St. Olaf College – Page 2 – Valerie's Voice

St. Olaf Christmas Festival

When I was the Christmas Festival Ticket Coordinator at St. Olaf College people told me over and over again that the Festival was a tradition they didn’t want to miss! Sometimes they’d get frantic about it (ha) but after many years of going myself I’m beginning to understand.

The Festival has become a tradition for us, a beautiful way to start the Christmas season. We attended the Festival last evening and were not disappointed. This year’s theme is, A New Song of Grace and Truth.

The Christmas Festival always features five St. Olaf choirs and the St. Olaf Orchestra, and this year included the Handbell Choir for one of the orchestra pieces (approximately 600 students). The music is varied and there is something new each year, but the Festival always ends with the choirs and orchestra all singing their rendition (arranged by F. Melius Christiansen) of “Beautiful Savior” as the student voices surround the auditorium.

Anticipating the concert is fun and excitement builds the day of. Being in the lobby with the crowds, seeing the new set design, reading the program and being surrounded by college students is entertaining. Then we find our seats, the glorious music begins and two hours later it’s all over, and another successful Festival has provided a delightful evening and a great start to the Christmas season.

Oh What Fun…

…it is to attend a Family Orchestra Concert at St. Olaf College. The family friendly concerts are geared towards children and have become popular. We didn’t arrive early because we didn’t anticipate the crowd that completely filled the auditorium to overflowing. It was awesome to feel the enthusiasm in the room.

Before the family friendly concert there was time for children to touch and feel the instruments (what I’ve heard called “an instrument petting zoo”). Children can learn a bit about instruments and meet the musicians. From our seats it looked like there was wonderful interaction going on between the children and the college students.

When it was time for the concert to begin everyone quieted down and one could feel the excitement in the air as the music began. The selections were upbeat and fun!

The concert started off with the classic William Tell Overture and then a storyteller from Minnesota Public Radio (this is quality entertainment!) recited a story while the orchestra played “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” in the background.

Next the orchestra played a lovely piece from the movie Frozen.

There was a children’s conductor contest and the winner stood on the podium, by themselves, and conducted the students playing “Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music.

We were introduced to a Northfield duo who love to create children’s music. The two professors sang two of their original songs: one called “Underwear Spaghetti” and the other “I Love To Sing.”

The finale was Chewbacca, a Star Wars character, who appeared on stage and conducted the orchestra for the Main Title from Star Wars. It was fun, and a great animated performance by Chewbacca.

Chewbacca directing the St. Olaf Orchestra. photo by TA

It looked like the concert was as pleasureable to the student participants and conductor as it was for the audience. Everyone, young and old alike, seemed to be enjoying themselves. It was a thoroughly delightful time. I wish my grandchildren could have been there.

We left the concert with our hearts full of joy.

Three Evenings, Three Genres

We were happy to show off, to our friends from New Hampshire, our charming town in Minnesota, with the motto: Cows, Colleges and Contentment.

A flyer for the Tribute to the Eagles concert.

Prior to knowing of their plans to visit we had bought four tickets to a Tribute to the Eagles concert. To our delight, the concert happened to be the day after their arrival to Northfield and they were eager to attend the concert with us.

The Armadillos and Collective Unconscious; the two bands performed together for the Tribute to the Eagles concert.

So off we went to the Paradise Theater in Faribault. Two groups, the Armadillos and Collective Unconscious, formed the tribute band. Together they recreated songs by the Eagles, a “California Rock Band from the 70’s.” With eyes closed one could imagine being in a concert hall with the original Eagles band members playing and singing their energetic tunes. They put on a lively show.

We were moving in our seats, but in the end we were up and out of them, dancing to the music in front of the stage. It was a great concert.

And that was the evening of the first day.

The next day we were showing our friends St. Olaf College. We took a stroll on campus and stopped to look in beautiful Boe Chapel.

Boe Chapel on the campus of St. Olaf College.

There were musicians practicing up front. A gentleman came and explained the group practicing was called Together in Hope and the choir’s mission (per their program) is to be “a catalyst for healing and reconciliation through the transformative power of music.”

