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A choral group organized and directed by Dallis Frandsen performed
The Messiah on Palm Sunday, April 7, 1968, at Goodman Auditorium
in what is now known as Virginia High School. Joie Anderholm (now
Swenson) was the accompanist, and the production was sponsored
by the Virginia Ministerial Association. Members of the Massed
Chorus included choral students from Roosevelt Senior High School,
Mesabi State Junior College – Virginia, and interested adults
from the East Range area especially from church choirs.
The East Range Choral Society was created in the spring
of 1969 through the initiative of Dallis Frandsen. Dr. Duane Person
served as its first President and Mrs. Dolly Manley served as
the Secretary-Treasurer.
Nearly
1,000 people have sung with ERCS. They have come from
as far away as Ely, Orr, Coleraine, Zim and Hoyt Lakes, and have
ranged in age from 13 to at least 87. Some sang only one concert;
most have been members for a few or many years. Seven people have
appeared on more than sixty programs – Esther Miettunen,
Iris Teasck, Delores Severson, Peter Hansen, Judie Kauchick, Ken
Pontinen, and Barbara Baldrica. Three individuals sang with us
the first time in the 40th anniversary program. For the East
Range Choral Society, music truly has meant a lifetime of
joy! We also fondly remember those who are no longer with us.
Their efforts and love of music have made it possible for the
ERCS to be performing this concert today.
Many chorus members have been soloists in various performances.
In addition, soloists from across northern Minnesota have appeared
with us.
Twenty-two
people have accompanied the chorus on piano, organ and harpsichord.
Margery Miller was our primary accompanist from March 1981 to
April 2011.
Throughout the years, the ERCS has had many conductors
who are listed elsewhere in this program. We have performed with
area high school and college choirs and bands, Dixieland Band,
Resounding Praise Bell Choir, and Mesabi Community Band. We have
been joined in many concerts by the Mesabi Community Orchestra.
Guest groups that performed at our concerts include the Sweet
Adelines, Eveleth Men's Chorus, Now and Then Singers, Five Seasoned
Brass, and the Choralaires. Barbara Baldrica, Wayne Marshall,
one of our conductors for the 40th Anniversary Concerts, and Jay
Carlsgaard have combined to conduct the ERCS in over half
of our over 130 performances from 1968 through 2012.
In 2012 Barbara Baldrica stepped down as Music Director and Ann
Marie Lubovich picked up the baton, starting with the performances
with the Minnesota Opera in May 2012
Throughout the years the ERCS has performed a wide variety
of music, including masterworks from the Baroque, Classical and
Romantic periods; spirituals, religious, folk and popular songs,
and show tunes. The most-frequently performed music has been all
or parts of The Messiah.
Our performances have been in many different venues
including in Babbitt, Chisholm, Duluth, Ely Eveleth, Gilbert,
Hibbing, and Mt. Iron.
Highlights include performances with the Duluth-Superior Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus in 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1997, with the
Minnesota Orchestra in Hibbing in 2002, and with the Minnesota
Opera in 2010, 2011, and 2012. We also performed Carmina Burana
in Mt. Iron and Ely as part of the Northern Lights Music Festival
in 2007 and 2010 and we are scheduled to perform in Pagliacci
at the 2012 Northern Lights Music Festival.
We sing because we love to sing. In an era where musical performance
arts are on the decline in many parts of our country, the ERCS
is proud to carry on the tradition of performing vocal music on
the Iron Range. As we start our 40th Anniversary celebration,
it is our hope that the tradition will continue long into the
future. Everyone who enjoys singing is welcome to join us most
Tuesday evenings during the school year. Please check our homepage
for rehearsal location.
Original information collected from various sources
and with help from Esther Miettunen and Iris Teasck.
Reprinted from the 40th Anniversary Program,
April 2008, and updated to June 2012.
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