LOCAL BRIEFS
Staples Area Men's Chorus rehearsal scheduled Sept. 9
STAPLES - The Staples Area Men's Chorus welcomes potential new singers to its ranks at a rehearsal at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Staples Motley High School choir room.
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The upcoming year will be busy for the chorus. In addition to its regular season of concerts and the Real Men Sing Festival, the chorus will feature foster choral singing in young men and host a convention of male choirs in April. The convention, which is expected to draw over a dozen choruses and 300 singers, will culminate with a public concert - "The Big Sing."
The Staples Area Men's Chorus has been a part of the cultural life of central Minnesota for more than 60 years. The chorus draws men from a large area of this part of state and they perform in a wide range of musical styles, from music of the great masters to folk tunes, spirituals, show tunes and pop standards.
The Staples Area Men's Chorus welcomes potential new singers to its ranks at a rehearsal at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 9 in the Staples Motley High School choir room.
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The Staples Area Men's Chorus has appeared at the Minnesota Music Educators Association and the Music Educators National Conference Divisional Convention, the St. John's University Male Chorus Festival and Associated Male Choruses of America Divisional and National Conventions. The Chorus won the bronze medal in its class at the Great American Choral Festival.
Stanley Carlson has been the music director for the chorus since 1971. He was director of choral activities at Staples Motley Public Schools from 1965-99 and directed the men's choir at St. Cloud State University from 2006-09. Carlson was named Choral Director of the Year in 1990 by the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota and Music Educator of the Year by the Minnesota Music Educators Association in 1998. He also directed the 2007-08 Minnesota All State Men's Choir.
His tenure with the Staples Area Men's Chorus marks one of the longest running affiliations with an arts organization in central Minnesota. That will come to an end this year, as Carlson has announced that he will step down as the music director at the end of the season.
For more information on the chorus, visit www.staplesmen.org.
Tuomi painting donated to Brainerd Lakes Health System
Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Brainerd Lakes affiliate recently presented the Brainerd Lakes Health System oncology department with a Mary Tuomi original painting titled "New Beginnings."
The painting was commissioned to honor Pat Erickson and Emily Lanin for their long-term dedication to the affiliate and particularly the Race for the Cure, for which they served as co-chairs.
The Race for the Cure raises funds that support the affiliate's efforts and educate local women and men about breast health. Through the event and other activities, the affiliate also has provided grant funds for numerous breast health projects throughout the Brainerd lakes area, including Crosby, Aitkin, Walker and Cass Lake.
Numbered prints may be purchased at Tuomi's studio in Brainerd.
Author of 'Running From Martial Law' to be in Baxter
Local author Dot Schmidt released her new novel, "Running From Martial Law," and will be at The Bethany Book Store in Baxter on Sept. 18 to sign books. Proceeds from the event will help fund her mission efforts here and internationally.
The book signings are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Israeli jazz pianist to perform in Wadena
WADENA - Anat Fort, Israeli jazz pianist, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Wadena Memorial Auditorium, along with her trio.
With Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley, Elvis Costello, John Coltrane and Egberto Gismonti among her many formative influences, Fort's music also subtly hints at her geographic origins. Born near Tel Aviv, she studied classical piano as a child and began improvising from an early age, all the while remaining open to the many musical sounds of her environment.
Anat Fort, Israeli jazz pianist, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Wadena Memorial Auditorium, along with her trio.
In the early 1990s, Fort came to the United States to study jazz. Her sojourn resulted in her self-produced debut album "Peel" and commissions to write for various ensembles, including chamber and chorus and orchestra. Her most recent commission premiered at the Opera House in Tel Aviv in 2006.
Fort received two artist-in-residence grants from the Jerome Foundation as well as the Creative Connections award from Meet the Composer.
With a presence on the New York City alternative jazz scene, Fort currently splits her time between Israel and the U.S. and performs with bassist Gary Wang and drummer Roland Schneider in her touring band, the Anat Fort Trio.
Wine-tasting contest set at arb
The Northland Arboretum's fourth annual Blind Wine Tasting Contest is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 11 at the arboretum on Conservation Drive in Brainerd.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the arboretum, Cash Wise Liquor in Baxter or from arboretum members.
The wine-tasting contest is a major fundraising event for the arboretum, it is sponsored by Cash Wise Liquor in Baxter and the Brainerd Jaycees and it is staffed by volunteers from the friends of the arboretum. All proceeds from the event will be used to preserve the arboretum, enhance its educational offerings and protect the wildlife at the arboretum.
Each ticket-holder will receive a card at the contest with a description of the various wines. Guests then will try to match the description with the correct wine. Prizes are given to those with the most accurate matches. Each ticket-holder will receive a commemorative wine glass and Prairie Bay Catering will serve hors d' oeuvres. Other activities include a silent auction and ballroom dancing demonstrations.
For more information about the arboretum or the event, call Dale Braddy, arboretum director, at 829-8770.
Just For Kix dancers perform at Twins game
Just For Kix dancers from the Brainerd lakes area recently performed at a Twins game.
The show was '50s inspired and featured songs such as "My Boyfriend's Back" and "At The Hop." Dancers used color poms, pool noodles and records as props and wore bright-colored poodle skirts.
Just For Kix dancers from the Brainerd lakes area recently performed at a Twins game. Making the trip were Miranda Ostlund (front left), Macy Clough, Mikayla Clough, Hayley Hackbarth, Samantha Hamlin (middle left), Amy Shepard, Kourtney Babineau, Dani Fredrickson (back left), Christina Sanow, Mandy Peters, Debbie Lingenfelter, Marissa Spencer, Cindy Clough and Amanda Clough. Not pictured was Samantha Hamlin.
About 230 dancers from seven states were in the show. Just For Kix staff from Brainerd traveled to the Metrodome to help produce the show.
CLC scholarship fundraising event scheduled Sept. 26
The seventh annual festival for the Latino Latin American Studies Scholarship fundraiser is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. Sept. 26 in the cafeteria at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
Pachanga Society of Stearns County will be the featured music and lunch will be catered by El Tequila. Tickets are adults, $8; students, $6; and 5 and under, free.
For more information, call Jan Kurtz at 855-8183.
Pillager graduate writes music for 'Into Temptation'
Russ Holsapple, a 1992 Pillager High School graduate, has written music for several short films, including "Into Temptation," which will be showing Thursday at the Lagoon Theater in Uptown Minneapolis. The film also was filmed in Minnesota.
Holsapple attended the University of Minnesota, where he earned a degree in music composition and then completed the Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program at the University of Southern California. In addition to film work, his music for the concert stage has been performed by orchestras in the U.S. and Europe, according to Holsapple's Web site.
Menahga artists' work on display starting Saturday
A show of woodcuts and colored etching by Menahga natives Kathleen Ristinen and Abner Jonas opens Saturday at New York Mills Regional Cultural Center and will be on display through Oct. 14.
A reception for the artists will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 17. There is no charge for gallery shows or artists receptions. Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Jonas and Ristinen, husband and wife, have exhibited prints in competitive and invitational shows for decades. Their prints are included in numerous public and private collections. Jonas taught printmaking at Ohio University until retirement. He also served as director of the School of Art from 1980-86 and as interim director from 1989-90. At the 2006 Mid-America Printmaking Council Conference, he was named Outstanding Printmaker of the Year.
Ristinen studied printmaking at Luther College and Brighton Polytechnic in England. She also makes functional, wheel-thrown pottery and works as an organist.