Brandon Van Den Eykel's hometown of Frazee, MN recently published a wonderful article in their local paper talking about his upcoming Choir Tour and some of his other school experiences. If you're interested, check it out below!!
FHS grad set to tour with MSUM concert choir
Minnesota State University Moorhead’s Homecoming King Brandon Van Den Eykel (center) poses with fellow students at a game. Van Den Eykel will tour with the Dragon concert choir in March.
• by Barbie Porter
Brandon Van Den Eykel may likely be remembered in the halls of Frazee High as a standout singer with an outgoing personality. As the 2010 Frazee grad prepares for his third collegiate concert choir tour, that may also be the case at his new school — Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM).
Van Den Eykel shared the shift from high school to collegiate choir was an immediate and noticeable difference.
“We have a higher standard that we need to fulfill (in college),” he explained. “We always strive to put on the best performances that we can. So, naturally, we are doing much harder literature than I did in high school and our rehearsals are much more intense. But I am incredibly fortunate for this opportunity to sing high level music with other very talented singers, and I learn so much every year.”
The passion for music has helped drive the son of Marty Van Den Eykel and Dena Baker to work harder to improve his vocal talents by taking private voice lessons.
“I have learned a lot about singing in different languages, and the tone and quality of my singing have improved a lot,” he noted.
In fact, the additional time he’s put into singing has allowed him to tackle complicated pieces, such as Vincent Persichetti’s “Celebrations.”
“To start off, this work is the main focal point of our tour show,” Van Den Eykel noted. “It is in nine different movements, and all of our other pieces will fit in between the different movements.”
“What makes this piece difficult is the text and rhythms,” he continued. “It is written in English, so the language itself isn’t particularly difficult, but because some of the rhythms are complicated, it can be difficult to get everything aligned properly. But when it works, it is pretty cool. We have come a long way and I am very excited to sing the final product!”
Van Den Eykel is also looking forward to performing a more playful piece during the concert choir – “Hodie beata Virgo Maria” by J.P. Sweelinck.
“The piece is imitative, meaning the different melodies are passed between and repeated or ‘imitated’ by the different sections in the choir,” he said. “This is a really fun effect to listen to. The opening melody starts in the alto section, then just a few bars later, the tenors start the melody, then the first sopranos, and it continues to build from there! It’s a beautiful piece that is really fun to sing, so I hope the audience enjoys it as well.”
The upcoming concert choir tour in March includes performances in St. Paul, Rosemount, Bemidji and Crookston. All performances feature Celebrations, a cantata by 20th century American composer Vincent Persichetti. The cantata consists of settings of nine texts by Walt Whitman. The performance also includes classical and folk music from the Middle Ages to today.
“I’m excited for each concert, because there is always something special about every performance and every audience,” he said. “But I am particularly excited about our performance in Crookston, because we will be performing on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus, and I love exploring other colleges. And apparently they have a really nice auditorium.”
Van Den Eykel will also give a free recital with fellow musician Lane Zyvoloski at 7:30 p.m. May 4 at MSUM’s Gaede Stage.
MSUM Homecoming King finds career path in music
Van Den Eykel is earning degrees in choral education and instrumental education and hopes to graduate in the spring of 2015. Upon graduation he will be K-12 certified and wants to teach music in a public school.
“I enjoy working with students of all ages, so I am not incredibly picky,” he shared. “My biggest hope is that I will be a teacher that will impact the lives of my students in a positive way and inspire them to become the best they can be, in whatever that may be.”
He’s already got his foot in the door by becoming a friendly and responsible resident assistant in the dorm where he resides. “I have had incredible residents both years, and it has been such a great experience,” he said.
Living in the dorms has afforded Van Den Eykel a “wonderful social atmosphere” with “like-minded people.”
While he found his dorm friends are driven to do well academically, like he is, it can be easy to get lost in living.
“Sometimes, the very thing that is great about living on campus can also be the downfall,” he shared. “I can get distracted at times, so I have to stay incredibly organized to be sure I’m always getting my stuff done. Additionally, since I also work on campus, sometimes it can be hard living, working, studying, and having fun all in the same place.”
Van Den Eykel also serves as the concert choir president and works with the choir director and board members to plan retreats and tours. He was also crowned the MSUM Homecoming King for 2012-13.
