And--She's a Great Hunter!

Emily has been "hunting" this week. She and her husband have a home near Ely and she thought a wood chuck had gotten into her garden. She could not figure out how it got in because there were no holes in the fence and she didn't think it could climb over the top. She decided that she was going to go "hunting" and get to the bottom of it.

She drove over 30 miles to New London Warehouse to rent a live trap ($10 for two weeks--such a deal!).

From Emily: "I watched the little guy eating in the garden and crept up on him as quietly as I could on crunchy grass and stood not more than four feet away from him, eyeball to eyeball. I asked him how he got in and out because the fence was intact and there were no holes. I think he must have climbed the fence! Though the Internet told me they are unlikely to do that if the fence is as high as ours. I made a trail of apple cores and celery ends. And I bolstered the trap with logs so it wouldn't roll and I camouflaged it with leaves and branches. Anyway, a little while later I saw it in the yard and then there was a loud click--Bingo!

"I drove it up to our friends' about 6-1/2 miles away and there was no action from Wednesday night til Saturday at 11:00 when I loaded up and headed home. I'm thinking the young one I also saw might have met a wolf or a coyote."

And now you know--Beware of Walkie Talkies who carry traps in their Toyotas! Some of us wonder if her friends are happy that she released the little varmint near their place!!! We also wish we would have had a photo of her talking to the wood chuck!

It's Hard To Get--ANY--Help These Days!

Good help! Bad Help! ANY Help!

It has been very difficult for some of us to get help in our little town these days. We respond to the ads in The Shopper, some of them with a "return call guaranteed!"

Helen S. has been waiting all summer to have a sump pump installed in her house. The City says it must be done by September 30th and she is starting to get nervous about it. The plumber says he is waiting for the part--we think it could have been mined, processed, packed and shipped long ago!

Naomi has been contacting folks for quite awhile for some help in her yard to no avail. The person is not returning calls. Also--she had a sump pump installed earlier and is still recovering from the mess in her yard and to her lovely gardens!

Jodie has contacted someone three times (return calls guaranteed!) and he has not returned the call. She needs some help in stripping and staining her deck.

It must be that they have had so much work to do that they no longer need our good money this summer!

A Great City Band!

If we've missed seeing it in the newspaper or The Shopper, we realize when we see the band shell in the parking lot at the Community Center in the morning that the City Band will be performing that night at 7:00 p.m. This City Band is the second-oldest in the state of Minnesota, having been formed in 1915. Since that time there have been only 6 conductors (one conducted for 31 years!).

It thrives because members enjoy playing in it and the townfolks enjoy listening to it.

This writer remembers when the band used to perform in a concrete band shell on a corner on Main Street. When the Union Hall was built on that corner the band shell was moved to the city park. When that was vandalized and had to be torn down a portable band shell was purchased and now the band can perform in adjoining towns also (since some of these towns provide a subsidy for the band). In addition to the concerts, they perform during the Fourth of July and at the Water Carnival.

At one point the band consisted of almost 70 people ranging in age from 16 to near-90! Now there are around 30 ranging in age from 14-74. For a night of practice and a night of performance, each of these band members receives a small stipend. Obviously, this stipend is not the incentive for their participation. Instead, they participate because they love to play the instruments that they learned to play in elementary and high school and because they love the camaraderie of playing in an intergenerational ensemble.

This writer was in the check-out line at the grocery store earlier this summer. A city band member must have been asking the check-out clerk if she still played her clarinet. I think the response was, "Not for 34 years!" That didn't stop the recruiter. It worked because the clerk is now sitting in the clarinet section playing away and looks to be having a ball! It must have come back to her quickly!

We come in droves to listen to this band perform for these concerts--some in their cars (with windows and doors open) and some on lawn chairs right in the front of the band shell. The applause and horn-honking after the selections is very rewarding to hear.

Due to budget cuts, there are fewer concerts than there used to be, but we still love them.

The members tune their instruments and get ready to play.

Dorothy leads us in singing The Star-Spangled Banner (sans flag!).

The band director introduces the selections. Everyone especially loves the show tunes and the marches!

Counting and waiting to start!

Ending with Stars and Stripes Forever with the wonderful piccolo playing again!

The final concert of the year is played at the local nursing home in the patio so that the Elders can enjoy what we have been enjoying all summer. It is so rewarding to see their response to the music and how they sing along with some of the songs.

