SPOONER -- The High School Auditorium in Spooner, Wisconsin is set to resound with the music of the 340-pipe Wicks organ donated to the school district and now ready for use. The Dedication Concert, the first public concert since the installation, is Sunday, October 1, at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. All are invited to attend. No reservations are needed. There is no admission charge, but free will donations are encouraged.
The audience will hear pieces that demonstrate the wide range and gorgeous sound that this instrument produces. Four area musicians will perform. Lynn Emmons is the Associate Organist at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eau Claire and a substitute organist for several churches in Barron and Rice Lake. She has been a featured performer with the Rice Lake Red Cedar Symphony Orchestra in 2012 in 2016. Brent Berkesch is currently the Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Spooner. He has performed at numerous concerts, recitals, and dedications. Dana Peterson is currently the Spooner Elementary School music teacher. She has played the organ for more than thirty years and will be offering lessons on this organ. Nora Moss, flutist, is a retired Spooner teacher and member of the Rice Lake Red Cedar Symphony Orchestra as well as several area ensembles. Howard Nolte, the master organ technician who did the installation, will be there as well.
The concert is organized and hosted by the Intermezzo Music Club, an area association that promotes live music performance and awards scholarships to area youth to encourage their musical studies. Questions regarding the concert can be directed to Club member, Mary Hemshrot, 715.520.0762. The Spooner High School is located at 801 Co Hwy A, Spooner, WI.
The organ was previously in the convent chapel of the Servants of Mary (Servite Sisters) in Ladysmith. The sisters donated the organ to Tim Kern, retired Spooner music educator, who in turn donated it to the Spooner School District. The instrument is being dedicated for use by students, teachers and the greater community.
All net proceeds from this concert will be donated to the Organ Fund maintained by the Spooner Education Foundation for remaining installation expenses and future maintenance costs.
Lynn Emmons
Last Update: Oct 15, 2017 5:49 pm CDT
