DSSO Chorus

Chorus Master: Richard Robbins Rehearsal Pianist: Beth Sobczak Chorus Administrator: Nikki Norland

Edward Anderson Robert Asleson Linda Backman Josephine Barstad* Velda Bell Laura Berdahl Audrey Beyer Anne Bier Nathan Borka Becky Brookman Lea Carr Cathy Ameel Terry Chialastri Mark Danielson Laura Donovan Jim Donovan Maude Dornfeld Bonnie Lou Dunphy Marge Fisher Louise Foss Pamela Fritch-Hieb Maureen Gamradt Jill Geyer Anita Gille Jane Gilley Jillian Godfrey Les Hazelton David Helf Sara Henriksen Bob Hjort Mary Holm-Lund Susan Hough Janet Johnson Jim Johnson Cot LaFond Lisa Larson Kimberly Lewis Sarah Libbon Mike Lyons Kelli Marlow Cathy Martin Brady McDonough Rosanne Mellesmoen Grace Monson Mark Monson Amy Morse Alesha Murphy Emily Nygren Chris Nylander Barbara Olson Tammy Ostrander Dennis Paulson Pete Pellinen Luther Qson Michelle Rice Rufina Robbins* Martin Russo Sharon Sandvik Debra Schroeder James Schulzetenberg Wesley Sisson Tom Sjoberg Sandy Skrien Tomina Slevin RitaRae Stadler-Sager Billie Jo Steen Kathy Stinnett Brianna Stolan Megan Taves Shelby Trost Ingrid Vendela Tina Weber Peter Wodrich Kirby Wood Wendy Wright Brandon Wruck*

*Section Leader

PERFORMANCE HISTORY : Handel: Messiah

The DSSO has given 25 performances of the oratorio Messiah beginning in 1938 and most recently in 2015 (including 1983 through 1987 and many in the 1990’s and early 2000’s). Most performances have been in December, many Sunday afternoons, some subscription performances by mostly extra events. Some presentations have used Mozart’s orchestration, and in the earlier years even fuller instrumentations, but in more recent decades Handel’s original scoring has been heard most often.

Bach: Mass in B minor

Surprisingly, the complete Mass has only been performed twice by the Orchestra. In 1960 Hermann Herz led a Masterworks Series performance and in 1977 Joseph Hawthorne conducted a non-subscription presentation.

Wagner: Prelude to Die Meistersinger

Guest conductor James Paul led the most recent DSSO Masterworks performance of this work on September 23, 2000. This prelude was the first piece performed in the DECC’s Symphony Hall, following the National Anthem. The occasion was a gala opening concert of the new Duluth Auditorium on August 6, 1966. Hermann Herz conducted and the soloist was Metropolitan Opera baritone Robert Merrill.

Verdi: Il Trovatore

The DSSO presented 26 fully-staged operas (two performances each) each year in the late summer prior to the start of the Symphony season from 1959 to 1984. The first seven were given at Duluth Denfeld High School Auditorium and then at the DECC. In 1967 Hermann Herz conducted his final performances with the Orchestra in Il Trovatore.

Orff: Carmina Burana

Always a favorite with DSSO audiences and the DSSO Chorus since our first performance of this cantata in 1959, the Orchestra has given seven subsequent performances. The 1959 presentation marked the re-forming of the Chorus which continues to the present. There was a symphony chorus in the 1930’s, but in the 1940’s and 50’s choral works were sung by various combinations of university and church choirs.