Alice Reid Pruisner, Artistic Director and Founder of Bel Canto Cedar Valley, graduated with honors from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with an undergrad in Vocal Music Education and from The University of Northern Iowa with a Master of Music in Choral Conducting. Ms. Pruisner has experience conducting choirs of all ages, and is especially passionate about community building and outreach. Ms. Pruisner lives in Cedar Falls with her husband, two daughters, and two mini dachshunds.
Monroe Crossing performs an electrifying blend of classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, original bluegrass and some surprising selections outside the bluegrass genre. Named in honor of Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music, Monroe Crossing’s superb musicianship and on-stage rapport have entertained audiences throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.
For over 20 years this Minnesota based band has averaged over 100 shows a year performing in intimate rooms, community theaters, major venues and outdoor festivals. They are favorites among bluegrass connoisseurs and non-bluegrass audiences alike. They love introducing newcomers to bluegrass music!
Band Members
Monroe Crossing consists of four distinct personalities with differing musical backgrounds. When combined, their individual histories make for a unique sound. The three original members are: Mark Anderson (bass), Lisa Fuglie (fiddle & lead vocals) and Matt Thompson (mandolin & harmony vocals). Derek Johnson (guitar & lead vocals) joined in 2011 and also provides the booking duties for the band. The group utilizes a cadre of very talented banjo players, all of whom are alumni of the group. They are: Benji Flaming, David Robinson and Graham Sones.
Honors
In 2007, Monroe Crossing was inducted into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame. They have twice been selected to showcase at the annual World of Bluegrass convention hosted by the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA). They have also appeared twice at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In 2016, Monroe Crossing had the honor of being the first Minnesota bluegrass band to perform in South Korea.
Recordings
Monroe Crossing has released 17 albums to date. The band’s diverse discography consists of traditional bluegrass, original bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, a tribute to Bill Monroe, classic country, Christmas music and two collaborations with the award-winning choir Vocal Essence.
The recordings can be ordered at www.monroecrossing.com.
Whether playing bluegrass or material outside the genre, Monroe Crossing is one of the most entertaining acts in bluegrass today!
Bel Canto Cedar Valley and Monroe Crossing present: The World Beloved
Monroe Crossing
Mark Anderson - bass; Lisa Fuglie - vocals and fiddle; Graham Sones – banjo; Derek Johnson - vocals and guitar; Matt Thompson - vocals and mandolin
Selections will be announced from the stage
Bel Canto Cedar Valley
The World Beloved: Sun, Moon, and Stars
O Earth, Loving Mother
The Sun Never Says
The Falling Star (from Constellation)
Moon River (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
Words by Archibald Lampman (1861-1899)
Music by Mark Sirett (b. 1952)
Words by Daniel Ladinsky (b. 1948)
Music by Dan Forrest (b. 1978)
Words by Sara Teasdale (1884-1933)
Music by Frank Ticheli (b. 1958)
Words by Johnny Mercer (1909-1976)
Music by Henry Mancini (1924-1994)
Arranged by Steve Zegree (1953-2015)
Soloists: Emily Fakler, soprano; Devin Wipperman, tenor
BCCV with Monroe Crossing
Stand in that River Moira Smiley (b.1976)
Soloists: Amanda Bridges, soprano; Matt Rector, tenor; Lisa Fuglie, mezzo
There will be a brief 10 minute intermission
The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass
Words by Marisha Chamberlain (b. 1952)
Music by Carol Barnett (b. 1949)
Please hold your applause until the end of the Mass
I. Ballad: Refrain
II. Kyrie
III. Ballad: First Verse
IV. Gloria
V. Ballad: Second Verse & Refrain
VI. Credo
VII. Sanctus
Soloist: Jess Lieb, alto
Soloist: Lisa Fuglie, mezzo
Soloist: Lisa Fuglie, mezzo
Soloists: Chris Knudson, baritone; Megan Schwickerath, soprano
VIII. Ballad: Third and Fourth Verses
IX. Agnus Dei
X. Art Thou Weary
XI. Benediction
XII. Conclusion
Soloists: Mark Fakler, tenor; Elizabeth Nelson, soprano
Soloists: Elizabeth Nelson, soprano, Jess Lieb, alto, Mark Fakler, tenor
Soloist: Jess Lieb, alto
O Earth, Loving Mother
Moon River (from Breakfast at Tiffany’s)
O earth, loving mother, Moon river, wider than a mile, nurture us, breathe in us
I’m crossing you in style some day. something of your beauty, Old dream maker, you heart breaker, your wisdom and your light. where ever you’re goin’, I’m goin’ your way. Your ancient mountains, gleaming seas fill our hearts with care; Two drifters off to see the world, through blazing sun and darkest night, there’s such a lot of world to see. breathe in us, breathe in us. We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waiting ‘round the bend, O earth, loving mother, my huckleberry friend, nurture us, breathe in us moon river and me. something of your beauty, your wisdom and your light.