WT's, Helen S. and Joan, enjoy a recent concert! The WT's are generally well-represented at the concerts!

Last Concert Tonight

Tonight at 7:00 p.m. is the final student concert of the Northern Lights Music Festival followed by a reception at a local watering hole. We have appreciated the talent of these young people and the faculty and staff of the festival. We look forward to their return next year!

This banner greeted them each day when they came into town to study and practice and prepare for the wonderful concerts. We will be sad to have it come down.
As they leave town in the morning, we hope that they will have fond memories of their experiences at the Northern Lights Music Festival and our small corner of the world which they helped to expand for the past couple of weeks.

Safe travels to all and thanks much!

Birthday Boys' Concert

Last night we celebrated Mozart's 250th birthday and Shostakovich's 100th birthday. In addition, it is the Centennial year of Minnesota Power (An Alete company), our local township and our local bank. Any one of those would be cause for a celebration in our communities, but all five--now that's a real birthday party!

The Northern Lights Music Festival Chamber Orchestra played Mozart's Divertimento in D Major, K.136 and Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8, arranged for String Orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra was conducted by Gavriel Heine--the first American to receive a combined Bachelors and Masters degree from the Moscow Conservatory--and faculty member of the Music Festival.

After an intermission, the Chamber Orchestra performed Shastakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 35. Bryan Appleby-Wineberg was the trumpet soloist. He is head of the brass division and coordinator of the graduate program in music at Rowan University in NJ. Veda Zuponcic was the piano soloist.

It was VERY hot in the high school auditorium but the applause for the performance raised the heat to the boiling point. It was spectacular.

After the performance, we all adjourned to the Catholic Church across the street for birthday cake and ice cream. The Walkie Talkies have hosted an ice cream social each of the other years. This year the bank and Minnesota Power and the township paid for the cake and ice cream but the WT's served it (thanks to Tee's leadership). It was a wonderful evening.

Irene (L) and Joan (R) cut one of the cakes.

Laurie cuts a cake.

Dorothy (L) and Naomi (R) scoop the ice cream for the guests.




Irene cuts the cake and serves some to Greg Maytan who played the violin in the Chamber Orchestra.

Today the Festival participants are on their way to Ely, MN, to perform at the high school auditorium tonight and to get in some shopping (See our link for The End of the Road at the right). Tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. is the final concert. We will certainly miss the performances and will miss seeing all of the young people out and about in our town.

Once again, we thank Veda for bringing this wonderful Festival to us! We appreciate all of her hard work and that of her entire faculty.

The Music Magic Continues

The magic continues in our little town with the Northern Lights Music Festival.

WT, Pat, said that NASA indicates that there might be an Aurora Borealis this weekend. Wouldn't that be the icing on this musical cake!!

On Friday night, Dr. Lourin Plant, entertained a large crowd with his baritone singing of African-American spirituals with Veda accompanying him on the piano. It was a magnificent concert and the crowd's applause led to two more songs at the end. Dr. Plant teaches at Rowan University in New Jersey and has served as coordinator of the vocal/choral division and conductor of the Rowan University Chamber and Concert Choirs. His presentations on African-American spirituals have been featured in state, regional and international conferences. We appreciate the fact that Veda was able to get him to perform for us and we won't forget the awesome singing and his introductions of the music.

Meet Courtney, a sixteen-year-old cellist from Manalapan, NJ. Courtney received the Honorable Mention Award in the 2006 NJ Symphony Young Artists' Competition and was the first prize winner in the NJ Music Teachers Association Young Artists Competition and has twice represented NJ in the solo Junior Strings Performance competition. She made her solo debut with orchestra at age thirteen with the Edison Symphony. In the summer of 2004, she was featured as a Rising Star for the first Beijing Music Festival, performing in Forbidden City Concert Hall and People's Congress Hall in Tiananman Square. Her performance was broadcast on China Central TV across China. She is the sister of Constance (below).

She performed with the Northern Lights Festival Orchestra on July 4th and with a trio on July 6th. We look forward to her future performances!

Constance, age eleven, made her solo debut at age nine with the Westfield Symphony. She has won numerous music awards including first prize at the Steinway Piano Scholarship Competition, first prize for her age group twice at the NJ Music Teachers Assoc. Young Artists' Competition. She won first prize on both violin and piano one year for this. She has also received awards for the Young Pianists of NJ Concerto Competition and at the Cecilian Music Club auditions. She has performed at the Alice Tully Hall of the Lincoln Center, Aarnegie Weill Recital Hall and Steinway Hall. In the summer of 2004, Constance was featured as a Rising Star for the first Beijing Music Festival, performing in Forbidden City Concert Hall land People's Congress Hall in Tiananman Square. Her performance was broadcase on China Central Television across China. She is the sister of Courtney (above).

