Churchyard band to perform in bandstand
Churchyard, a gospel music group with a bluegrass flavor from the Crosby area, will perform at 7 p.m. today (Aug. 14) in the bandstand at Gregory Park in Brainerd.
The band has been performing together since January of 2004. While the group has gone through some change over the years, all are the original members and include: Denny Henrichs on guitar and vocals; Denise Kalevik on doghouse bass and vocals; Wendy
Chirhart on mandolin and vocals; and Dave Peterson on guitar, banjo and vocals.
All four of the band members take turns leading songs while the others add harmony to its collection of gospel music set to a bluegrass feel. Churchyard's diverse collection
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of gospel songs includes many gospel favorites as well as some original songs. The group has performed more than 350 times at area churches and special events over the 10-year span.
Bandstand concerts are free and open to the public. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Rain out site is The Center, 803 Kingwood St., Brainerd. If the concert is moved indoors, signs will be posted on the bandstand and it will be announced on WJJY radio. Concerts in the park are a collaboration between Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department and The Center.
Funding for the concerts has been provided by community donations and a grant from the Five Wings Arts Council.
Lakes Area Summer Organ Recital Series planned
NISSWA - The Lakes Area Summer Organ Recital Series will present Cathy Taylor in its last concert of this season at noon Wednesday at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa.
Taylor will perform a variation on the hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," the Ciacona in C Minor by Dietrich Buxtehude, the third chorale from César Franck's Trois Chorals and Joseph Jongen's Choral from Four Pieces.
Music Festival takes opera times two this season
The Lakes Area Music Festival accelerates with performances that promises to draw packed houses. The annual opera production, "Hansel and Gretel" will take stage at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, followed by "Summer Pastorale" at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Both performances will be staged at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd and are free of charge. Seating will be limited; early arrival is recommended.
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When Engelbert Humperdinck composed his version of Grimm's venerable fairy tale, "Hansel and Gretel," he might not have had Tornstrom Auditorium in mind. However, every dimension of artistic creativity and a production team from across the country will be employed to transform our local venue into an enchanted forest, inhabited by the country's most talented young opera singers and orchestral musicians.
Friday and Sunday performances will be preceded by a live interview between Minnesota Public Radio's Steve Staruch and festival opera director, Leah Arrington.
Ever popular festival standout and associate artistic director, John Taylor Ward, will return in not one, but two starring roles. As both the wicked witch and the father, Ward is certain to mark yet another memorable page in Festival history.
Andrew Altenbach, newly appointed artistic director of the Boston Opera Collaborative and music director of opera at The Boston Conservatory, will be back to conduct this season, and he will be joined by Leah Arington, stage director, and technical designer and director, Matt Scheidt. Abigail Dueppen from Texas, who will appear as Gretel, continues to be recognized as an emerging artist on the U.S. operatic and concert stage. With the Lakes Area Music Festival, she most recently appeared as Clorinda in last season's "Cinderella," and Jennifer Panara, a new face to the festival, joins the cast as Hansel after performances with Santa Fe Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Maestro Altenbach will return for the Wednesday performance and also will give a pre-concert lecture at 6:30 p.m. The repertoire will include Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds by Mozart and the Suite from Pulcinella by Igor Stravinsky, a result of that composer's collaborations with the ballet impresario Sergei Diaghilev and the Ballet Rousse. Among the Pastorale's featured performers will be Norbert Nielubowski, veteran bassoonist of the Minnesota Orchestra.
Now in its sixth season, the Lakes Area Music Festival is an annual summer series attracting more than 100 of the country's leading orchestral and vocal performers. Performances, which take place through Aug. 24, will include chamber, symphonic orchestral repertoire and opera. The organization also provides a variety of educational and social opportunities for the audience and community.
For complete information, visit www.lakesareamusic.org .
Tickets for Legacy Chorale event to go on sale
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Tickets for the Legacy Chorale of Greater Minnesota (LCGM) 12th annual Autumn in New York event scheduled Sept. 27 at Madden's Resort will go on sale Friday.
This semi-formal annual event will include cocktails, a silent auction, a four-course gourmet dinner and live entertainment throughout the meal presented by Legacy members. The silent auction has a variety of items including golfing, resort experiences, handcrafted items, household décor and more.
