MLHS Choir Pops Concert showcased state’s musicians, composers; MLES 6th Grade “Land of 10,000 Lakes” projects were on review
MINNESOTA’S GREAT STATE Seal.
It was a purple reign kind of evening as Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) vocalists hailed Minnesota musicians and composers at the Choir Pops Concert on Monday, May 22, in the school’s auditorium.
Vocal groups performing included a Grades 7-12 Mass Choir, Grades 6-8 Junior High Show Choir, Grades 7-8 Junior High Choir, Grades 9-12 Senior High Show Choir, Grades 9-12 Senior High Choir and Grades 9-12 a capella Group.
Directing the vocalists was Andrea Brinkman, MLPS Grades 6-12 Vocal Director. The choreographer for both of the show choirs was Kelli Tuckholke, Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) Kindergarten teacher.
In addition to the vocal program, the MLES 6th Grade students of Kyle Blomgren and Annette Kunkel highlighted their Minnesota projects “backstage” prior to the concert.
The Choir Pops Concert rundown was as follows:
+ Mass Choir:
“Hail, Minnesota!,” The Official State Song of Minnesota. Written by Truman E. Rickard and Arthur Upson. Published by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association in 1926. The Mass Choir dedicated the song to Kyle Blomgren, – “Minnesota’s biggest fan!”
+ Junior High Show Choir:
“Good Time,” by Owl City, an American electronica project created in 2007 in Owatonna. It is one of several projects by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young. Arranged by Andy Beck.
“Sunshine On My Shoulders,” by Honorary Minnesota musician John Denver. Andrea Brinkman accompanied on piano and Chad Suderman on guitar.
“Shooting Star,” by Owl City, arranged by Audrey Snyder.
+ Junior High Choir:
“Wagon Wheel,” by Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth). Dylan is an American poetic songwriter, singer, painter, writer, and Nobel Prize laureate. Arranged by Roger Emerson. Accompanied on guitar by Chad Suderman and on piano by Andrea Brinkman.
“Black Gold,” by alternative “grunge” rock band Soul Asylum, which originated in Minneapolis.
“Unbelievable,” by Owl City.
+ Senior High Show Choir:
“I’ll Be There For You,” the theme song from the television show, “Friends,” by The Rembrandts, American pop rock duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem, Minneapolis natives.
“Happy Shiny People,” by R.E.M., an alternative rock band. The original drummer, Bill Berry, hails from Duluth. The title and chorus are based on a Chinese propaganda poster.
“Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,: by the Andrews Sisters, an American close harmony singing group from the swing and boogie-woogie eras that originated in Minneapolis. The group consisted of three sisters, LaVerne Andrews, Maxene Andrewss and Patricia Andrews. Arranged by Mark Brymer.
+ Senior High Choir:
“1999,” by Prince. Prince Rogers Nelson, a singer-songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, philanthropist, dancer and record producer was born in Minneapolis.
“Forever Young,” by Bob Dylan.
+ A capella Group:
“Try Everything,” Home Free cover for Shakira. Home Free an a capella group of five vocalists, Austin Brown, Rob Lundquist, Adam Rupp, Tim Roust and Adam Chance, that originated in Mankato. Featured soloists will be Liana Blomgren, Joel Salgado, Chloe Klassen and Josiah Gardiner.
+ Senior High Choir:
“Clouds,” by Zach Sobiech, as folk rock singer-songwriter from Stillwater who was a member of the band, A Firm Handshake. “Clouds” went viral on YouTube prior to Sobiech’s death from cancer in May 2013. Arranged by Greg Gilpin.
“Fireflies, by Owl City, arranged by Mark Brymer.
“Alligator Sky,” by Owl City. Featured was rap soloist Josiah Gardiner.
+ Mass Choir:
“Purple Rain,” by Prince. Featured soloist was Ruben Fentanez.
Below is a photo gallery of the concert:
LEXIA PETERS, LEFT and Taylor Hudson, right, display the Minnesota State Flag as the Grades 7-12 Mass Choir sings “Hail, Minnesota!,” the Official State Song of Minnesota. It was written by Truman E. Rickard and Arthur Upson, and published by the University of Minnesota Alumni Association in 1926. The Mass Choir dedicated the song to Kyle Blomgren, – “Minnesota’s biggest fan!”
