THREE GEHLEN CATHOLIC MUSICIANS SELECTED FOR 2017 DRAKE HONOR BAND FESTIVAL
Three Gehlen Catholic students are among the 200 finest musicians from Iowa & Nebraska who have been selected for the 2017 Drake Honor Band Festival
They include:Senior, Jordan Larson,daughter of Steve & Michele Larson of LeMars; Junior, Tyler Zenk, son of Pat & Jean Zenk of Alton; and Sophomore, Anthony Vera, son of Hugo & Maria Vera of LeMars.
Gehlen Catholic has been fortunate every year to have a number of students selected annually to perform in Drake Honor Band.
The prestigious festival provides outstanding high school musicians with the opportunity to work with our nation’s finest conductors in large All State type ensembles.
The festival also provides musicians an opportunity to improve their skills through master classes for each instrument.
The two-day festival begins on Friday the 1st & culminates Saturday evening with a concert by the two distinct honor ensembles at the Drake University Harmon Fine Arts Center.
Each year, 500 musicians are nominated to the Drake Honor Band Festival from Iowa & Nebraska. In addition to concerts & clinics, the festival featured scholarship auditions for entrance into the music department at Drake.
MUSEUM NATIVITIES OPEN ON THANKSGIVING
Christmas nativities in a display known as “The Museum Manger” will be open at the Plymouth County Historical Museum from 2 to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. Admission is free.
Hundreds of nativities are now exhibited in the Museum’s Study Hall. The Rev. Paul Eisele’s collection of nativities, which the Le Mars priest donated to the Museum last year, are on display in Room 413 adjacent to the Study Hall.
Also set aside in the room for special display is a large collection of Christmas villages, donated to the Museum by Jim and Kay Peters, now of Okoboji and formerly of Le Mars.
Ron and Delores Burkard started the display back in 2010 after the renovation of the 1905 Study Hall, and Delores continues to help. Since then, the nativity display has grown. Some of the artifacts are donated, and some are loaned. Many churches have nativities on display. As always, there is an area dedicated to memorials, including one for Ron Burkard who died two months after starting “The Museum Manger.”
The Museum consists of five floors, all handicapped accessible. No admission is charged at the Museum, but a free will donation is always welcome for the continuing operation of the Museum, housed in the former “Old Central” High School.
The Museum serves all parts of the county with its exhibits and programs. Although it receives donations from Plymouth County, the county’s communities, and grants, it is supported primarily by its members.
TRAIN CLUB TO HOST OPEN HOUSE
Trains will be running at the Plymouth County Historical Museum this Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26, when the Floyd Valley Model Railroad Club hosts its annual open house.
The entire Museum will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. during the open house.
John Schneider, president of the club, said this is a time to show the public the layout in the club’s train room, located in the lower level of the Museum. The room appeals to all ages, both children and adults.
Featured will be a free raffle for a train set; participants need not be present to win. Refreshments also will be served.
