The Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota is a nonprofit organization of four youth choirs for grades 3-12. Its mission is to promote the highest standard of excellence in the preparation and performance of choral music, seeking to provide artistic challenge and growth opportunities for youth throughout the region and enjoyment for the community at large. Membership is by audition and is open to all students who live in southeast Minnesota.

This season, 220 singers from 25 southeast Minnesota communities and 50 different area schools sing in the choirs. They rehearse weekly throughout the academic year in Rochester preparing challenging repertoire, learning music history and theory, and practicing ear training techniques.

Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota relies on caring individuals such as you to support and maintain our traditions of artistic excellence combined with an outstanding educational experience for hundreds of area children each year. Thank you for your commitment to bringing the gift of music to our kids AND to our community!

Michael Culloton, Artistic & Managing Director
Concert Choir
Mr. Culloton earned his undergraduate degree in choral music from Concordia College (MN) where he studied under Dr. René Clausen. He earned a master’s degree in choral conducting from the University of Arizona where he studied with Maurice Skones. He has served as a visiting instructor at Luther College (IA), conductor of the Winona High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, and interim and associate conductor of the National Lutheran Choir. Currently, he is also Artistic Director of Choral Arts Ensemble of Rochester, a semi-professional 40-voice adult choir. Mr. Culloton is co-editor of the Matthew and Michael Culloton Choral Series (Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc.). In 2006 he was named the MN-ACDA Outstanding Young Choral Director and was also honored with the ACDA/VocalEssence Creative Programming Award. This is his seventh season with Honors Choirs.