He told us they were going to perform a concert that evening. We had just made dinner reservations at the Ole Store right down the street from St. Olaf and the timing worked out just right for the four of us to attend this beautiful chorale music concert.

The Together in Hope choir at Boe Chapel.

The choir was accompanied by a few current students and some alumni of the St. Olaf Orchestra. They performed two works by Norwegian composer Kim André Arnesen: So That the World May Believe: A Motet for Unity and Service and The Holy Spirit Mass. The program stated these songs were originally performed by the choir in front of the Pope, in Rome, in 2018.

And that was evening of the second day.

On the third day we all decided to go to a Germanfest at a country church nearby. It is an annual event and known for it’s good German food with music.

When we arrived a polka band was playing. Although the weather was frightful…rainy and windy…we stood under the tent outside and listened to a couple of polka tunes and watched one couple dancing to the music.

And that was the evening of the third day.

It was great fun to happen upon these three vastly different types of quality music available during these three specific days, in a row, all in rural Minnesota. What a gift.

St. Olaf’s Ice Arena

St. Olaf College built a spectacular ice arena on campus. It opened in January. Many hockey games have been played on the rink already. I believe it’s the end of hockey season but hopefully next year we can attend a game.

The new ice arena is housed in the Tostrud building at St. Olaf College.

The ice arena is used for several other events too…there is a Figure Skating Club that meets weekly and I know it offers Open Skate on Sundays.

It’s a great place for families with little ones learning to skate. It’s an indoor rink so it’s much warmer than skating outside. Our son and his family gave it a try. My son retrieved his skates from our basement and he rented skates for the rest of his family at the rink. Rental skates were available in all sizes.

It was the first time my daughter-in-love tried ice skating. She moved to Minnesota last December and is embracing winter, although it’s been a tough one, even for Minnesotans. Of course, their children tried skating for the first time too.

When we stopped by to see them skate, the 4 year old and 3 year old were resting on the sidelines, enjoying watching the skaters go by, after their initial attempts at skating. They got back on the ice and when they arrived home they were so excited for this new adventure.

Having fun watching the skaters from the sidelines.

Ice skating on my neighborhood rink was an activity I enjoyed a lot when I was much younger. I still have the only pair of skates I’ve owned, from high school. I have used them many times over the years. They are very thin leather, and unlined. I believe my toes may have been near frostbitten back when I was young, because now when I go outside in wintertime my toes get cold quickly. I love the invention of toe warmers!

Maybe I should try skating again….my rational self wonders if I’m too old. I don’t want to fall. But I am tempted. I don’t want my physical age to get in the way of my youthful memories of skating.

The Super Moon

The modern science building at St. Olaf College.

When I learned the full, “snow moon” this month was a super moon I thought it might be fun to take the grandkids to see the moon from the top of Regent’s Hall at St. Olaf College. Not only would the four flights of stairs give them an outlet for some of their energy, it would be fun to see the view from the top atrium with three walls of windows. We piled in our cars and drove to St. Olaf at the scheduled moonrise time, walked along the winding sidewalk up to the building, and then inside climbed stairs up to the top floor.

4th Floor Atrium at Regent’s Hall, St. Olaf College.

When we reached to 4th floor we looked East but we couldn’t see the moon. What I hadn’t thought of was other buildings being in the way of the moonrise. Argh… However, we went to a different area and were able to see the beautiful moon after it rose.

The grandkids looking at the full moon. It’s always hard to capture the beauty of the moon, especially with an iPhone.

Although we didn’t see what I thought we would see, it was still a fun adventure. There were other displays to look at: several Owls and a large pileated woodpecker in glass cabinets, and a turtle in an aquarium.

In one display case there were a couple pieces of artwork. I particularly liked the one with a lone bird sitting in a tree with peach colored blossoms.

After we walked down the hall to draw on an old-fashion chalkboard for a bit, I came back and noticed a second image in the picture… a woman’s face. It was an optical illusion. Very clever!

