Caledonia Argus

"On a Hill Too Far Away" is theme of Sunday's Easter Cantata

Posted: 3/19/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

ìItís inspirational!î

Thatís how Judy St. Mary describes the music of some 32 voices from Caledonia who have joined to sing an Easter Cantata this Sunday, March 24 at the Immanual Lutheran Church in Caledonia.

The Cantata is sponsored by the Caledonia Performing Arts Council and is open to the public.

It has been several years since Caledonia has had a community choir. Several church choir members are represented including St. Lukeís in Eitzen, Immanuel Lutheran, United Methodist, St. Maryís Catholic Church, Bread of Life Church in Caledonia, Wilmington Church, Cathedral of Praise in La Crosse and Riverís Harvest in Onalaska.

Carolyn Tornstrom, secretary for the council, said they have been planning this choir for over a year. They had looked for grant funding last year, but were unable to get it. ìThere were so many grant applications. We had enough points, but they ran out of money. So, we are doing this without a grant,î she explained.

Marilyn Lee, who recently finished a recital at Viterbo College in La Crosse and graduated with a music minor at Luther College, was hired to direct the choir. After some research, the council settled on singing an Easter Cantata entitled, ìOn A Hill Too Far Away.î

The cantata contains original music.

Tornstrom explains, ìIt takes you through some Hebrew music overtones and leads into a couple gospel hymns. It takes you to Palm Sunday. There is a Hosanna number.î

Some of the selections include a solo by David Klinski called, ìWithout The Cross.î

Heidi Myhre also has a solo in ìMy Fatherís Houseî.

Susie Frank, Janice Dokken and Judy Stone have solos in the song titled, ìAt Calvaryî.

Alayna Longhorn also sings a solo.

The audience will also experience the talents of local musicians on instruments including Sibyl Floyd on piano, Rick Denstad on guitar, Judy Stone playing the French Horn, Carolyn Tornstrom on keyboard, Jessica DeWall on violin and a special interpretive dance by Mary Roraff.

She added, ìRight away we had good singers and balance between the parts.î

St. Mary said, ìThere are 10 sopranos, 10 altos, six tenors and five base.î

ìItís been a good mix and weíre pleased with that,î said Tornstrom.

The choir has been practicing for the past eight weeks and the majority even braved an ice storm last week to make it to practice.

This Sunday, the cantata will begin at 4:00 p.m. A free well donation is accepted.

The group of Caledonia singers will join with two other choirs, The Melrose Community Choir and Coulee Region Gospel Choir, on Sunday, April 7, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in La Crescent at 3:00 p.m.

A free-will offering will also be taken.

Upcoming events that the Caledonia Performing Arts Council will be sponsoring include music for kids at Founderís Day by Hans Mayer on Saturday, June 8.

A presentation by Dave Kunst, a Caledonia native, will be held Wednesday evening, July 10. Details on location are pending.

Kunst will talk about his walk around the world, in which he is recognized for in the Guiness Book of World Records.

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