This social celebration of LCGM offers supporters the opportunity to continue to help make choral music functions a vital part of the Greater Lakes area, for all ages.
The Madden's menu, presented by Chef Bob Schuld, includes: Bacon and fresh basil wrapped broiled shrimp; harvest blend salad greens, strawberries, apples, candied pecans, pumpkin seed pepitos, with pineapple lime vinaigrette; pork tenderloin cordon bleu, dried cherry compote, heirloom bean succotash, rainbow carrot julienne; and a mystery special dessert from the Madden's bakery.
Entertainment will feature a broad spectrum of musical styles such as: vignettes from Legacy on Broadway from the spring concert show; opera, contemporary and classical. CDs of the 2013 Christmas Concert and the 2014 Spring Concert-Legacy on Broadway will be available for purchase.
For tickets go online to www.legacychorale.org and click on the link to purchase tickets via "Paypal" send in your order via snail mail with check or credit card payment, or call the Legacy Chorale manager, Barb Mann, at 218-270-8020. There are reserved-premium (RP) seating rates and reserved-general (RG) seating rate options, with eight seats per table. Table assignments for RP seating are on a first come, first serve basis. RG seating is not assigned and is available in order of arrival at the event. Advance ticket purchase may be by cash, check or credit/debit card.
The LCGM has has been in the area since 2001 under the direction and leadership of Sarah Aamot. Their mission is "to ensure the legacy of excellence in choral music in the greater Minnesota area while enriching, inspiring and renewing the communities in which we live." They are governed by a nine member board and group membership is by auditions, which are held twice a year.
The Legacy Chorale includes 40 and 65 singers at any time, representing a number of greater Minnesota communities: Aitkin, Backus, Baxter, Brainerd, Breezy Point, Crosby, Crosslake, Deerwood, East Gull Lake, Garrison, Hackensack, Lakeshore, Little Falls, Merrifield, Nisswa, Pequot Lakes and Pillager. The Legacy Chorale has held performances in Aitkin, Crosby, Baxter, Brainerd, Little Falls, Wadena, St. Cloud, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, Staples, Perham, Willmar, White Bear Lake, Minneapolis and Moose Lake.
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The organization is funded by member fees, fundraisers, community donations, ticket sales and grants. The fall concert series "Gimme That Ol' Time Religion" will run Nov. 21 at the Crosby-Ironton High School Auditorium in Crosby; Nov. 2 at the Union Congregational UCC Church in Hackensack; and Nov. 23 at Tornstrom Auditorium in Brainerd.
More information and full schedule can be found at www.legacychorale.org .
Rock the Park V to perform
LITTLE FALLS - Rock the Park V will be Saturday in downtown Little Falls.
Presented by Rudolph Auto Solutions and Great River Arts, Rock the Park is a free annual outdoor concert and fundraiser for Great River Arts. The opening act Bobb Gatts and Kristen Blann will start at 6 p.m. and Brother's Tone and The Big Groove will take the stage from 7-10 p.m.
Rock the Park offers a concert experience because of the representation of local talent from various generations. Rock the Park is bridging the generation gap both in performance and performers, such as in the horn section which includes Dwight Nelson, Gary Tschudy, Craig Mesenbring, Jocelynn Moran and Preston Weber. Moran and Weber being part of the Millennial generation, while Tschudy, Nelson and Mesenbring are of the Baby Boomers.
Rock the Park is sticking to its rhythm and soul groove with music from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Although the style of much of the music is not representational of Moran and Preston's generation, relating to the classic music is not a problem. Nelson, a former Little Falls High School band director, trumpet player, and lifelong musician is confident the younger generations are able to relate to the Rock the Park music, stating "the genre of music we play is truly timeless," Nelson said.
Growing up listening and performing music of the 30s and 40s, Tschudy, an alto saxophone player, is experimenting with a different genre of music with Rock the Park.
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Lincoln/Hole-in-the-Day painting to be displayed
A White House meeting between President Abraham Lincoln and Ojibwe Chief Hole-in-the-Day II in 1863 headlines a "Portraits for Posterity" that has turned itself into an art show that will be on display Saturday through Aug. 30 at Madden's Stable Gallery on Gull Lake.
The display is free to the public.
