WSU’s vocal and choral music faculty will be hosting the 23rd Annual Education Choral Festival on Saturday.

The festival is designed to assist high school music programs by providing an early, motivational opportunity for musical growth in a non-competitive, positive learning environment, said Lori Wiest, founder and director of the Choral Festival.

“It all started by asking high school teachers ‘what can WSU do for you and your choir students,’” she said.

WSU faculty will work directly with 11 visiting high schools and their choirs from Washington and Idaho.

“It’s all about getting the students to WSU’s campus,” Wiest said.

The directors of each high school ensemble get the opportunity to meet with the WSU music faculty in a private consultation regarding goals and objectives for the rest of the year as they pertain to their own choirs.

“The consultation helps students figure out steps to take towards the future, where they see themselves in the spring and how to get there,” Wiest said.

Throughout the day, the participants will also hear performances by the WSU Opera Workshop directed by Julie Anne Wieck and the Treble and Tenor/Bass Choirs directed by Dean Luethi. A concluding concert at 5 p.m. will feature the WSU Madrigal/Chamber Singers and Concert Choir conducted by Lori Wiest.

Theo Mynka, a sophomore at WSU, went to Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane and participated in the Choral Festival as one of the visiting high schools during his senior year. This year, Mynka will be performing in three ensembles during the festival.

“Now I get to be on the other side of things and give back,” Mynka said. “Two years ago, I was in their shoes.”

The Choral Festival will begin at 9 a.m. and will continue until 3:30 p.m. in Kimbrough Hall. Choirs will then move into Bryan Hall to perform from 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. The concluding concert will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in Bryan Hall Theatre. All performance events are open to the public free of charge.

“What I love most about the festival is that these kids could be anywhere on their Saturday, but they’re here,” Wiest said. “Music brings us all together.”