Impressive Events

TALENT NIGHT 2005
Tuesday, April 12, the Drama Club (in other words, me) of East Grand Forks Senior High School sponsored the sixth annual Talent Night in the school's Performing Arts Center. We raised over $1,000 that night, which we will use to purchase a new light board for the P.A.C. The turn-out was superb; it was a packed house. But the talent was great, too. People were especially wowed by some of the soloists, the O'Neil family of EGF and their folk music, and the GF group Prairie Rose, as well as local band Kentucky Sound Arsenal and trombonist Nick Hagen. More on him below . . .

NICK HAGEN LIVE IN CONCERT
Somebody told me after the concert, "That's the last time we'll get to hear that for free!" What an excellent concert. Nick Hagen is a great trombonist from our school, on his way to study at Juilliard in New York City in the fall. The first half of the concert showed off Nick's technical prowess, and the second showed his ability to improv and create jazz, backed by an equally impressive jazz ensemble and several guest artists. Nick is a good student and a nice guy, too, which makes it all the easier to take pride in him!

NORTH DAKOTA BALLET COMPANY SPRING CONCERT: RED HOT SPRING
My wife and I took our daughters to the ballet on Friday, in part to see our friends' daughter dance in the NDBC Apprentice School recital that preceded the Company's spring concert. Each group (by age level) did a good job, and the kids were so cute, of course, in their costumes. But the Company's concert in the second half of the program was excellent. One selection, called "The Hours," was quite beautiful and moving--a perfect combination of music, mood lighting, and movement. "The Lonely Hearts Club" gave each member a chance to shine, too. My favorite was "Soldier's Letter Home," a dance that told a story that was touching and timely, with guest artist Bridget Noltimier of Miki's School of Dance in Devil's Lake, ND. Again, I was impressed by the high level of artistic talent and quality present in our community--and at the Company's ability to show it off in a highly accessible fashion.

PROM 2005: THE STARS ARE OUT TONIGHT
I was the "surprise" announcer for our school's junior/senior prom, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. All the students looked fabulous; as my older relatives would say, "they clean up good!" It was a cold and snowy (yes, on April 30!) evening, but it was plenty warm in the gym for the grand march. It was decorated to evoke Hollywood of the '30s and '40s--a very stylish concept. Afterward, I mingled to get a better look at all the beautiful dresses and spiffy tuxes before leaving the kids to dance and enjoy their evening.