THE JUNIOR HIGH Show Choir of Grades 6-8 took note that, “Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh, it’s always a good time. Whoa oh oh oh, whoa oh oh oh – we don’t even have to try – it’s always a good time,” with the song Owl City’s “Good Time. Front, from left, Carly Osland, Anika Fast, Noah Rempel, Areli Capetillo, Kade Wassman, Olivia Klassen and Hana Bergling. Middle, from right, Jordan Wright, Hailey Groebner, Mason Fast, Michala Morin, Brooke Naas, Devyn Rempel, Jaci Tollefson and Aiden Rehnelt. Back, from left, Chloe Anacker, Peyton Banks, Kearney Wall, Brice Anacker, Kaelynn Pietsch, Alana Morey, Avrom Buller, Sierra Perkins and Theodore Evers
A BIG FINISH by the Junior High Show Choir on “Good Time.” Front, from left, Michala Morin, Olivia Klassen, Hana Bergling and Noah Rempel. Back, from left, Hailey Groebner, Kearney Wall, Brooke Naas, Jaci Tollefson and Avrom Buller.
ACCOMPANYING THE Junior High Show Choir (Grades 6-8), on the John Denver song about his reflection of a Minnesota morning, “Sunshine On My Shoulders,” are MLPS Director of Choirs Andrea Brinkman on piano, left and Chad Suderman on guitar, right.
THE JUNIOR HIGH Choir presented “Wagon Wheel,” by Bob Dylan, with choir member Chad Suderman accompanying on guitar, at left. Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth, is an American poetic songwriter, singer, painter, writer and Nobel Prize laureate.
A FLANNEL “grunge” look was taken by the Junior High Choir in the performance of the song, “Black Gold” by the alternative rock group, Soul Asylum. Front, from left, Cyenna Voshage-Hampel, Jessica Anderson and Kaiya Sayavong. Back, Jordan Wright, Chloe Anacker and Mercedes Saengosoth.
“UNBELIEVABLE,” BY OWL City was the Junior High Choir’s closing selection. Front, from left, Emma Eidhammer, Delainey Janzen, Jasmine Davison and Madison Hartle. Middle, from left, Alex Hernandez, Mackenzie Parent, Sabrina Hanson and Liana Peters. Back, from left, Carly Osland and Sierra Perkins. “It’s unbelievable! This is as good as it gets. It’s unbelievable! Don’t know what’s gonna happen next. It’s unbelievable! You haven’t seen nothing yet. It’s unbelievable! It’s unbelievable!”
THE SENIOR HIGH Show Choir strikes an ending pose for the song, “I’ll Be There For You,” the theme song from the television show, “Friends.” The song is by The Rembrandts, the American pop rock duo of Danny Wilde and Phil Solem, both Minneapolis natives. Front, Kayla Vonk. Second row, from left, Lucie Havlíčková, Sam Grev, Liana Blomgren, Meredith Suess, Kalley Rempel and David Hall. Third row, from left, Kyla Perkins held by Regan Syverson, Lexia Peters, Kenna Gardiner and Amy Bartsch. Back, from left, Brooke Naas held by Aaron Fast, Ethan Klassen and Andrew Fast, Eli Karschnik holding Chloe Klassen and Jae Faber held by Isaac Grev.
A LITTLE “BOOGIE Woogie Bugle Boy” boogie dance moves by Regan Syverson, left and Jae Faber, right.
SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE holding hands . . . Shiny happy people laughing.” Unique characters brought-to-life by the Senior High Show Choir’s version of “Happy Shiny People,” by R.E.M., an alternative rock band. Front, from left, Eli Karschnik, Lexia Peters, Kalley Rempel, Kenna Gardiner, Meredith Suess and Regan Syverson. Middle, from left, Lucie Havlíčková, Brooke Naas, Amy Bartsch, Chloe Klassen, Kayla Vok, Jae Faber and Kyla Perkins. Back, from left, Aaron Fast, Ethan Klassen, Isaac Grev, Andrew Fast and David Hall.
A VERY SIGNIFICANT happy shiny person – Sam Grev (with his fannypack, of course).
