CLC Piano Festival set May 10

The 14th Central Lakes College Piano Festival will be 3 p.m. May 10 at Tornstrom Auditorium in Washington Middle School, Brainerd. It will feature students of Michelle Sakry-Winkelman. Admission is free. A reception will follow the performance.

Students who will perform are Peter Van der Hagen, Maggie Sweeney and Angela Button of Brainerd, and Melissa Ruud of Aitkin.

Button, a junior at Lakes Area Christian School, is the recipient of the 2003 Outstanding Piano Performance Award. She attends Central Lakes College.

"Angela was the winner of this year's piano competition, 'Talents for Christ,'" said Sakry-Winkelman. "She will be going on to perform in the national contest in Los Angeles this summer."

Button will perform the "Greig Holberg Suite for Piano" and "No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus" by Weigle.

Festival guest pianists Bryana Jenson and Jason Ruanavaren, also students of Sakry-Winkelman, also will perform. Jenson was a 2003 junior youth pianist winner in a competition sponsored by the Heartland Symphony Orchestra. She will perform the "Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23," accompanied by Sakry-Winkelman.

Aitkin pop concert set May 8

AITKIN -- The Aitkin High School Concert Choir, directed by Bryan Johnson, will present its annual Spring Pop Concert at 7:30 p.m. May 8 in the high school auditorium. Admission is $2.

This is the 35th year Johnson has directed the program of choral and solo music. The concert will begin with the choir singing several selections it will perform at Disney World in June.

The Bronze Bell Choir, directed by Kelly Blake, then will perform several numbers. The program will include songs from the musical "Les Miserables" and the movie "Aladdin."

The next portion of the program will feature the seniors who earned superior ratings at this year's solo/ensemble contest. Their performance will be a popular song of their choice.

The final portion of the program again will feature the Concert Choir, this time singing slower selections. Choral awards will be presented to several outstanding seniors.

Nisswa-stamman June 6-7

NISSWA -- The fourth annual Nisswa-stamman Scandinavian Folk Music Festival is set June 6 and 7. It will feature close to 100 folk musicians. The festival starts at 7 p.m. June 6 with a concert at Lord of Life Church in Nisswa, followed by an old-time dance at the Senior Center in Pequot Lakes.

At 10 a.m. June 7, the main festival takes place at the Nisswa Pioneer Village. There will be continuous music on two stages, a children's' cultural activities tent, a Norwegian coffeehouse, a full smorgasbord and another old-time dance. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 children and available at the main gate.

Call (218) 764-2994 or 963-7897 for more information.