Summer 2018 Tuesday Concerts

We are so close to publishing yet another outstanding series of concerts.  Among our performers are a few of our mainstays and joining them are four returning groups and four newcomers.  We are so excited and will give you a bookmark of quality entertainment  within the week.

Terrific Tuesday Noon Breaks

Every Tuesday except July 4 this year count on us for a memorable music event.

2017 Tuesday Noon Concerts

Coming Soon!  Summer and your every Tuesday noon free concert at Grand Rapids and Cohasset churches.  Leading off this year will be the Second Wind Harmonica Band at the United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, June 6, 2017.

Every Tuesday is a new delight.  Some performers are new; others, returning.  From Big Band sound with Swing Delivery to folk with Len Clark and friends, savor the local music talent and enjoy a weekly date with friends.  Each week we'll try to give you a sample of what's in store, but for now, please accept our invitation to celebrate 16 years of weekly summer concerts each Tuesday this summer.

Goldenrod bookmarks will be available at local businesses, churches, and libraries in May.

Final Concert Scholarship Award Aug. 30

Thanks for a great season, Friends.  Your generosity has allowed us to award not one but two scholarships and we are so please to pass the good wishes on to two excellent musicians who have already distinguished themselves as genuine members of community.  They understand that "Together We All Do Better."

This week we're featuring four of the area's most accomplished pianists and they're playing together: "That's Eight Hands on Two Pianos" at Zion Lutheran Church, Tuesday, Aug. 30 at noon.  As always a church luncheon is available at $6.00.  The concert itself is free.

Planning is underway for the Fifteenth Series and we have some new surprises for you.  Mum's the word though until everything is finalized in early spring.  If there are musicians or groups you've been longing to hear, please contact one of the members of the committee and we'll add them to the list.

This time I'm listing members in order of their years of service and hoping I don't goof:  Cherry Tinquist, Carol Morrill, Kathy Goodwin, Cathy Shields, Darcy Reich, Eileen Grosland, Irene Eckert, Karen Karls, Lenora Evans, Louise Koglin-Fideldy, Allison Scally.  Every member of the committee performs a valuable service and it is through each member's commitment that the series pulls together each year.

And without all the committed people behind the scenes at the participating churches, we could not begin to contact the wonderful, generous performers who pull us together with their music.  By late September committee members have begun inquires.  By December performers have informed us of their availability, and by January churches have confirmed their interest in sponsoring concerts. So time is short if you'd like to participate in any way.  We regret that we can not accommodate every performer or request, but each year we try to bring you the best.

Have a wonderful year.

Carol

From Bach to Rock with Olivia

August 13 at 10:26 Olivia shared her joy with all of her Facebook friends.  "First place at the Minnesota State Oldtime Fiddle Championship! Also took home first in both the Twin and Non-Fiddle divisions! Needless to say, today has been quite good." A humble announcement from a very personable performer. 

August 23 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church the Tuesday Noon audience will have yet another opportunity to see how far Olivia has come.  Some of us remember her as the timid 11-year-old who was practicing 8 hours a day with a goal of becoming the best violinist in the world.  She's not so sure about that anymore, but she's still working hard and sharing her love of the violin and its music with numerous students.  She's also singing with Itasca Community Chorus and continues to play at assisted living facilities and anywhere else she can accommodate in her schedule.

Come early as St. Joe's is noted for their delicious luncheons at $6.00.  The concert is, as always, funded by donations.  This year's generous audience has made possible two scholarships that will be awarded next week.

Mase and the Masons

Jim Mason teased, "Wait till you find out what I have up my sleeve  for the upcoming Tuesday!  :-)" Then he went on to bring me up to date on his daughter's musical endeavors. 


Daughter Sarah, who directs the Ely High School band, will bring still other new elements to their performance as she is just back from the International Music Camp July 10th-August 5th where she was asked to return as an instructor.  Daughter Abi's degree will be in Elementary Education. However, she is the percussion section manager for the Concordia Band and Concordia Orchestra!  She plays everything.  She was even called in to play timpany with the Bemidji City Orchestra about a month ago.  

Never short on talent or surprises, the Mason family promises an easy-listening program at Community Presbyterian Church Aug. 16 at noon.  

A $6 church luncheon is available as always and donations continue to go toward music programs and this year's ever "First Tuesday Concert Scholarship" to be awarded Aug. 30.

Only the Best

Ross Larson is a newbie to the series though for the last several years he's been accompanying the Zion Luitheran Choir along with supporting other performers in several venues.  Ross teams with Stuart Boehr, Bonnie Kangas, and Darcy Reich to deliver solo, duet, and trio numbers on piano and organ.

Ross Larson, who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, graduated from Grand Rapids High School this spring. He has studied piano with Anne Dimich since the 2nd grade and recently completed his senior piano recital. Ross has also studied organ under Jan Bilden with the assistance of the Arrowhead AGO Young Organist Scholarship. In the fall, Ross will attend the Carlson School of Management at the U of M, majoring in both a business field and piano performance.

Among the selections are an exciting Celebre Tarentelle by L. M. Gottschalk with Ross and Stuart Boehr on 2 pianos, classical, romantic, and folk numbers featuring the breadth and depth of Ross's keyboard skills, and a grand flourish of Galop-Marche by Albert Lavignac with Ross, Stuart Boehr, Bonnie Kangas, and Darcy Reich on piano.

St. Andrew's hosts Keyboard Kaleidoscope August 9 at noon.  The concert is as always funded by donations with an optional church luncheon at $6.00.