The private meeting occurred two months after the hanging of 38 Sioux Indians in Mankato for their uprising in the state. Lincoln had personally reduced the original number from a list of 307 found guilty and undoubtedly didn't want the Ojibwe to follow that same path with U.S. soldiers involved in the Civil War. The president's invitation to Hole-in-the-Day also shows the respect he had for the chief in Indian affairs.
The gallery showing is part of the Paul Bunyanland Historical Society's summer events programs to revive public interest in the rich heritage of the Lakes Region. What is also to be shown at the gallery between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays will be 12 other new historical portraits by artist/writer Robert Perrizo. Portraits of famous regional world figure Aviator Charles Lindbergh, statesman Winston Churchill, author Mark Twain, president Teddy Roosevelt, scientist Albert Einstein, humanitarian Mother Theresa, baseball great Babe Ruth, boxing immortal Joe Louis, folk music archivist Pete Seeger, musician Louis Armstrong, Dakota Indian Legend Crazy Horse and writer/adventurer Ernest Hemingway will be on display.
A brief opening reception will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Stable Gallery, located at 11266 West Pine Beach Peninsula, Brainerd.
Little Red Caboose Variety Show back for second Railroad Days
STAPLES - For the second year in a row the Staples Motley Area Community Foundation is hosting the Little Red Caboose Variety Show to help kick off Railroad Days. The action is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at Centennial Auditorium in Staples.
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The host for this year's show will be Ken Thomas, the voice of WJJY's "The Wake Up Show." Thomas is a well known celebrity in the area who is also an accomplished musician and part-time comedian.
The show is being co-produced by Ray Gildow and Curt McIlravy. All proceeds are invested back into the Staples and Motley communities through grants.
Last year's show was a sellout and this year's show should be just as entertaining.
"We will have repeat performances and brand new acts that should make for a real exciting mix of talent," said Gildow. "We are still tweaking the program so we can still add a few surprises before our final program is put together. "
Last year's headliner, Jill (Mertens) Baker will be back along with the Little Moran River Band and possibly one more band.
Kali Klimek and Jenessa Iverson, a big hit last year, are putting together a new skit and Jamie Carlson and Lisa Jenkins are also making a repeat performance of their musical talents. Nate Mathews and Erin Gaffaney also will be performing.
Sophie Roberts is joining the slate of returning artists along with The Wayne Renn Band.
New performances this year will feature singers Cody Hanson, fresh off his winning country singing performance at a Clarissa singing contest and Andrew Bates singing and accompanying himself with his guitar.
Lee and Gary Paskewitz will perform Abbot and Costello's classic "Who's on First," a skit that they have been doing since they were in high school. New to the show, but not new to music fans will be Dawn and Gary Timbs. The dynamic duo has been performing in the area for a number of years.
This year's show will feature the singing of co-producer Ray Gildow and a first time appearance for Katie Ziegler, an area singing artist who sings throughout Minnesota.
Thomas has enjoyed a 33-year career in radio, and works as program director and morning show host on WJJY-FM.
He took a three-year break to teach radio broadcasting at Central Lakes College in Staples.
Thomas played in the Swingin' Sertomans band for 20 years, raising over $200,000 for charity, and still plays in a couple of bands in the lakes area. He also volunteers for many different events and causes.
Lakeland Public Television is co-sponsoring the show and will kick off the event with a preview of the season's new shows lineup.
Tickets may be purchased in Staples and Motley at the Dairy Queen and First International Bank and in Staples at Longbella Drug, Miller True Value and Staples World. Advanced ticket will be available until noon Aug. 21. Tickets will be sold at the door if available.
Turtle Town to host New York Times bestselling writer
NISSWA - Turtle Town Books and Gifts of Nisswa will hold a book signing with William Kent Krueger, an award winning mystery writer, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Krueger of St. Paul will be signing his latest book, "Windigo Island," to be released Tuesday.
Krueger is best known for his mystery series set on the Iron Range in Minnesota. Cork O'Connor stars in this series as the former sheriff of Tamarack County. When the body of a teenage girl washes up on the shore of a malevolent place the local Ojibwe call Windigo Island, Cork's old friend Henry Meloux asks him to investigate. Because the safety of Meloux's family is at stake, Cork agrees. Very soon, he finds himself pursued by monsters both mythic and all too real, and the net of danger quickly widens to fall across Cork and his own family as well.
