Lawrence residents may not need members of a professional vocal group to tell them they should be proud of their local school music programs, but the praise of the Cantus men’s vocal ensemble still should make Lawrence residents proud.

After working with choral ensembles in Lawrence’s junior high schools, one Cantus member said: “I would put their sound in the top 10 percent of similar age brackets. These are definitely some of the best we’ve seen around the country.”

During a three-day residency, the Cantus members worked with about 500 choral students in Lawrence before performing Thursday night at the Lied Center.

Recognition is nothing new for Lawrence school choirs and the citywide Lawrence Children’s Choir, but the professional group’s comments are a good reminder of the high-quality choral programs this city enjoys.