DigElogROCORI

*** 2005 FLASHBACK! *** "Anything Goes" production by Great Northern Theatre Company

It was the last night of the six performance show.  The play "Anything Goes", presented by the Great Northern Theatre Company, had been a big success and DigElogROCORI was there to interview the Director.

Chad Middendorf, a long time Great Northern Theatre Company performer, had his first time in the director's chair with "Anything Goes".  "The greatest thing that happened is the cast members who came to try out for the show.  We had so many talented and skilled people who auditioned.  When I saw the 75 talented individuals gathered for a total of 55 parts in the play, I knew we were going to have a great show."

Although the talent was the key element for Middendorf to put together a great performing cast, it also created the most difficult part trying to choose between the many gifted candidates. "The hardest part was also the talent that showed up and having to make the tough choices of who would be best in each of the performing roles.  The good and the not so good in my maiden voyage as a director was tackling the difficult  challenge of reducing the group of 75 talented persons down to the final cast of 55." said Middendorf.

"The great thing is when you see the wonderful product everyone is producing on the stage.  Once we were able to harness all this talent, it all came together to successfully produce a very challenging  "Anything Goes" musical.  Not only does the cast do a fantastic job, but all of the support people, those folks you don't see who are behind the scenes, have done such a terrific job keeping everything running smoothly." commented Director Middendorf.

Looking Back: CHRISTMAS LIVE! Ingrid Loewen & Bette Kuss Piano Duel

This week DigElog ROCORI is featuring music videos and concerts of today and yesterday. Each day highlights and special songs from Christmas music events will be presented for your holiday enjoyment.

Today we present a special piano music event that rarely happens in the big city let  alone in the land of ROCORI.  Here is a Christmas Grand Piano Duet performed by Cold Spring Area Maennerchor accompanists Ingrid Loewen and Bette Kuss.   

Hear "Go Tell It On the Mountain", "Angels We Have Heard On High" and  "A Merry Christmas Medley".

This music video comes from a concert performed in Melrose at the High School Auditorium on December 15th, 2002.  Both the Maennerchor and the Melrose High School Choir performed during this special holiday event.

Download MP3 Version HERE! for your listening enjoyment

Grand Piano Christmas Duet

This week DigElog ROCORI is featuring music videos and concerts of today and yesterday. Each day highlights and special songs from Christmas music events will be presented for your holiday enjoyment.

Today we present a special piano music event that rarely happens in the big city let alone in the Land of ROCORI.  Here is a Christmas Grand Piano Duet performed by Cold Spring Area Maennerchor accompanists Ingrid Loewen and Bette Kuss.   

Hear "Go Tell It On the Mountain", "Angels We Have Heard On High" and  "A Merry Christmas Medley".

This music video comes from a concert performed in Melrose at the High School Auditorium on December 15th, 2005.  Both the Maennerchor and the Melrose High School Choir performed during this special holiday event.

Download MP3 Version HERE! for your listening enjoyment

ALL OF 2005 / Music

The Historic Old Salem Church

QUICKTIME

Earlier this week we mentioned a special concert being given at the Historic Old Salem Church north of Paynesville, MN.  That concert was held last night and it's billing was totally correct.  It was "FABULOUS!"

Click either the photo to see the "FLASH" version or "QUICKTIME" to see the video story.  This is a large file that can take more than 5 minutes to load even with broad band, high speed access.

This story includes great footage of the ornately decorated church, delightful music from the Mary Beth Carlson concert and an exclusive interview  with Joel Frank, the sponsor of the entire "FREE" event.

This concert was given in loving memory of his great-grandparents, Christian and Anna (Nehring) Frank who came from Germany with four children in 1871 and settled in the community.  They attended Salem Church while raising their family.  Today all of the members of the Frank family and their spouses rest in the Old Salem Cemetery across the road from the church.

CHRISTMAS LIVE! Ingrid Loewen & Bette Kuss

This week DigElog ROCORI is featuring music videos and concerts of today and yesterday. Each day highlights and special songs from Christmas music events will be presented for your holiday enjoyment.

Today we present a special piano music event that rarely happens in the big city let  alone in the land of ROCORI.  Here is a Christmas Grand Piano Duet performed by Cold Spring Area Maennerchor accompanists Ingrid Loewen and Bette Kuss.   