“Through all of these experiences, I have met so many wonderful people and they all continue to help me grow as a person,” he said. “I love that, even though I'm still in school, I can work to impact the lives of those around me. And for that, I am incredibly grateful!”
Brandon Van Den Eykel may likely be remembered in the halls of Frazee High as a standout singer with an outgoing personality. As the 2010 Frazee grad prepares for his third collegiate concert choir tour, that may also be the case at his new school — Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM).
Van Den Eykel shared the shift from high school to collegiate choir was an immediate and noticeable difference.
“We have a higher standard that we need to fulfill (in college),” he explained. “We always strive to put on the best performances that we can. So, naturally, we are doing much harder literature than I did in high school and our rehearsals are much more intense. But I am incredibly fortunate for this opportunity to sing high level music with other very talented singers, and I learn so much every year.”
The passion for music has helped drive the son of Marty Van Den Eykel and Dena Baker to work harder to improve his vocal talents by taking private voice lessons.
“I have learned a lot about singing in different languages, and the tone and quality of my singing have improved a lot,” he noted.
In fact, the additional time he’s put into singing has allowed him to tackle complicated pieces, such as Vincent Persichetti’s “Celebrations.”
“To start off, this work is the main focal point of our tour show,” Van Den Eykel noted. “It is in nine different movements, and all of our other pieces will fit in between the different movements.”
“What makes this piece difficult is the text and rhythms,” he continued. “It is written in English, so the language itself isn’t particularly difficult, but because some of the rhythms are complicated, it can be difficult to get everything aligned properly. But when it works, it is pretty cool. We have come a long way and I am very excited to sing the final product!”
Van Den Eykel is also looking forward to performing a more playful piece during the concert choir – “Hodie beata Virgo Maria” by J.P. Sweelinck.
“The piece is imitative, meaning the different melodies are passed between and repeated or ‘imitated’ by the different sections in the choir,” he said. “This is a really fun effect to listen to. The opening melody starts in the alto section, then just a few bars later, the tenors start the melody, then the first sopranos, and it continues to build from there! It’s a beautiful piece that is really fun to sing, so I hope the audience enjoys it as well.”
The upcoming concert choir tour in March includes performances in St. Paul, Rosemount, Bemidji and Crookston. All performances feature Celebrations, a cantata by 20th century American composer Vincent Persichetti. The cantata consists of settings of nine texts by Walt Whitman. The performance also includes classical and folk music from the Middle Ages to today.
“I’m excited for each concert, because there is always something special about every performance and every audience,” he said. “But I am particularly excited about our performance in Crookston, because we will be performing on the University of Minnesota Crookston campus, and I love exploring other colleges. And apparently they have a really nice auditorium.”
Van Den Eykel will also give a free recital with fellow musician Lane Zyvoloski at 7:30 p.m. May 4 at MSUM’s Gaede Stage.
MSUM Homecoming King finds career path in music
Van Den Eykel is earning degrees in choral education and instrumental education and hopes to graduate in the spring of 2015. Upon graduation he will be K-12 certified and wants to teach music in a public school.
“I enjoy working with students of all ages, so I am not incredibly picky,” he shared. “My biggest hope is that I will be a teacher that will impact the lives of my students in a positive way and inspire them to become the best they can be, in whatever that may be.”
He’s already got his foot in the door by becoming a friendly and responsible resident assistant in the dorm where he resides. “I have had incredible residents both years, and it has been such a great experience,” he said.
Living in the dorms has afforded Van Den Eykel a “wonderful social atmosphere” with “like-minded people.”
While he found his dorm friends are driven to do well academically, like he is, it can be easy to get lost in living.
“Sometimes, the very thing that is great about living on campus can also be the downfall,” he shared. “I can get distracted at times, so I have to stay incredibly organized to be sure I’m always getting my stuff done. Additionally, since I also work on campus, sometimes it can be hard living, working, studying, and having fun all in the same place.”
Van Den Eykel also serves as the concert choir president and works with the choir director and board members to plan retreats and tours. He was also crowned the MSUM Homecoming King for 2012-13.
“Through all of these experiences, I have met so many wonderful people and they all continue to help me grow as a person,” he said. “I love that, even though I'm still in school, I can work to impact the lives of those around me. And for that, I am incredibly grateful!”