Constance performed with the Northern Lights Festival Orchestra on July 4th and she performed Bach's Solo Suite No. 2 in d minor on June 30th. No doubt, we will hear from her again.

Chelsea is twelve years old, from West Des Moines, Iowa, and will be entering seventh grade this fall. She plays the piano and the violin and has won many piano competitions. Ag age six she received second place at the CCSN First Piano Concerto Competition in the Junior Division in Nevada. She has also won state in the Iowa Music Teachers Assoc. competition. Other than music, Chelsea likes to read, spell and swim. Academicaly, she has also been nominated as best writer in school, most academically achieved and many others. She has represented her school for many math, spelling and writing contests.

She performed on July 4th as part of the Northern Lights Festival Orchestra and on July 6th as part of a piano quintet.

Isabella is a thirteen-year-old pianist from Minneapolis. She has been studying piano for seven years. She has received many awards, including first place in the pre-teen division of the 2006 La Musique Music Studios Rising Star contest and second place in the 7th-9th grade division of the 2006 Northwestern College Piano Festival. Isabells also has a penchant for theater and has acted at the Guthrie Theater and the MN Opera. Her performance as Annie in Annie at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres gained her the Minneapolis StarTribune's title of Outstanding Youth Performer in Twin Cities Theater 2004. She has also dabbled in radio and film and is a singer, percussionist and guitarist. She has sung the National Anthem at Mn Twins, Gopher and Saints games. Recently she placed 11th in the Junior Individual Performance category at the National History Day competition in Washington, DC. She takes math the the University of MN, is a member of a championship-winning Quiz Bowl team and several of her essay have been reatured in the national magazine Discovery Girls.

Isabella performed Ginastera's Danzas argentinas at the concert onJuly 2nd.

WT, Laurie, and her niece Bobbi, have displayed several ethnic constumes in the showcases in the school to welcome the Festival participants. We congratulate them on the work that went into this display--many of the concert-goers have commented about this display and all have enjoyed it.

Slovenian costume.
Traditional Japanese costume.
Sami-Finnish clothing.

This writer will be absent for a few days. However, we hope that the rest of you will enjoy the concerts that follow:

Saturday, July 8: Student Concert at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 9: By Kids for Kids Concert at 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, July 11: Student Concert at 7:00 p.m.

Music Festival Continues With Great Success

Your 'Blog writer has been too lax this week and apologizes to all of our loyal readers.

The Northern Lights Music Festival continues to enchant and entertain the folks in our communities. The faculty and students have provided six concerts already with six more to go. Some of us are already starting to remember from previous summers the "concert/culture withdrawal" we will soon be suffering when they leave. We must enjoy the concerts while they last and to continue to be enthralled by the young people who are bringing us all of these wonderful performances and to be grateful to Veda for wanting to host the Festival in her home town.

Meet Khristian Erich, age 15, who was born in Puerto Rico. He lives in Stamford, CT, and will be a sophomore at Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY. He participates in the Superior Talent Educational Program at school and is a member of the speech and debate team, the varsity tennis team, and the Music Ministry Group. He also sings with his church choir and volunteers at a senior citizen residence. His piano teacher is Mitsuko Ichimura. His recital circuit includes halls like the Greenwich Arts Center, Steinway Hall and Carnegie Hall. Last summer he performed in Budapest, Hungary. Khristian is participating for the second year at the Northern Lights Music Festival. In his spare time, he enjoys astronomy and reading mystery novels. After the Festival, he will be taking a course in neurophsychology at Brown University.

Khristian has performed in several of the concerts so far: Mozart's Sonata in C Major, K.330 onJuly 6th and Ravel's Sonatine on June 30th.

Meet Magadalena, age 15. She began her piano study at age five and flute study at age seven. She currently studies the flute with Loren Lind of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the piano with Veda Zuponcic. She is an accompanist at her church and also in various other churches and schools throughout New Jersey. She has received numerous honors in many areas and was accepted into the All South Jersey Junior High Bands on flute and piccolo for several years, and the Symphonic Band also. She ws invited to travel to Prague this summer to take part in an international music camp/festival. She is active in her high school orchestra and church. In addition to music, Magdalena enjoys quilting, writing, scrapbooking and spending time with her family.

