SD connections at inauguration choir performance

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A midwestern choir is back in Nebraska after a big moment in the nation’s capital.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln combined choir performed ahead of President Trump’s swearing-in Monday.

A choir of about 120 singers filled the capitol rotunda with harmony.

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Several of the members have KELOLAND connections.

Jaime O’Neill, who grew up in Huron, helped conduct the Monday morning performance.

“It was early pretty early, but it was great. It was awesome,” O’Neill said.

Yankton native Adam Lange also conducted the choir.

Volk: Where does this rank on major moments in your life?Lange: Oh, the tippy top. I don’t want to say I peaked as a young conductor, because that’s kind of scary to say, but this is more than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because not everyone has the opportunity to even sing at one of these, let alone conduct.

The inauguration, traditionally held outdoors, was moved inside because of frigid temperatures.

“We had never considered it being anywhere except outside because there’s only been one other time that’s happened, and so we were all prepared to stand like a four-row choir,” O’Neill said.

But the singers stood in a different configuration.

Still, the choir didn’t skip a beat.

“We kind of just went with the flow and enjoyed seeing everything,” Singer Jenni Peterson said.

Peterson is from Sioux Falls.

“The dome echoed a lot, so a lot of us had to be very focused on the directors watching for tempo,” Peterson said.

O’Neill calls the capitol performance surreal.

“In a way, it wasn’t nerve-wracking. I thought I would be nervous, but it’s one of those, ‘You fake it until you make it. We have a job to do. We’re representing a lot of people. Let’s make them proud.’ In a way it was just really empowering,” O’Neill said.

Other South Dakotans also performed in the choir, including O’Neill’s wife, who’s from Huron.

The group performed with the United States Marine Band.