Free concerts during Madrigal

CRESCO - The 43rd Annual Madrigal Dinners will be held on April 30 and May 1 at the First Lutheran Church in Cresco. Times for the dinners are 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. 

Presiding over this year’s performances will be Head Lord Dylan Shultz and Head Lady Ashley Reicks, with Ethan Rice as the Steward. 

The dinners, which are usually held in December, were moved this year due to many reasons, one being a change of venue and caterer. Heritage Events Center was not available to host Madrigal this year, so Mrs. LeFebvre approached the board of First Lutheran Church. They graciously offered a place to perform the annual Madrigal. Not only a place, but a member of the First Lutheran Church, Robert Ringoen, offered to be the caterer. 

With planning to be done and without interfering with any Christmas programs that the church might have, it was decided to again have the dinners in the spring. It is a different concept, but one that worked last year. 

This year’s script will be a springtime version to go with the current season. Mrs. LeFebvre said, “I am very grateful to the First Lutheran Church Board for allowing us to use the church and to Robert Ringoen for offering to cater the event. Jaci Anderson has also been instrumental in helping to coordinate volunteers and the use of the church. The students, especially the seniors look forward to this every year!” 

The students will be singing their State Contest pieces in addition to other pieces during the performances. It will be another chance to practice for the the State contest on Friday, May 6 in Waverly.

The Concert Choir, made up of freshmen and sophomores, will be performing their contest pieces at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 4:30 p.m. on Sunday in the sanctuary of the church. No ticket is needed to see this portion of the evening. 

The Concert Chorale will also perform their contest pieces along with a few others, in the sanctuary after the dinner (ticketed) portion. LeFebvre commentd, “It is a bit more difficult to give a time on their performance, but anyone can come for this part of the evening, also. I would give an approximate time of 7:45 or 8 p.m. on Saturday and 6:45 or 7 p.m. on Sunday for this free portion of the evening.

The jesters will be ready to have fun with the guests, sometimes at the visitor’s expense. The jesters are junior Aiden Brown and sophomore Brady Burke. 

The menu for this year is roast beef, mashed potatoes and green beans, along with the traditional wassail and apple cake. 

At this time, both performances are sold out, but the public is still invited to the free portions of the evening! 

The traditional pre-contest concert will not be held on May 3 as the concert portions of Madrigal are free to the public. 

Both choirs will travel to Waverly on May 6 to participate in the Iowa High School Music Association State Large Group contest.

Accompanying the choirs will be Ann Seebach, with LeFebvre, the Vocal Music Director. Former vocal music assistant, Kimberly Lehmkuhl is volunteering to help with the event and will also play for solos and duets, which will perform during the dinner. Ms. Lehmkuhl accompanied these students at the recent State Solo-Ensemble contest held in Decorah on March 26.