The piece on display is credited to a St. Olaf student, Corinne Kieras. She’s a Psychology and Computer Science Major. Her piece is called Nature vs. Nurture. I have included a photo of her artist’s statement.

The St. Olaf Christmas Festival

The 2018 St. Olaf Christmas Festival, Good News of Great Joy, was performed over the weekend, and we were in attendance for one of the productions. It has become a tradition for us, and ushers in our Christmas season.

The program for 2018 St. Olaf Christmas Festival.

I smile when I think of my first year working as the Christmas Festival ticket coordinator several years ago. Many people told me that same thing, “the St. Olaf Christmas Festival is a tradition to begin their Christmas season”. If something would go wrong in securing their tickets they would get feisty. It’s as though Christmas would not happen if they did not get their tickets to the Festival to start the season!

Years later, I understand the reason behind their thinking. It is a fabulous event and the timing is wonderful…after Thanksgiving and before Advent. I love going to it each year, and it does start our Christmas season out right (but I also remember the reason for the season and it’s not the Christmas Festival.)

Beautiful Christmas ornaments adorn the trees in the student center.

Music was the theme for the decorated Christmas trees in Buntrock Commons (the student center) with fun ribbon, musical instrument ornaments and more. There were four, gorgeous trees flanking the fireplace creating a festive atmosphere for people gathering in the commons area. They are set up and trimmed for the students, faculty, staff, and visitors to enjoy.

I love this musical note ribbon intertwined in the trees.

The set design for the St. Olaf Christmas Festival in the auditorium was beautiful. Wide swaths of fabric criss-crossed the back of the stage and a lighting crew would somehow change the colors on the fabrics during the concert.

The orchestra warming up before the performance. The backdrop for the performance changed colors as different lighting worked its wonders.

This year’s music selection was wonderful and the five choirs and orchestra sang and played their hearts out for two hours, leaving the audience in awe of another amazing performance from the students. A few scripture verses are always read, making it feel more like a service than a concert.

Decorations on the Christmas Trees in Buntrock Commons.

I love and cherish the traditional ending song, Beautiful Savior, and it always brings tears to my eyes.

Even though I am no longer an employee of St. Olaf College, I think I will always feel a part of the Christmas Festival. It is near and dear to my heart and I am grateful to be able to attend this event and begin our Christmas season with fine music, carols and songs of praise. It is a special gift.

Severe Storms, Beautiful Concert

A few days ago a storm passed through Southeastern Minnesota, near our town…or should I say through our town. There were straight-line winds that may have been a tornado, but not confirmed as of yet. There were other tornado touchdowns in towns near-by.

Thousands of branches blocking sidewalks, roads and driveways.

It wreaked havoc as though it was a tornado. Thankfully our house, and trees survived. We had a lot of debris in our yard, several branches from our neighbor’s trees, and two large branches from our own back yard that had to be sawed off.

A neighbor’s tree fell over the driveway…not on the house thankfully.

When the winds came up that night I could tell it was different than any other storm I’ve experienced. We went to our lower level when the sirens went off.

In a very few minutes a lot of trees were uprooted, snapped in half and fallen over creating one big mess. Several farm buildings were either flattened or significantly damaged within one or two miles from our house. Thankfully no lives were lost.

On our way to friends…a farm in ruins. Notice the the Harvestore silo blown over.

During the next two days we cleaned up our yard and offered help to others who had severe damage to their properties.

Saturday evening we were tired but I decided I still wanted to go to the St. Olaf Orchestra Homecoming concert and I was glad I did. It was energizing.

Classes at St. Olaf started a couple weeks ago so that meant the students had only two weeks to prepare and practice for this concert. We all sat in awe after the conductor reminded us of that, because the pieces were difficult and the orchestra sounded really good.

Of course, the beloved conductor, who has been at St. Olaf for many years, has a lot to do with the success. He’s kind, fun, and animated. You can tell he’s enjoying his job very much and you know you’ll hear a good concert if he’s conducting.

When the concert was over I walked out into a clear, night sky with an almost full moon (9/25). What a striking and beautiful culmination to a tough couple of days in the after math of severe storms. I was blessed.

