December 17, 2023 (Dec. 17, 2023)

Yuletide Carols Highlight Our December Meetings

Posted by Bob Russell on Dec. 17, 2023

Two weeks ago we enjoyed Christmas carols sung by the Hillcrest Vocalese under the direction of Jonathan Clark with Lynette Thompson playing the piano, while last week we were entertained by the Fergus Falls High School Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Craig Peterson. The Hillcrest group, with 11 members present (five girls and six boys), five from Fergus, one from North Dakota, one from Pennsylvania, two from Connecticut and two from Brazil, performed four songs, including What Child is This, Little Drummer Boy and The Work of Christmas. Sixteen members of the High School Chamber Orchestra graced our last meeting and performed nine selections, including Joy to the World, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Deck the Halls, O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

Mr. Peterson told us when he came to our school district 13 years ago there were 187 students in the various orchestras and now there are over 400. There are a total of 87 students in the two high school orchestras and his fourth-grade orchestra students number 109. They have a concert at the Kennedy Center Secondary School Auditorium on December 20th at 5:00 p.m. if you want to take in more joyful music celebrating the time of year.

This coming Wednesday we will hear the sounds of the Fergus Falls High School Chamber Singers, capping off our meetings for 2023.

Other Happenings the Last Two Weeks

Our invocations were offered by Jamie L. and Keith O. led us in singing on the 6th. We also extended our sympathies to Steve Leitte on the death of his and Sue's daughter, Julie Ann Hovel, on December 2,2023. We welcomed our student guests from M State, sophomores Itzel Salazar from Long Prairie and Jayna Gronewold from Rothsay. Both are leading scores on the women's basketball team.

Brian T. told us about the comedian/ventriloquist we will be sponsoring at the Center for the Arts on Saturday, February 24th, with starting showtime set for 2:00 p.m. Adult tickets will be $15 a piece while children tickets are $10.00. All we have to do is promote attendance as tickets will be sold on-line. Every Monday there will be a new Facebook posting about the performance and everyone is encouraged to share it with their Facebook friends and otherwise get the word out. We will also have a preview of the show on January 3rd when the performer will be our program. Brian also told us he set up a platform on GroupMeet for our club and that the final dollar amount we contributed for the Splash Pad came to $86,297.62.

On the 13th, Wally C. offered our invocation, and we had a chance to sign a card to our chef, Rikki, as well as make a cash contribution to be given her this coming Wednesday. Josh B. told us that our bell ringing for Salvation Army on the 8th and 9th brought in a total of $3,431.18. Lisa M. thanked everyone who rang and said she enjoyed the experience.

Brags the past two weeks included Deb M. for enjoying a performance of Dance & Dessert in which two grandchildren participated, as well as a concert at M-State that included a grandson and son-in-law; Tim H. expressed his thanks for the Hillcrest Vocalese and appreciation for our annual tradition of having local students provide holiday entertainment, also contributing because he will miss a couple meetings going forward; Wally C. agreed with Tim H. and told us he took in a concert by the High School choir in which a granddaughter performed; he also bragged about a grandchild in the orchestra; President Zack also bragged about his daughter and the choir concert; Buzz L. acknowledged a girl in the Hillcrest choir that came to our meeting and who works at his shop; Josh said he missed a meeting because a fifth grade class at Hillcrest decided to do a play on the Salvation Army which he took in and also received a donation of $300 the students had raised; Dean M. thanked Josh B. for his Thanksgiving eve presentation at Bethlehem Lutheran Church; Kathy expressed her appreciation for Ricki; and Brian T. paid for missing a meeting. Zack S. also told us that he took two of his girls and a nine-month old granddaughter to ring bells at Walmart and a man came in, saw them and quickly turned around to return to his car, only to come back and donate $20, stating "its not even fair you brought a baby along." Great story!