Stand in that River
O earth, who was before our time, and after many years remains, I went to my river but my river was dry. careless and blind we wander from you The dust rose up to a darkened sky. breathe in us, breathe in us. Tell me where is hope? Where do the waters run clear? I do not know my way from here.
The Sun Never Says
Come and stand in that river, Even after all this time current gentle and slow. the sun never says to the earth, Send your troubles down water, “You owe Me”. down on that water flow.
Look what happens with a love like that,
When you stand in that river, with a love like that, angels sing in your head it lights the whole sky. secrets beyond ev’ry worry dreams beyond ev’ry dread.
The Falling Star (from Constellation) Tell me sister, brother where does that river flow?
I saw a star slide down the sky,
It flows down to the great water blinding the north as it went by, where soon my people will go. too burning and too quick to hold, too lovely to be bought or sold, Oh time passes, passes on down the stream. good only to make wishes on Some days are so much sweeter, and then forever to be gone. some days, some pass like a dark dream.
The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass
I. Ballad: Refrain II. Kyrie
They say God loved the world so dear Mercy!
He set aside His crown
Oh, Kyrie! Have mercy! Oh, Christie! And cloaked Himself in human shape; Mercy, Oh mercy, eleison, eleison.
They say that He came down, Kyrie eleison, Christie eleison
And dwelt awhile among us here.
Kyrie eleison, have mercy on creation!
He came on down. Christie eleison, have mercy on our souls!
III. Ballad: First Verse
A child walked forth on Eden's way,
VI. Credo
Oh, I do believe a place awaits us
A child stretched out her hand. far across the Jordan
O, may I taste the apple there
And when we reach those mossy banks
And take to understand we'll cast aside our oars.
The fruit of knowledge in my mouth, Row on, row on, And know of God first hand? we're crossing River Jordan, Row on, row on, and no one goes alone.
IV. Gloria
Glory be to God on high, Oh, I do believe a place awaits us
Who launched the sunlight, loosed the rain, high above the mountains
Who scattered stars across the sky, And when we reach that highest peak, Who piled the mountains, rolled the plains, we'll spread our wings and soar.
Who spilled the rivers and the seas. Climb on, climb on,
Oh, Glory be, oh, Glory be. we're climbing Jacob's Ladder. Climb on, climb on, and no one goes alone. Glory be to God below,
For feather, fur, for scale and fin,
Oh, I do believe a resting place awaits us, For vine uptwisting, blossom's fire, ‘cross the Jordan. For muscle, sinew, nerve and skin We'll toss our coats, throw off our hats And every feature set aglow, and take the seat of ease.
