‘My kind of town, Chicago is . . .’

City known as ‘Second to None’ – along with Wisconsin’s Milwaukee – charm MLHS Senior High Band and Choir

 

entire group at msu
MEMBERS OF THE Mountain Lake Public High School Senior High Band and Choir in a group photo following respective clinics at Minnesota State University-Mankato. They are all wearing their T-shirts proclaiming: Mountain Lake High  Band & Choir, accented by a giant set of headphones.

 

In 1964, Jimmy van Heusen wrote the music and Sammy Kahn added the lyrics – but it was the first, the original “The Voice” himself – Frank Sinatra – who brought their inspiration to life, immortalizing Chicago, Illinois in song: “My kind of town, Chicago is; My kind of town, Chicago is; My kind of razzmatazz; And it has all that jazz.”

Fifty years later, Mountain Lake Public High School Senior High Band and Choir members recently spent time taking the song’s chorus to heart, making the Midwest city located on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan – their kind of town, too.

Along with the “Windy City,” the students were charmed by a couple of things Milwaukee, Wisconsin has to offer – Miller Field, the home of the Milwaukee Brewers – and the Harley Davidson-motorcycle manufacturing plant.

But first . . . before the boat tour, the “Bean” and hopping on a “Hog” – there was work to do – music clinics for both groups.

Senior High Band and Choir participants, their respective directors, Kurt Jahnke the instrumental leader and Andrea Brinkman, in charge of vocal music and a smattering of chaperones left on the three-day excursion bright-and-early on Thursday morning, April 17. Clinicals were held at Minnesota State University (MSU)-Mankato, later that morning – Dr. Amy Roisum Foley, MSU’s band instructor working with the instrumentals and the university’s choral director, Dr. David Dickau, instructing choir members.

The trip to new realms began as the entourage left Mankato behind – heading to an overnight stay at Key Lime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort in Gurnee, Illinois.

From Gurnee, it was a quick jump to Chicago – and a full Friday, April 18 of sightseeing. A jaunt on a Wendella Boat Tour gave the group a scenic view of the Chicago skyline, as well as a close-up look at the waters of Lake Michigan. No trip is complete with shopping extravaganzas, and the Navy Pier provided the perfect outlet.

From the water’s edge, the adventurous band and choir members went to Millennium Park – with proof positive of that visit a group photo at “The Bean.” Paraphrasing the Chicago Board of Tourism’s description’s of “The Bean,” as well as the park in which it is located – Millennium Park – it is uncovered that “The Bean” – the sculpture’s unofficial name – serves no purpose other than to be the unofficial mascot of the city, a massive piece of awesome art, and a reflective surface for Chicago’s skyline. It’s proper name is Cloud Gate, created by British artist, Anish Kapoor. “The Bean” weighs in at over 110 TONS, and is 66′ long and 33′ high. It was created by using a huge number of individual stainless steel plates – and its seamless surface is the result of thousands of hours of polishing. The sculpture has the appearance of a giant drop of liquid mercury, and the mirrored surface offers a reflection of the city’s whole skyline. Visitors can walk underneath “The Bean,” which is actually concave – and  enjoy the “fun house” mirror effect ‘this creates. Millennium Park is a public park in the Loop community area of Chicago and was created to celebrate the millennium. It consists of 24.5 acres near the Lake Michigan shoreline in northwestern Grant Park. Aside from Cloud Gate (“The Bean”), the park features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Crown Fountain and the Lurie Garden. Because the park sits on top of a parking garage, as well as the commuter rail Millennium Station, it is considered to be the world’s largest rooftop garden.

The “Blue Man Group” performance at the Briar Street Theater was on tap next for the troupe. The theater’s web site notes the group’s performance is, “Best known for its theatrical productions described as ‘ground-breaking,’ ‘hilarious,’ ‘visually stunning’ and ‘musically powerful.’ These performances feature three enigmatic bald and blue characters who take the audience through a multi-sensory experience that combines theatre, percussive music, art, science and vaudeville into a form of entertainment that is like nothing else.”

Dinner at Ed Debevic’s followed. Ed Debevic’s is described as, “a faux-diner in Chicago’s River North that employees a fleet of young waiters who dress in ’50s garb, adopt an intentionally snarky attitude – and occasionally jump up on the counters and start dancing.”

Following another night at the waterpark, it was off to Milwaukee and a Saturday, April 19 in-and-around the Wisconsin city. The first tour was of Miller Park, the home of professional baseball’s Milwaukee Brewers of the National League. The ballpark was completed in 2001 as a replacement for Milwaukee County Stadium.