Hear "Go Tell It On the Mountain", "Angels We Have Heard On High" and  "A Merry Christmas Medley".

This music video comes from a concert performed in Melrose at the High School Auditorium on December 15th, 2002.  Both the Maennerchor and the Melrose High School Choir performed during this special holiday event.

Download MP3 Version HERE! for your listening enjoyment

A Fabulous "FREE" Christmas Concert

Here's one of those Little gems that come around every once in a while that you and your entire family will enjoy.  On Tuesday, December 20th, at 7:30 pm, a "FREE" Christmas Concert will be held at the Historic Old Salem Church (formerly E.U.B.) just 4 miles north of Paynesville.

The concert will feature the nationally renowned concert pianist and recording artist Mary Beth Carlson.  ARTISTS WEBSITE  Appearing with Carlson will be cellist Diane Tremaine, Mark Henderson - woodwind and Nikki Allen, an outstanding soprano soloist from the University of Minnesota.  Also, a special guest appearance will be made by the Paynesville High School mixed choir directed by Sheryl Burgum.

This concert is presented as a gift to all the friends of Old Salem Church by Joel Frank in loving memory of his great-grandparents, Christian and Anna (Nehring) Frank who came from Germany with four children in 1871 and settled in the community where they raised their family and attended Salem Church.  Now all of the members of the family and their spouses rest in the Old Salem Cemetery across the country road from the church.

The public is cordially invited to attend this very special Christmas Concert.  A freewill offering will be dedicated to "The Military Appreciation Fund" for the families of American fighting soldiers, and to the Historic Salem Church Restoration Fund.

Directions to the church - take Stearns County Road 33 north out of Paynesville approximately four miles to 220th Street.  Take a left heading west on 220th one half mile.  You can see the well lighted church steeple from many miles away.

Samples of Mary Beth Carlson's music can be heard by visiting...
SAMPLE MUSIC OF MARY BETH CARLSON

"Once Upon A Mattress"

QUICKTIME

On November 17, 18 & 19th of 2005, the ROCORI High School presented the play "Once Upon A Mattress" in Glanville Smith Auditorium.  In this story, director Tom Siekkinen, choral director Dee Holsinger and music director Tony Hutar talk about the fantastic job all of the ROCORI young people did in this comic musical.

Click either the photo or "QUICKTIME" to see video story.  This is a large file that can take more than 5 minutes to load even with broad band, high speed access.

This story was sponsored by Affordable Computing Solutions (ACS), your Land Of ROCORI Authorized Clearwire dealer. 

Contact Ty today at 320.685.3222 or stop by their office at 22nd and 3rd Ave.  Suite #4.  They are located in the lower level of the Chain of Lakes Mortgage building in Cold Spring.  The entry door is around the back.  Look for the Affordable Computing Solutions sign above the door.  Please call ahead of time for an appointment.

Reichel & Kuss Sing "The Prayer"

QUICKTIME

This past Sunday, October 30th, 2005, Peace Lutheran in Cold Spring, MN, conducted their annual Youth Confirmation service.  This year 12 young people were confirmed into the church. 

They included: Matthew Braunberger, James Chance, Justin Engelmeyer, Ellie Frischmann, Nicole Holmberg, Brian LaVergne, Logan Payne, Reanna Phillips, Melissal Schmit, Brittany Valentien, Dane Vocelka, and Austin Zahara.

As a part of the service, Karla Reichel & Duane Kuss sang a duet to the beautiful song "The Prayer".  They were accompanied by Bette Kuss on the keyboard.  Here is a music video version of their performance taped during an earlier practice session. 

Audio Version Of Music Video (MP4)

Locals Sing For Pope John Paul II

QUICKTIME

Pope John Paul II died April 2, 2005 in his Vatican apartment at the age of 84.

On Wednesday, October 3rd, 2001, the Cold Spring Area Maennerchor Mens' Chorus members attended morning mass at St. Peter's Square and sang for Pope John Paul II. This was part of a 2 week EURO III Maennerchor Tour of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.  The tour group included over 90 Minnesotans who ventured across the Atlantic just three weeks after the 9/11 tragedy.