Oh, Glory be to God below. And it's not the seat of riches and it's not the seat of power, Oh, Glory be for peace on earth, Row on, row on, and no one goes alone. And prayerful be the human heart
That has required a Savior's birth
VII. Sanctus
To make of earth heav'ns counterpart, Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus. So strife might stop and warring cease. Dominus Deus Sabaoth; Oh, Glory be for peace, oh, be for peace. Pleni sunt coeli et terra Gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis.
Oh, Glory be the generous Hand
Who left us to our work, and care,
VIII. Ballad: Third & Fourth Verses and Refrain Who gave us only few commands The skies exploded, towers fell; But that we help each other bear The floods came rushing down Life's burdens. Pain and suffering ease. And many souls were burned alive
Oh, Glory be, oh, Glory be. And many souls were drowned
V. Ballad: Second Verse and Refrain
And others set to marching, marching
Far from house and home.
Adam, he labored, Eve, she toiled, Where are you now, our Savior dear, And many children bore, When we are all undone? And sometimes all was fruitfulness, And sometimes seasons wore
They say God loved the World so dear Them down to dust and emptiness
He cast aside His crown
And cloaked Himself in human shape; They say that He came down, But they say God loved the world so dear
And hunger at the door.
And dwelt awhile among us here. He set aside His crown
And cloaked Himself in human shape; They say that He came down,
He came on down.
Oh, I am here among you now
Tho' I must pass unseen, He came on down.
And dwelt awhile among us here.
And cannot show why this must be
Nor how I walk between
Your souls and greater dangers
VIII. Ballad: Third & Fourth Verses and Refrain cont.
XI. Benediction
Than you have ever known, Blessing be upon your heads. To laugh with you and weep with you, Bless the living, bless the dead. My people, oh my own. Blessing be upon you, my people.
It's true, I love the world so dear
Blessing so that you may go I cast aside My Crown Lightly through this world of woe. And cloak Myself in mystery Blessing be upon you, my people. So I can come on down
And dwell in and among you now. Blessings, and may you embrace I come on down. God in guise of human grace.
Blessings now and forever
IX. Agnus Dei
XII. Conclusion miserere nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
They say God loved the World so dear Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, She set aside Her crown miserere nobis. And cloaked Herself in human shape; Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, They say that She came down, dona nobis pacem. And dwelt awhile among us here. She came on down.
Special thanks to the following people and organizations:
All past and present members of BCCV
Orchard Hill Church – performance venue
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony – Music Lab event St. John Lutheran Church – rehearsal space
West Music Cedar Falls – petting zoo instruments
Devin Wipperman – poster and program cover design
Cedar Harmony Chorus – riser donation
Music Hill Studios – riser storage
Bel Canto Cedar Valley Leadership
Alice Reid Pruisner – Founder and Artistic Director
Travis Toliver – President
Kayla Mahler – Secretary
Christine Anderson – Choir Manager
Bill Atkins – Grants
Matthew Rector – Member-at-large
Bethany Brooks – Accompanist
Jonathan Bridges – President-Elect
Tiffany Peterson Rasmussen – Treasurer
Kyle Rasmussen – Fundraising
Patty Foster – Member-at-large
Amanda Bridges-Kramme – Section Leader
Devin Wipperman – Section Leader Judson Lee – Section Leader
Bel Canto Cedar Valley members live in a number of area communities and cover a wide range of professions, but we are all joined together by our love of music as a life-long passion.
Soprano Alto, cont.
