BRIEFLY

LITTLE FALLS - Americana/folk singer and songwriter Dennis Warner will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Great River Arts Center in Little Falls.

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Warner blends humor, audience participation and serious music into a memorable and fun concert for adults and families. Warner has toured throughout North America during his 20-plus year career, appearing numerous times on television and radio. He also was honored with an invitation to perform in concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

"Live! Volume 2" is Warner's eighth CD and was released in February 2007. The CD was recorded in concert at the Pioneer Place Theater in Minnesota and features Warner as a solo artist and also with his band. Several of the songs speak of Warner's love for the environment and the outdoors. One song, "One More Angel," he wrote for a family member who died.

Americana/folk singer and songwriter Dennis Warner will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Great River Arts Center in Little Falls.

Warner's career blossomed a few years ago with the release of his song "Beads on One String" as a children's book. Warner accompanies his smooth vocals with his own unique, percussive style of playing the six- and 12-string guitars. Warner's concerts are suitable for all ages.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, with a $1 discount for GRAA members. Tickets are available at the arts center by calling (320) 632-0960. The concert is sponsored by the Great River Arts Association.

Author Lorna Landvik to make appearance at Brainerd library

Best-selling author Lorna Landvik will make an appearance at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Brainerd Public Library.

Landvik's many novels include "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons," "Patty Jane's House of Curl" and her newest title, "Tis the Season." Landvik also is a stand-up comedian and actor, with appearances in Los Angeles at the Comedy Store and Improv and in the Twin Cities at Dudley Riggs and the Bryant Lake Bowl.

In addition to the author event, the library's annual Holiday Open House is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library. The program is free of charge, but seating is limited. Participants must obtain tickets at the library - two tickets per valid Kitchigami Regional Library card.

Landvik's appearance is funded by the state with funds dedicated by Minnesota voters to preserve the arts and cultural heritage.

Author Sharon Schulte to appear in Little Falls

LITTLE FALLS - Author Sharon Schulte will make an appearance from 1-3 p.m. Saturday at Bookin' It in Little Falls to sign her books and chat with customers about her research.

In her book, "The Children Remember; Stories of Minnesota Children During World War II," Schulte describes how the bombing of Pearl Harbor affected her as a child. Schulte recollects what she and other children did during the war - participating in air raid drills, organizing scrap metal drives and rationing food, gas and clothing.

As Schulte began writing down her own memories of that time in her life, she realized there were other voices she could tap into for her stories, too. The book includes dozens of voices sharing the small details of childhood and family life on the home front.

Brainerd native's art to be on display in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS - Brainerd native Beth Stoneberg will have her art work on display Friday through Dec. 31 at Hoffman Parkin Urban Realty in Minneapolis, with a reception from 5-9 p.m. Friday.

Stoneberg uses birch plywood and oil paint to create her art. She studies the shapes made by wood grain and applies multiple levels of color, using negative space to create an abstract pattern.

This fall, Stoneberg's work was accepted into the 19th annual Midwest Home Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center and the Vital Culture Exhibit at Gallery 13, where her art will be displayed through Jan. 9.

Holst releases his newest fiction novel

Crosslake author and columnist Mike Holst recently released "The Magic Book."

Keeping with his tradition of Minnesota stories, the story takes place in St. Paul. Young Jennifer Crawford, fresh out of college, buys a bookstore in downtown St. Paul in 1974, and while cleaning out the clutter left behind finds an old, yellowed manuscript. Intrigued, but busy, she sets it aside until one night she can't ignore it any longer so she reads it. Almost mystically and somewhat magically, Jennifer finds herself on a dusty road outside St. James, where she encounters a man named Garth. The year is 1918.

The book is available at area bookstores in Crosslake, Walker, Nisswa and Emily and online at Amazon.com and the Barnes and Nobles' Web site.

Cuyuna Range Community Band concert set Dec. 12

DEERWOOD - The Cuyuna Range Community Band, under the direction of Chris Halvorson, will present its ninth annual holiday concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Deerwood Auditorium.

The concert is free, but those attending are asked to bring non-perishable food items that will be donated to area food shelves.

The band will play holiday and other classic favorites. Musicians are from Brainerd, Crosby, Ironton, Deerwood, Emily, Aitkin and the surrounding area.

Raffle drawings are scheduled throughout the performance to award prizes donated by area businesses.

For more information about the concert or becoming a band member, contact Mary Jo Schoenike at (218) 534-3811 or Dick Gunderson at (218) 527-0527.

From Age to Age to bring Christmas concert to Brainerd

From Age to Age will perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the First Lutheran Church in Brainerd as part of its Christmas Concert Tour.

From Age to Age will perform a program of sacred and secular a cappella Christmas music from Victoria to Rutter, Brandvik to Khvoshchinsky, F.M. Christiansen to PDQ Bach, with a sprinkling of traditional Christmas carols.

A free-will offering will be taken.

From Age to Age, directed by Andrew Miller, is a 16-voice professional choral ensemble made up of singers from across Minnesota and beyond. The ensemble performs a cappella choral music representing many eras and styles.

18th annual Tuba Christmas planned Dec. 12

Merry Tuba Christmas 2009, a brass ensemble holiday tradition, is scheduled Dec. 12 at the Westgate Mall.

Rehearsals for all volunteer musicians will start at 10 a.m. in the Central Lakes College music rehearsal hall on the Brainerd campus. The performance for holiday shoppers starts at 1:30 p.m. in the mall.

Players of low brass instruments, such as the tuba, euphonium and trombone, are invited to participate, according to Steve Anderson, director of the CLC music department, who said this is the event's 18th season. The first, in December 1991, had five players. The event has grown over the years to include as many as 22 musicians who gather from a 75-mile radius of the performance area.

"Students and adults participate in the event every year in remembrance of 'Mr. Tuba,' Bill Bell," Anderson said in a press release. "Low brass players all over the world gather for similar celebrations. All low brass musicians from high school on up are invited to participate."

Sheet music, stands and chairs are provided to players. Refreshments will be served after the rehearsal.

For more information, contact Anderson at 855-8215 or sanderso@clcmn.edu.