MSU Choir - Norway Tour: A Magical Evening with Defrost Choir at the Cathedral Ruins

May 22, 2025

One of the most unforgettable moments of our entire tour was meeting — and singing alongside — the extraordinary, award-winning Youth Choir Defrost and their inspiring director, my friend, Thomas Caplin.

After a long day’s drive from Rauland, we arrived at the glass-enclosed Cathedral Ruins around 4 p.m. There, we were warmly welcomed by Defrost’s tour manager, Guro, who guided us into the stunning historic venue.

We spent some time rehearsing, experimenting with different formations to find the best acoustics in the space. Then we changed into our concert blacks and prepared for an evening of music and collaboration. We decided to share the program: the Minot State University Concert Choir and Minot Chamber Chorale would open the concert with songs by Moira Smiley, Towards the Light and Could Have Been You, by Rosanne Olson arranged by me, Damien Geter’s powerful 4th movement from his Cantata for a More Hopeful Tomorrow, and Hailstork’s rousing Wake Up My Spirit, followed by Defrost and their delicious repertoire, with a joint performance of Grieg’s Ave Maris Stella to close the night — a truly powerful finale.