Alumni Elizabeth Egger and Ryan LaBoy Lead Choirs in Super Bowl Pregame Festivities

Elizabeth Egger Ryan LaBoy Betsy McCann

We’re #UMNProud of School of Music alumni Elizabeth Egger (conductor of the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs) and Ryan LaBoy (ComMUSICation founding music director) who conducted their choirs from the 50-yard-line in a performance of “America the Beautiful” with Leslie Odom Jr. as part of the Super Bowl LII pregame festivities at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4. The performance was televised live on NBC prior to kickoff.

"Our singers are honored and excited to perform at Super Bowl LII," said Elizabeth Egger, Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs conductor, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and they will always remember feeling proud to represent the children of the state of Minnesota."

"Our youth perform with such joy and hope for the future. Singing at the Super Bowl is an incredible opportunity for our young singers to be seen and celebrated for their positive contributions to our community," said Ryan LaBoy, ComMUSICation founding music director. "It's an honor to be invited to sing alongside a talented artist like Leslie Odom Jr."

The Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs (ACYC) is an award-winning Twin Cities' children's choir program dedicated to providing high-quality choral music education with excellence in performance. ACYC's four conductors are professional music educators and artists who nurture and challenge the 275 boy and girl singers in grades 2-12. Young singers come from across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area to weekly rehearsals at the Bloomington Center for the Arts. The choirs perform free concerts annually at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis and the Ordway Concert Hall in St. Paul.

Now in its fourth year, ComMUSICation (CMC) is an intensive, after-school, choral-based youth development program that serves families in St. Paul's most vulnerable neighborhoods. CMC was inspired by El Sistema, an internationally renowned global youth music ensemble movement that uses music for social change. CMC is a highly collaborative organization, teaming up with various community organizations and artists, including Minnesota Orchestra, From the Top, Minnesota Opera, and various high school, college, and university ensembles. CMC accepts all students and strives to attain a high level of artistic excellence through frequent community performances and removing access barriers.

PHOTO (left to right): Elizabeth Egger (BM, 2005, music education), U of M Marching Band Director Betsy McCann, and Ryan LaBoy (MM, 2015, choral conducting and music education) 

Share on: