A behind-the-scenes look at upcoming programs

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, November 10, 2007

Here’s another behind the scenes look at some of our programs just around the corner.

Plans are underway for a community production of Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 16 here at A Center for the Arts. Tickets will be on sale soon, but we’re looking for participation on stage as well as in the audience.

Harriet Wicklund will be conducting choir rehearsals starting this Sunday, Nov. 11. Rehearsals will be on Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m. In November all rehearsals will be at First Lutheran Church. In December all rehearsals will be at A Center for the Arts. Come one, come all.

We need sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. We’ve tried to get the word out to Church choirs around town, but if you’ve not been contacted for any reason please know that this is open to all singers. If you can’t attend this first rehearsal on Nov. 11, please call me and we’ll get you signed up (218-736-5453).

We tried to do an Easter Messiah last year but Easter is even more difficult than Christmas. We had also talked about Amahl and the Night Visitors this year, but since the FM Opera is in production for an every other year Amahl (starting this year) we think it best to produce Amahl during their off year.

They’ve already offered costumes, props and set pieces. Partnerships can be such a wonderful thing.

This year’s Messiah includes some of our wonderful local talent as soloists. They include tenor, Tim Swedberg; bass, Everett Jacobson; soprano, Michelle Danielson; and alto, Joni Wasberg. Mark Solie will be conducting the orchestra. The program is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16. For those who want to sing please reserve Sunday evening, as well, in case we have more interest than one performance can accommodate.

It will be a busy weekend for a lot of the performers. Joni Wasberg’s Children’s Choir will be performing the evening before, Dec. 15, at 8 p.m. with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Holiday Pops program here in Fergus Falls. Many orchestra members will be playing in both.

Undoubtedly there will be many church programs that morning. But December has always been a month full of programming and social time and community spirit. It just seemed right that we do Handel’s Messiah again this year.

Meanwhile, rehearsals for Dance and Dessert have been underway since September. Dance and Dessert has become such a holiday tradition! Someone recently said, “Every year we really get into the holiday spirit by attending Dance and Dessert.”

It’s such a great opportunity to see our hard working students (and their teachers) at the Fergus Falls School of Dance putting together a remarkable program so early in the year. What a tribute to our community. December 1 and 2 performances will commence at 2 p.m.

For those who still want to be involved in one of these upcoming holiday programs: Come one, come all to this Sunday evening’s first rehearsal for Handel’s Messiah, Nov. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at First Lutheran Church.

Hallelujah and Amen! (You’ll be singing both!)

Rebecca Petersen is the director of A Center for the Arts in downtown Fergus Falls.