪ Taria aka taka shoon vichten a ven a Hah!

♪ [cheers, whistles, and applause] ♪ My mother, when love is gone ♪ ♪ My mother, when love is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ My father, when peace is gone ♪ ♪ My father, when peace is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ I will not hate ♪ ♪ And I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour ♪ ♪ Hope lingers here ♪ ♪ My sister, when equality's gone ♪ ♪ My sister, when equality's gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ My brother, with tolerance gone ♪ ♪ My brother, with tolerance gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ I will not hate ♪ ♪ And I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour ♪ ♪ Hope lingers here ♪ ♪ My love, when honor is gone ♪ ♪ My love, when honor is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ My country, when justice is gone ♪ ♪ My country, when justice is gone ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour, hope lingers on ♪ ♪ I will not hate ♪ ♪ And I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour ♪ ♪ Hope lingers here ♪ ♪ I will not hate ♪ ♪ And I will not fear ♪ ♪ In our darkest hour ♪ ♪ Hope lingers here ♪ [cheers and applause] - I'm so sad.

It's our last song.

[laughter] So sorry, wish we had more.

I can't tell you what an amazing-- oh, I might cry.

I'm sorry.

I cry all the time.

Don't I cry?

I cry.

These amazing humans, they're just so special and so wonderful.

And wow, I'm really gonna cry.

[exhales] Omm.

Okay.

We were "omming" earlier today when we got a little verklempt over something.

So I just wanna say thank you, thank you, thank you for the organizers of this wonderful event.

I was kind of wondering about a summer camp.

What?

Summer camp, where they don't know the music?

What?

What kind of an honor choir is this?

But they worked so hard in the summer, and they got all those notes learned.

And then they memorized their music while I wasn't even there.

It was like, "Wow, how does this happen in Wisconsin?"

[laughter] So, I mean, because Wisconsin is such a wonderful place.

I'm from Minnesota, you know.

Yes, okay.

So, you know, we grow the Ole and Sven jokes.

I could go on and-- but I won't.

So parents, thank you for investing in your kids' social and emotional health.

Choir and music, the arts, are really where it's at right now.

Coming out of COVID, so many kids are so lost.

And having them have this sort of ensemble to be a part of builds their strength.

It builds their relationships.

And it gives them a home away from your home.

So thank you.

[applause] ["Music Down In My Soul"] ♪ ♪ - ♪ I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ I can feel it in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God ♪ ♪ Somewhere ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear music in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear singing in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear singing in the air ♪ ♪ Over my head ♪ ♪ I hear singing in the air ♪ ♪ There must be a God ♪ ♪ There must be a God ♪ ♪ There must be a God somewhere ♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got peace ♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got love ♪ ♪ I've got it, love everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Love in my heart ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I got peace in my soul ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I got joy in my heart ♪ ♪ Joy today ♪ ♪ I've got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got peace ♪ ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got love ♪ ♪ I've got it, love everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Love in my heart ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I got peace in my soul ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I got joy in my heart ♪ ♪ Joy today ♪ ♪ Do you love the Lord?

♪ - ♪ I love the Lord ♪ - ♪ Do you love the Lord?

♪ - ♪ I love the Lord ♪ - ♪ Do you love the Lord?

♪ - ♪ I love the Lord ♪ - ♪ Do you love the Lord ♪ - ♪ I love the Lord ♪ - ♪ Do you love the Lord?

♪ - ♪ I love the Lord ♪ - ♪ Do you love the Lord?

♪ - ♪ I love the Lord ♪ ♪ Well, I've got joy ♪ - ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got it, joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Peace ♪ - ♪ I've got it ♪ ♪ Peace everlasting ♪ - ♪ Peace ♪ - ♪ I've got it ♪ ♪ Peace everlasting ♪ - ♪ Love ♪ - ♪ I've got it ♪ ♪ Love everlasting ♪ ♪ Music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And it fills my heart with the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I got this music down in my soul ♪ ♪ And if fills my heart with the joy of the Lord ♪ ♪ I got joy ♪ - ♪ I've got it ♪ ♪ Joy everlasting ♪ - ♪ I've got peace ♪ - ♪ I've got it, peace everlasting ♪ - ♪ I've got love ♪ - ♪ I've got it ♪ ♪ Love everlasting ♪ - ♪ I've got joy ♪ - ♪ I've got it ♪ ♪ Joy everlasting ♪ ♪ Love in my heart ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I got peace in my soul ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I got joy in my heart ♪ ♪ I've got joy ♪ ♪ I've got peace ♪ ♪ I've got love ♪ ♪ In my soul ♪ ♪ ♪ [cheers and applause]