Advertisement The 16-year-old Aquinas High School junior was one of two Wisconsin high school singers selected to the Sound of America honor chorus, a national performing organization.
The Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus begins its 2007 European concert tour this week.
Auriel said she was asked to audition for the chorus because she was a member of the all-state honor choir. She was the only La Crosse area high school student selected to the chorus.
“I never heard about the group before, but when I got a brochure, I looked at it the entire day at school,” Auriel said.
“I mean, to go to Europe is one thing, but to sing the entire time was icing on the cake.
“I have been out of the country only once — to Canada and Niagara Falls,” she said.
The band and chorus will give 10 performances in some of Europe’s finest concert halls and major cathedrals during its 25-day concert tour, which includes six countries — Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France and Luxembourg.
“It’s really exciting and overwhelming,” Auriel said, “just seeing everything and singing in some of the great cathedrals with the best acoustics and experiencing the different cultures.”
She personally wants to take a gondola ride and walk inside the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. “I can’t wait to walk up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower,” Auriel said.
Auriel, daughter of Rudy and Cherie Nigl of Stoddard, Wis., had to raise $4,500 on her own for the trip. She sent out more than 200 letters to family, church members and friends, and she received more money than she needed.
“It really amazed me,” she said. “I wanted to do a bake sale, but I didn’t need to.”
Auriel said she will be singing top-notch repertoire while on tour.
“Singing very good repertoire with all the other talented singers will be memorable experience,” Auriel said. “I like that I will make friends from all over the country. I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
Auriel said she has always loved singing. She said she remembers singing before she started talking.
“Well, at least before walking,” she added. “I like everything about singing and I’m always singing.”
She was a member of the La Crosse Girlchoir for five years.
“I loved girl choir and I still miss it,” she said.
“But with my schedule conflicts I couldn’t do it anymore.”
Auriel is a member of the Aquinas Robed Choir and has performed in school musicals. She has participated as a member of the Wisconsin State Music Association state honor choir.
This summer she was named to the state honor choir for the second year and she attended rehearsals in Green Bay before heading to Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania for four days of rehearsals with the Sound of America chorus.
Auriel has studied voice with Amanda Rhatigan at Reed Music Studio in Onalaska, Wis., and will study with Daniel Johnson-Wilmot at Viterbo University in the fall.
She also plays flute in the Aquinas band and chamber ensemble.
She is a choir member and cantor at Mary of the Mother Church in La Crosse.
Auriel’s dream is to study vocal performance at a major music conservatory.
“All I know is I want singing to be my career,” she said.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at trindfleisch@lacrossetribune.com or
(608) 791-8227.