Magdalena performed Franck's Sonata in A Major on July 2nd and was part of a trio that performed Beethoven's Trio in B flat Major, Op 11 on July 6th.

Meet Armine, age 23, who was born in Armenia, has studied and performed in Europe. She is currently in her fourth year of study at the Yerevan Conservatory. She performed Komitas Armenian Folk Dances at the concert on July 2nd.

Meet Wolfgang (Wolfie), age 9, and just finished third grade at Park Spanish Immersion School in Minneapolis. He stated playing piano at age 4 and cello at age 5. He has performed a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber orchestra. He was a semifinalist at the MN State Fair Talent Show in 2004. He enjoys sharing his music with audiences. He is a member of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. He has many other loves, including a twelve-year-old sister, a goldfish, camping, iPOD, soccer, tennis, books and gadgets. He loves to travel and loves to read the Sunday flyers!

Wolfie performed Gabriel Faure's Elegie at the concert onJuly 2nd.

Happy Fourth of July!

The Children's parade was great today. The VFW/Legion Color Guard follows all of the fire trucks. As they turned the corner on to Main Street, the City Band played the National Anthem. Jerry carries the flag proudly. A couple of WT's are in the background: Elsie, Joan and Dorothy. A grand day!

The piccolo part of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" always gets resounding applause because of the playing of Karen M. Great performance (as good as any on the television specials!)!

It's a Grand Old Flag! Let's celebrate America's birthday today!

We Love A Parade!

Happy Third of July!

What is a parade without the fire trucks! It's a good thing that we did not have a fire in town during the parade! All seven trucks plus those of neighboring areas led the parade--from the old (above) to the new (left). The children love to hear the sirens! The volunteer firemen gave away fire helmets to all the children along the parade route (now we see the results of all of those Spaghetti Feeds!).

Dr. Barnes was the Grand Marshall of the parade, which means that our WT, Pat, was at his side riding in the parade.

Our WT, Dorothy, is the Mayor's wife, so she also rode in the parade!
The Northern Lights Music Festival participants rode in the parade on the Minnesota Power float. Many of the kids brought ethnic costumes with them to the camp because they had all heard about the Fourth in town and the fact that they would be riding on the float. They all seemed to be having a great time and got a rousing round of applause all along the parade route! Note: Irene's granddaughter, Kelley, who works for MP, helped design and decorate the float. Great job, Kelley!
Minnesota Power has been "Electrifying a Century" now. They are a corporate sponsor of the Music Festival. On Wednesday, July 12, there is a big Birthday Bash at the auditorium--we will celebrate the Birthday Boys (Shostakovich and Mozart), the 100th for our local Township, the 100th for our local bank (also a corportate sponsor) and the 100th for Minnesota Power. There will be birthday cake for everyone! Sounds like another great evening!
The Fourth of July is a big deal on the Iron Range. Even with the parade on a Monday evening, there were still plenty of people around. Tomorrow there will be a City Band Concert at 11:00 a.m. followed by the Children's parade at noon. Throughout the day there will be many activities.

There will be a Northern Lights Music Festival Concert at 4:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Another one for us all to enjoy--looks as if there will be some Sousa and other patriotic music!

Northern Lights Music Festival--Concert #2

Another concert tonight at 7:00: The Northern Lights Music Festival Faculty will be entertaining the community with a Beethoven Cello Sonata, Chopin 4th Ballade and other works. This will be the first time this year that we will hear Veda play, which is always a wonderful time for all involved.

Check out the information about this little pianist below:

Meet Joo Hyung who is seven years' old and is going into the second grade in Stamford, CT. She is a Student Council representative, and participates in numerous other extracurricular activities--chess, ballet, soroban (abacus), swimming and golf. She is originally from Seoul, Korea, but has lived in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Washington, D.C., and Phildadelphia. She has only been playing the piano for 9 months! Her instructor is Mitsuko Ichimura, who is one of the Festival faculty members. She has played in student recitals in NY, NJ, and CT and last month she played in the annual student recital at Carnegie Hall!

At last night's concert, she entertained us with Four Kabalevsky pieces: Fairy Tale, Meadow Dance, Playing Ball, Galop. She is quite the charmer and we look forward to seeing her perform again!