at the choir's May 5 benefit for Open Arms of Minnesota.
Robert Strusinski, left, is the choir's founding director.
Sue Larson Walinske, Carrie's sister, presented the scholarships.
Thanks to you, Liturgical Choir concert nets $1,000 for Open Arms of Minnesota
The University of St. Thomas Liturgical Choir's May 5 "In the Sight of the Angels" concert benefited one of the university's service-learning partner organizations, and two choir members enjoyed a little more change in their pockets, too.
Each year the choir hosts a concert to benefit someone in need. This year's benefit, a hymn festival, netted $1,000 for Open Arms of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization that serves meals to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer or other chronic illnesses.
Carrie Larson Memorial Scholarships were presented to two choir members at the concert. This year's recipients were sophomore Dustin Dodge, a marketing major, and Diane Kulseth, who is majoring in liturgical music.
The scholarships are awarded annually by Marilyn and John Larson in memory of their daughter, Carrie '89, who was a communications major and involved with the Liturgical Choir during her four years at St. Thomas. The $5,000 scholarships are awarded to current Liturgical Choir students who embody the spirit of music ministry, choral excellence, leadership and who demonstrate academic achievement and financial need.
Performing in the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas, the choir performed an "all UST composers" program featuring works by the Rev. Jan Michael Joncas, an internationally known composer of liturgical music, author and assistant professor of theology and Catholic studies at St. Thomas; students Chuck Benincasa and Sean Barker; alumni Daniel Kantor, David Haas and Andrew Hackett; and Dr. James Callahan, professor emeritus.
