A delightful time was had by all who attended this year’s Woods, Winds and Strings benefit concert at the Poplar Lake Fire Station Aug. 9. One of the charms of this year’s event – as usual – was that local musicians presented all of the major performances. An elegant reception was held for participants at the Schaap Community Center following the event.
Sunday afternoon, August 9, the big metal shell of the cold storage building at the Poplar Lake Fire Station No. 1 became a concert hall for the musicians who performed at the third annual Woods, Winds, and Strings Chamber Music Benefit Concert.
Highlighting this year’s concert was Bill Beckstrand’s piece, Imagined Corners commissioned by flutist Judy Ranheim for her husband David’s birthday, and inspired by a poem written by Pastor Kris Garey. It was played by Judy Ranheim, flute, and Yvonne Caruthers, cello. This composition is one of many of Bill’s pieces that are now performed throughout the country. Judy and Bill played three other very creative pieces written by Bill, based on hymn tunes for the Christmas season.
One of the charms of this concert is that local musicians are the major performers. Karina Roth sang songs by Sigmund Romberg and Victor Herbert and Laura Popkes sang a medley of familiar spirituals: Deep River and Shall We Gather at the River.
Erika and Cooper Ternes performed the Pa Pa Pa duet as part of the day’s finale, Mozart’s Overture to the Magic Flute. The musical number was arranged by Paul Jacobson for those who took part in the concert.
Erika and Cooper Ternes sang a Mozart duet from The Magic Flute. Philis Anderson, Kathy Bolstad, Barb LaVigne and Yvonne Caruthers played pieces by composers including Bach, Purcell, Grieg, Telemann, Stocks.
Baroque musician and part-time resident of Cook County Paul Jacobson added early music pieces by Marin Marais. One of those pieces was performed by guest soloist Cella Westray, playing the Baroque instrument, the viola da gamba. The rich tone of this instrument and Cella’s skill intrigued many people in the audience, including children. Another piece by Marin Marais was a trio, played by Paul Jacobson, Cella Westray, and her mother, Ginna Watson, violin. These early music pieces have a quiet, but lively quality to them and are most pleasant to listen to.
Near the end of the concert, Yvonne Caruthers played a familiar and gorgeous solo piece for cello by J.S. Bach. Yvonne, who has become a well-known performer in our area, played for 35 years in the National Symphony Orchestra before moving to Grand Marais. We are, indeed, rich in artists here.
The finale was the Mozart Overture to The Magic Flute, and Pa Pa Pa duet by Erika and Cooper Ternes, arranged by Paul Jacobson for those instruments and players who performed during the rest of the concert, with the addition of two more musicians: Peter Elvin, string bass, and Ward Westray, viola, (brother to Cella). This performance brought the audience to its feet, especially when 1-yearold Eva ran to her parents, Cooper and Erika, joining the audience in the applause.
The audience ranged from very young children to seniors, and included even a puppy. There was something in this concert for everyone.
A huge thank you to members of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department, who removed rescue equipment from the building and set up chairs for the concert.
Following the concert, the audience and performers walked next door to the A. Paul and Carol Schaap Community Center for an elegant reception put on by Lee Zopff, Phyllis Sherman, Sharlene LeTourneau, Betty Hemstad, Vi Nelson, Carol Byers, Sue Schei, Mary Atkins, Mary Hatfield, Jan Wright, and Roma Leuty.
Betty Hemstad, our wild flower expert, had wonderful bouquets of our native wild flowers on the table. So many people, musicians and those behind the scenes, worked to make this annual event a success. Thank you all!
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