Monthly Archives: October 2007

Tape is Rolling!

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I spent most of today in Milwaukee with my sister-in-law Polly and two of her choirs from Tremper High School - serving as their accompanist for a recording session in an exquisite Catholic church- actually a sanctuary on the grounds of the St. Joseph Center for the Sisters of Saint Francis.  I’m certainly too Lutheran

My Guys

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One of my favorite hours of the week is Wednesday noon- actually 12:15-1:00 -  which during most weeks is voice studio.   This is when my private voice students gather to sing for each other and to receive comments and suggestions from me and from each other.  This semester my studio consists entirely of guys -

It’s Story Time!

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As if the weekend hadn’t already been full enough with my 25th college reunion, there was also the exciting premiere of the Racine Choral Arts Society’s musical presentation of one of the neatest children’s books I’ve ever read, “Julius, Baby of the World” by Racine native Kevin Henkes.  It tells the story of a little

Three Amigos

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In a weekend full of one delight after another, probably the sweetest delight of all was the opportunity for Marshall and me to reconnect with one of our dearest childhood friends from Decorah, who is also a Luther classmate - Tim Ness.  We had not seen him nor communicated with him in any way since

One Last Thank You

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I crossed paths with many special people during my reunion weekend, but I am especially glad that I had the chance to share a few moments with one of my favorite Luther profs,  Dr. Bartlett Butler, who taught Music History and directed the Collegium Musicum.  He spotted Marshall and me at the Saturday morning homecoming

Kaj

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It’s hard to know where to begin in writing about my 25th class reunion at Luther- but for some reason, I want to begin with my nephew Kaj, who delighted us to no end almost from the first moment we got to Decorah.  Kaj and most of his family (minus sister Anna, who was at

Teaching Teachers

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Yesterday’s highlight was when I got to briefly assist Mr. Noble with an inservice which Carthage offered to the music teachers of Kenosha Unified.  First of all, it was so cool to see our choir room filled with so many good friends / able music teachers: first and foremost Polly, my sister-in-law and the choir

Addio, Maestro

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The gentlemen pictured above is Maestro Bruno Bartoletti, who has been a conductor at the Lyric Opera of Chicago for more than fifty years - and more than 600 performances - but who is about to end that long and fruitful association in order to spend more time in his native Florence, Italy with family

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. . .

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Any day without road rage is a good day- but today was in fact a marvelous day.  It began with church, which included the fun of being assisting minister (deputizing for my wife) - and connecting for a precious few moments with Nick Barootian, a former student who was back in town for the weekend. 

Two Saints

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It was a memorable afternoon at Carthage with a special Homecoming Convocation which included a rising opera star - soprano Nicole Cabell - and Rev. Elizabeth  Platz, the first woman to be ordained a Lutheran pastor in America - plus superb performances by the Carthage Choir and Wind Ensemble- including a performance by the former