“SO TONIGHT I’M gonna party like it’s nineteen ninety-nine.” The Senior High Choir opens their part of the program with the Prince selection, “1999.” Front, from left, Rylie Tollefson, Margo Stoesz, Jewel Soutthivong and Kristina Vongkaenchanh. Middle, from left, Paton Buller, Zach Spinks, Jesse Jepsen, Reynaldo Capetillo and AJ Vongsy. Back, from left, Ethan Klassen, Kade Kremmin, Dayton Hanson and Levi Fisher.Senior High Choir members in performance on Prince’s “1999.” From left, Madison Schroeder, Karen Soutthivong, Meredith Suess and Jaden Hoek.
NEW THIS YEAR to Mountain Lake Public High School’s vocal performance groups was an acappella unit. Front, Chloe Klassen. Middle, from left, Joey Baldone, Amy Bartsch, Kayla Vonk, Ethan Klassen, Liana Blomgren and Jae Faber. Back, from left, Kyla Perkins, Josiah Gardiner, Joel Salgado, and Paton Buller. Soloists, in addition to Chloe Klassen, included Liana Blomgren, Joel Salgado and Josiah Gardiner. The group performed “Try Everything,” Home Free’s cover for Shakira. Home Free is an a capella group of five vocalists – Austin Brown, Rob Lundquist, Adam Rupp, Tim Roust and Adam Chance – that originated in Mankato .A capella is singing without instrumental accompaniment.
THERE ARE 23 graduating seniors with the Mountain Lake Public High School Class of 2017 who have participated in choir; the majority for all six high school years. The uppermost classmen fronted the Senior High Choir on the Senior Song, “Forever Young,” by Bob Dylan. Those seniors included, from left, Brook Sunderman on guitar, Sam Grev, Lily Kauffman, Lexia Peters, Aaron Fast, Kenna Gardiner, Jaden Hoek, Hunter Dahna, . . .
. . . KAREN SOUTTHIVONG, MEREDITH Suess, Alex Sunderman, Kalley Rempel, Andrew Fast, Merel Caminada, Rebekah Klassen, . . .
. . . RUBEN FENTANEZ, LIANA Blomgren, Mac Bryan, Kassandra Tellez, Katherine Hofmann and Jack Wendt. Missing were Chandra Pfeiffer and Cutter Garloff.
OWL CITY’S “FIREFLIES” performed by the Senior High Choir. Owl City, an American electronica project was created in 2007 in Owatonna. It is one of several projects by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young.
RAP SOLOIST ON “Alligator Sky” by Owl City was Josiah Gardiner, at front with microphone.
MLPS VOCAL DIRECTOR Andrea Brinkman on piano, and Daniel Gardiner on trap set, accompanied the songs, “Forever Young” by Bob Dylan and Prince’s “Purple Rain.”
PERFORMNG AS PRINCE, Ruben Fentanez was vocal soloist on “Purple Rain,” backed by the Grades 7-12 Mass Choir. The late Prince Rogers Nelson, a singer-songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, philanthropist, dancer and record producer was born in Minneapolis.
MLES Sixth Grade hails Minnesota with state projects
BRICE ANACKER SPENT a lot of time in the wood shop, making an oar, recognizing the travels of the voyageurs by canoe; a fish, honoring the state’s 10,000+ lakes and a ship, noting the explorers that sailed the chain of the Great Lakes all the way to Lake Superior – and Minnesota.
EMMA ESTRADA HAND-sewed a voyageur’s pouch that was packed with tobacco, a roll of birch bark, pine gum and spruce root.
TREYTON DUERKSEN HOISTS his 90+-pound bundle pack, used to carry the furs of the Fur Traders. The most common furs were beaver, mink, mustrat and fisher. At times, the Fur Traders had to carry the packs through shallower water in order to get them to the canoes in the deeper water, in which they would be packed. The voyageurs were expected to be able to carry – at least – two packs (while some could carry three and even, four).
A WIDE VARIETY of melted crayon colors – as colorful and unique as the state – shows how Minnesota stands out. Meesha Hoek is the artist.
BRODY KLEVEN PLACED his pride for Minnesota o a T-shirt saluting state symbols. On this side of his shirt, the State Muffin – the Blueberry Muffin and the State Flower – the Pink-and-White Lady Slipper.
