Stan Carlson retiring from Staples Area Men’s Chorus

Excerpt from Dawn Timbs
Staples World reporter

Conductor Stan Carlson will direct the Staples Area Men’s Chorus for the last time Saturday, April 17, at the highly anticipated ‘Big Sing’ concert extravaganza in Staples. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., at the Staples Motley High School gymnasium, the Big Sing concert will feature 300 voices from male choruses representing Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
The concert is the grand finale of the two-day Big Sing Convention, which consists of singing, choral workshops and special performances. It’s been nearly four decades that “Carlson” (as he’s fondly referred to by many of his former students as well as current choir members) has led the award-winning men’s chorus ensemble. The SAMC last hosted the Big Sing Convention in 1985. It was a huge success and Stan believes this year will prove to be the same. There are bound to be a few moist eyes in the audience when the Staples Area Men’s Chorus sings their rendition of the Scottish folk tune, “Loch Lomond,” a song of farewell. When one thinks of music in the Staples area, they can’t help but think of the name Stan Carlson, Sally Gorton of Staples said.Sally, current President of the Staples Area Arts Council, has known Stan for many years. “He is an extraordinary man,” she said recently. “He has this incredible desire to not only educate students, but to offer communities the availabilities of the arts.”
Sally recalled that Stan was a tireless advocate for building the Centennial Auditorium in Staples.