The last stop before leaving Milwaukee – and heading home to Mountain Lake – was to the Harley-Davidson motorcycle manufacturing plant, one of two American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression (the other was Indian).

The band and choir members returned home late Saturday night.

According to Brinkman and Jahnke, the objectives for taking the senior high groups on such trips every two years is:

* To provide opportunities to their students to perform and grow musically.

* To learn about culture and etiquette they may not otherwise experience.

* The opportunity to venture out of the Mountain Lake/southwest Minnesota area and experience live music, theater, etc.

* To give students the chance to grow together as a cohesive unit by implementing fun activities.

Following are photographs chronicling the trip, provided by the Mountain Lake Public High School Music Department:

at msu vocal
THE SENIOR HIGH choir photographed taking part in the clinic at Minnesota State University-Mankato, led by Dr. David Dickau, the university’s choral director. Front, from left, Chanah Brandt, Kalley Rempel, Alexis Jellema-Baerg and Bailey Leaman. Second row, from left, Brook Sunderman, Meredith Suess, Kassandra Tellez, Selina Schnapper and Tiana Sengchan. Third row, from left, Cutter Garloff, Andrew Fast and Ian Glassic. Back, from left, Jose Gonzalez, Carter Kirk, Levi Blahnik and Josh Grev.
kurt at msu
KURT JAHNKE, INSTRUMENTAL director for Mountain Lake Public High School, leads his charges during performance during a clinic at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Dr. Amy Roisum Foley, the university’s band director, conducted the clinic.
aaron fast
THE SENIOR HIGH Band’s Aaron Fast performs on trumpet at Minnesota State University-Mankato.
msu instrumental
DR. AMY ROISUM Foley, band director at Minnesota State University-Mankato, right, gives some pointers to Senior High Band members, with the band’s director, Kurt Jahnke, at left. Roisum Foley was made an honorary Mountain Lake High Band member – and has the T-shirt folded over her arm to prove it. The university’s choir director, Dr. David Dickau, was also afforded the honor.
downtown chicago
TWINS BROOK SUNDERMAN, left and Alex Sunderman, center, are joined by Ruben Fentanez, right, as the trip participants take a boat ride on Lake Michigan.
chicago skyline
WITH THE CHICAGO city skyline in the background, this trio poses for a photo op. From left, Andrew Hempeck, Eric Wenner and Carter Kirk.
The Bean
CHICAGO’S SKYLINE AND other visitors to Millennium Park are reflected in “The Bean,” while Senior High Band and Choir members stop for a group photo under the shiny stainless steel structures.
blue man group
NO “BLUES” FOR Michaela Cate, left and Nicole Rahn, right, as they meet a member of the Briar Street Theater’s “Blue Man Group.”
EATING AT ED Debevic's faux-diner. Identifiable are, at left, from left, Levi Jahnke, Julian Jung and Ethan Karschnik and at right, from front-to-back, Josh Fast, Caleb Rempel and Sam Grev.
EATING AT ED Debevic’s faux-diner. Identifiable are, at left, from front-to-back, Levi Jahnke, Julian Jung and Ethan Karschnik and at right, from front-to-back, Josh Fast, Caleb Rempel and Sam Grev.
miller field
AN INTERESTING SHOT up towards the roofline and multiple decks of Miller Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from the baseball field.
group at Miller Field
ON THE INFIELD at Miller Field. Front, from left, Lily Kauffman, Ashley Watkins, Signey Stoesz, Carmen Syverson, Chanah Brandt, Tara Fast, Taylor Kass and Rachel Dukes. Back, from left, Kim Blomgren and Kyle Blomgren, parent chaperones; Bailey Freitag, Brooke Fast, Jordan Syverson, Alexia Jellema-Baerg, Liana Blomgren, Alexa Heffele, Levi Blahnik, Michaela Cate, Carly Paulson, Bailey Leaman and Steve Syverson, parent chaperone.
harley davidson
AT THE HARLEY-Davidson manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, Liana Blomgren, front, takes control of the Harley “Hog,” with her mom and parent chaperone, Kim Blomgren, back, psyched for the ride.
andrea and kurt
MAKING THE LEARNING trip experiences possible are the combined talents of the Mountain Lake Public High School Music Department – Andrea Brinkman, Vocal Director, left and Kurt Jahnke, Instrumental Director, right.
 

 

Facebook Comments