Last year Krueger released "Ordinary Grace," a departure from the Cork O'Connor series. Ordinary Grace earned Krueger several notable awards, among them the Midwest Booksellers Choice Award and the Edgar Award.
Currently Krueger is at work on what will be his 17th published novel. Called "This Tender Land," it's a companion novel to "Ordinary Grace." Like that work, it's set in southern Minnesota in an earlier time, the summer of 1958. It's tentatively scheduled to be released in the spring of 2016.
To ensure a copy of Krueger's book, people may call the store before the event at 963-4891 and reserve a copy no later than today, Aug. 14. If you cannot attend the event but would like a signed copy of the book, call the store.
Book-signing event planned
EMILY - Author Alice Conklin will appear from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Emily, Outing and Fifty Lakes Lions Club Corn Feed Event to be held at Granny's Bar and Grill in Emily.
Conklin of Brainerd will be available to sign copies of her book, "A Crown for a Princess."
Faith and Daniela are best friend and they love to play together. They learn about nature by going for walks at the lake, staring at the clouds, and looking at all sorts of God's creatures. But it's when they try on princess gowns that they learn the most valuable lesson of all: God's gift to them is "A Crown for a Princess."
Tinsel and Lace Boutique planned
WALKER - Vendors are being sought for the annual Tinsel and Lace Boutique that will return Nov. 1 to the Walker-Akeley Hackensack (WHA) High School.
Deadline to reserve a space is Oct. 1.
Tinsel and Lace is sponsored by WHA Community Education and is free to the public. This show provides an opportunity for local and regional artists, crafters and home based businesses to offer their work and product in time for the holiday season in a festive atmosphere.
Vendors interested should call community education at 218-547-4360.
Puppet Pageant scheduled Friday
NEW YORK MILLS - The annual Puppet Pageant will be held at 7 p.m. Friday outdoors behind the Cultural Center in New York Mills.
Anne Sawyer-Aitch is providing artistic direction to the pageant with the help of a cast of community volunteers, children and parents. The original play is drawn from the Finnish national epic poem, the Kalevala. The title is "The Battle of the Bards," and as many of the stories from the Kalevala, tells the tale of a titanic battle between good and evil, with trolls and water puppets and a mosquito who gets under the skin of the hero Vainamoinen and the wicked witch the Dame of Pohjola. The Pageant brings a major thread of the cultural heritage of the region into a contemporary drama each year.
Adding to the large scale puppets and the stilt-walking children, will be a community chorus singing traditional Finnish songs in English translation.
Each year's drama is new, and the story is primarily told through movement and dance rather than words. Curtis & Loretta, well known folk musicians from Minneapolis, will provide live music to accompany the production.
The Pageant began six years ago when Cultural Center director Jamie Robertson brought a version of the large-scale street theater Puppet Pageant held in Grand Marais at the summer solstice to the Center.
The Pageant is open to everyone at no charge and is made possible by the members of the Cultural Center and by the generous support of the New York Mills Civic and Commerce Association.
Mille Lacs museum hosting events
ONAMIA - The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post in Onamia is hosting the following upcoming events:
At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Aug. 23, "We are Anishinaabe: Our Migration Journey." Ancestors of the Ojibwe moved from the Atlantic coast and had established themselves around Mille Lacs Lake by the mid-1700s. People in attendance will see a 30-minute presentation on the stories, values and traditions that traveled with them and remain today.
a program titled "Native Skywatchers" will be held from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 23. Participants will view works of art created by Annette S. Lee and William Wilson which are meant to revitalize Dakota and Ojibwe star knowledge and build community. Lee is a professional artist and professor of physics and astronomy at St. Cloud State University. She creates works of art that combine astronomy, Native culture, language and art into one. Wilson paints brightly colored, traditionally inspired, Ojibwe style paintings that incorporate an X-ray effect. In this style, the depiction of both an inner spirit and an outer form can be seen. Lee and Wilson are part of the Native Skywatchers program which is designed to help preserve indigenous astronomy by building community around the native star knowledge.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 30, a loom beading workshop will be held. People will create a design, put it on the loom and learn how to apply the loom work to other craft material when it is finished. Registration for the workshop is required by Aug. 27. Cost is $30 to the public and $25 for Minnesota Historical Society and Mille Lacs Band members. Additional $15 supply fee. Make reservations by calling 320-532-3632.