Vienna Opera House and Urness Hall

One evening in Vienna, Austria we bought tickets to the famous Vienna State Opera…a Wiener Staatsoper (Wien is Vienna in Austria). We didn’t see an opera but went to an orchestra concert, Vienna Mozart Orchestra. It was delightful. We had wonderful center seats facing the stage and members of the Vienna orchestra entertained us with Mozart and Haydn for a couple of hours.

The Vienna Opera House, officially called the Vienna State Opera.

Inside the opera house was elegant. We were excited as we walked into the elaborate setting with the gold gilt trim, paintings on the ceiling, and statues on the grand staircases. It was fun to dress up a little and participate in something we don’t do very often.

My friend and I were entertained by looking all around.

Looking towards the ceiling in the opera house.

Many statues and paintings adorn the interior of the Vienna State Opera.

The curved wall of seats overlooking the stage.

Recently, back in Minnesota, my husband and I attended a different kind of concert with four fabulous musicians playing gypsy jazz. Gypsy jazz is a style that began in France in the 30’s. A guitarist name “Django” Reinhardt made it popular. It is also called gypsy swing, a kind of classy jazz. This quartet had one guitar, a standing bass (they called it that), one violin and one drummer. No brass instruments; no saxophones, no trumpets.

Their venue was Urness Hall on the St. Olaf College campus. It may not be on the grandeur scale of the famous Vienna State Opera but it is acoustically sound and a wonderful space to attend musical events.

As I sat there I looked around at the simple yet seasoned space with a wall of windows to the outside. The sky was getting darker as the concert continued on, and the lights of the hall were reflecting in the windows which looked stunning. It’s an intimate space that I have come to really enjoy. (Unfortunately I left my phone at home to be electronic free, forgetting that I am then, camera free!)

The concerts were as different as the venues, but both were easy listening and in special spaces, and wonderful experiences. I’m grateful for talented musicians using their gifts to make beautiful music all over the world.

A 3,000 Mile Road Trip

We traveled over 3,200 miles during our three-week road trip to the East Coast.

A fun photo taken in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

I’m so thankful we have a comfortable car to drive and ride in, instead of a horse and buggy which we saw trotting all over Lancaster County when we visited my husband’s family in Amish country. Can you imagine?

Our trip took us to Colonial Williamsburg, Washington D.C., and Lancaster County Pennsylvania (with a stop in Indiana, Delaware and Kentucky.) There were many highlights: visiting friends and family and attending a family wedding in a restored barn, going to see Jesus at the Sight and Sound Theater, attending an Easter service in a welcoming church, participating in a Seder meal with our Jewish host and hostess, walking six miles from monument to monument in DC, touring the new Museum of the Bible in DC, seeing the cherry trees in bloom in DC, touring the Hagley Museum where gunpowder was made in Delaware, attending a glass instrument concert, walking throughout authentic Williamsburg, seeing Jamestown and Yorktown, hiking to find the wild ponies, enjoying spring flowers blooming, taking a detour on our way home to see the replica of Noah’s Ark in Kentucky.

Cherry trees in bloom in Washington D.C.

While waiting in the theater to see the awesome production of Jesus I thought to myself how blessed I am to be able to experience so many wonderful things. Our travels have been enriching times! I’ll be writing more details surrounding different events.

Easter at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockville, Maryland. The pastor did his undergraduate studies at St. Olaf College, in our hometown.

We are grateful for our safe travels, and for the variety of experiences we enjoyed.

Advent

We began the advent season by attending a beautiful candle-lit Vespers Service at our church Sunday evening filled with wonderful songs, meaningful scripture and expressive words.

St. Olaf Christmas Festival Program, 2017

We attended the St. Olaf Christmas Festival a few nights before that. The festival’s theme was Ris’n With Healing In His Wings (a phrase from Hark! The Herald Angels Sing).

I’ve been ushered into this season of advent in two very special ways. In the coming weeks I look forward to seeing healing in His wings, and noticing everyday miracles these “waiting days” before Christmas.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel.