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"Christmas Time is Here," say Opland Singers
Brightly lit houses cut the early darkness while the faint sound of voices joined in song drifts from the Pipestone Performing Arts Center from the rehearsals of the Al Opland Singers — it must be Christmas time in Pipestone.
“Christmas Time is Here,” the Al Opland Singers latest production, will open Friday, Dec. 4 and run through Dec. 13 (see show times below).
The Opland Singers have been entertaining holiday audiences with chorus that range from 32-to-45 members and this year, for the first time, the male singers outnumber the female singers in the 34-member chorus — which is a good “problem” to have, said Jessica Smith, music director/conductor.
“Male voices are lower — the sopranos will always be heard — and you need that foundation there with the men,” Smith said.
This is the fourth year the Garretson resident and K-12 music teacher has directed the Opland Singers and she said she loves conducting adults.
“I love the passion of the choir,” she said.
What audiences will love is the variety of a show that with its mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas selections will definitely put people in the holiday spirit, Smith said.
“In order to really understand what we do, they need to see it,” Smith said.
Those who have never seen an Opland Singers production — they perform twice annually, in the spring and again in December — will be in for a surprise, said Dennis Hansen, one of the singers and managing director of the Pipestone Performing Arts Center.
“We don’t just stand on risers and sing,” he said. “There’s lots of staging, there’s some dancing, a medley of a Charlie Brown Christmas which is fun, duets, solos…”
The Al Opland Singers, named after the original director, formed in 1978 out of the Pipestone Male Chorus and Friends and while some of the members have been singing with the group for decades, new members do join.
“This year, we have two new members,” Hansen said. “They’ve probably been fans and said they wished they could sing with us sometimes and then they just break away and do it. It’s quite a time commitment.”
The singers have been rehearsing once weekly since September and have now stepped up that schedule to twice weekly. Though Hansen said during the Monday evening rehearsal that they, “still have a long way to go” before they’re ready for show time, it was obviously a modest comment: they sounded entirely ready to this listener.
Those participating in the show include Jeanine Olson, accompanist, Sandy Roemmich, assistant director, Archie Nibbelink, assistant accompanist and producers Dallas Roskamp, Leah Van De Stroet and Carol Van De Stroet. Chorus members: Sopranos — Bronwyn Jones, Pipestone, Leah Van De Stroet, Garretson, Nancy Van Dyke, Leota, MaryAnn Yseth, Pipestone. Second Sopranos — Susan Marrs, Pipestone, Marj Nibbelink, Edgerton, Coleen Punt, Woodstock. Altos — Janna Baker, Edgerton, AnnaBelle Gilmore, Pipestone, Kimberly Kelley, Pipestone, Sharlene Miedema, Edgerton, Kristi Petersen, Tyler, Sandy Roemmich, Pipestone, Erin Van De Stroet, Garretson, Carol Van De Stroet, Garretson. Tenors — Les Everett, Pipestone, John Freese, Pipestone, Dennis Hansen, Pipestone, Tyler Kientopf, Sioux Falls, Brad Kruisselbrink, Woodstock, Gary Punt, Woodstock, Dallas Roskamp, Edgerton, Kenny Thompson, Pipestone, Milo Van Dyke, Leota. Baritones — Keith Etrheim, Jasper, Paul Johnson, Pipestone, Lucas Roskamp, Edgerton, Dick Schulze, Pipestone. Bass — Ian Cunningham, Pipestone, Greg Masselink, Edgerton, Myron Nelson, Okabena, Ivan Petersen, Tyler, Evan Schiller, Pipestone, Dan Wildermuth, Pipestone. Mitch Reynolds plays drums and Archie Nibbelink the electronic keyboard.
Performances are Fridays & Saturdays, Dec. 4, 5, 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 6 and 13 at 3 p.m.
Reserved tickets are $13. Students $5. Family $30. Box Office: Pipestone County Museum: 825-2020 or 877/722-2787. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Email dhansen110@mchsi.com or go to www.pipestoneminnesota.com for more information and click on Pipestone Performing Arts Center, or call 507/825-5537.
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