Hannah Boecker Max Coon
Newton Shell Rock
Social worker Customer service/Student
Amanda Bridges-Kramme
Shoshanna Coon
Waterloo Shell Rock
Elementary music teacher Chemistry professor, UNI
Charis Crozier
Melanie Drake
Cedar Falls Cedar Falls
College student College consultant, Summit Solutions
Emily Fakler
Kim Erisman
Hudson Cedar Falls
Mental health counselor
Patty Foster
Owner, Kerisman Studios
Marguerite Fakler
Cedar Falls Cedar Falls
Realtor UNI undergraduate student
Kate Hahn
Rebecca Kauten
Cedar Falls Cedar Falls
Assistant Black Hawk County Attorney Field scientist and researcher, Alexis Kraayenbrink Iowa Lakeside Laboratory
Cedar Falls
Jess Lieb
Orchestra teacher Dubuque
Kayla Mahler Funding specialist & church music director
Parkersburg
Director of marketing
Elizabeth Nelson
Tenor
Bill Atkins
Waverly Reinbeck
Member data manager Director, Information Security
Tiffany Peterson Rasmussen
Reinbeck
Mark Fakler
Hudson
General manager, Foundation Service Corp. Vocal music director, Grundy Center
Megan Schwickerath
Waterloo
Joel Haack
Cedar Falls
VFS processor retired UNI administrator & math professor
Meg Stineman
Cedar Falls
Jess Larison
Cedar Falls
Visual artist Social studies teacher
Kelsey Williams
Matthew Rector
Denver Secretary U.S. Senate Regional Director
Cedar Falls
Ryan Richmond
Alto Cedar Falls
Christine Anderson Software engineer
Waverly
Sales Associate, West Music
Anna Beamsley Rogers
Cedar Falls
Mason Sealock
Waterloo
Musician and barista
Devin Wipperman
School counselor Waverly
Kat Beane Hanson
Director of Information and Worship
Cedar Falls Technologies
Wearer of many hats
Bass
Jonathan Bridges
Micah Pruisner
Waterloo Cedar Falls
Engineer Engineer
Chris Hale
Zachary Rogers
Waterloo Cedar Falls
Managing Director, Vocal music teacher
Cedar Falls Community Theatre
Carter Schaull
Chris Knudson Cedar Falls
Waverly Vocal music teacher
Chief Marketing Officer
Ben Stineman
Kevin Lam Cedar Falls
Cedar Falls Network engineer
Loan advisor
Travis Toliver
Judson Lee Waverly
Waterloo Chamber/Main Street Director
Director of music ministries, Central Christian Church
Alice Reid Pruisner, director
Cedar Falls
Artistic Director, BCCV
Bethany Brooks, accompanist
Cedar Falls
Fundraising/development
Generous funding for our 2022-2023 10th Anniversary Season provided by:
$1-$49 Kudos
Anonymous x2
Ian & Jenny McCollough
Sarah & Michael Rueber
Thrivent Choice Dollars
Network for Good (Facebook)
AmazonSmile
$200-$499 Accolades
$50-$99 Applause
$100-$199 Bravo
Jess Lieb & Nate Smith Anonymous
Barbara Prust
Bill Witt & Karen Franczyk
Bill Atkins & Neil Soppe
Jim & Jean Loger
Angelita Floyd & Scott Cawelti
$500-$999 Acclamation
Jon Bridges
Gail & Larry Berg
E. Shelley Reid
Joel & Linda Haack
Ben & Meg Stineman
Steven & April Bridges
$1000+ Standing Ovation
Alice & Micah Pruisner
Tony & Margaret Reid
Kyle & Tiffany Rasmussen
Mark & Theresa Peterson
Bob & JoDee RichardsonLSB Foundation
BCCV Endowment Fund
West Family Foundation
The Max & Helen Guernsey
John Deere Charitable Foundation
Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
BCCV thanks you for attending today’s concert and encourages you to consider making a GIFT to help support our mission. As a 501C3 nonprofit organization, we depend on your gifts to continue serving the Cedar Valley. Please scan the QR Code to give electronically. Or, if you prefer, please make checks payable to Bel Canto Cedar Valley and send to P.O. Box 914, Cedar Falls, IA 50613. For eligible patrons, making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from an IRA can be a mutually beneficial path to giving. If you have any questions, please call our Fundraising Coordinator, Kyle A. Rasmussen, at (952) 540-7374.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or visit www.belcantocedarvalley.org for more information about future performances, auditions, and special events.
