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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.
More than 700 people have sung with ERCS. They have come
from as far away as Ely, Orr, Coleraine, Zim and Hoyt Lakes, and
range 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 appear
on more than sixty programs including this one – Esther Miettunen,
Iris Teasck, Delores Severson, Peter Hansen, Judie Kauchick, Ken
Pontinen, and Barbara Baldrica. Three individuals are singing
with us the first time in this 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.
Sixteen people have accompanied the chorus on piano, organ and
harpsichord. Margie Miller has been our primary accompanist since
March 1981.
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, our present Music
Director, 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 since 1968.
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. These include
Virginia, Eveleth-Gilbert, Chisholm, Hibbing, and Ely High Schools,
Chisholm Junior High School, Merritt Elementary School in Mt.
Iron, and Marquette School in Virginia; at Mesabi Community College
in Virginia and Hibbing Community College; at Holy Spirit Catholic
Church and Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Virginia, Resurrection
Catholic Church and United in Christ Lutheran Church in Eveleth,
St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gilbert, First Baptist Church
in Chisholm, and St. Anthony Catholic Church in Ely. Performances
were also given at Aurora-Hoyt Lakes Auditorium, Miners Memorial
Building in Virginia, DECC Auditorium in Duluth, and Ironworld
in Chisholm.
Highlights include performances with the Duluth-Superior Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus in 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1997 and the
Minnesota Orchestra in Hibbing in 2002. We also performed
Carmina Burana in Mt. Iron and Ely as part of the Northern
Lights Music Festival in 2007.
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 at the
Virginia Campus of Mesabi College most Tuesday evenings during
the school year.
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 May 2009
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