Home for the Holidays Concerts Dec. 7 and 8

For the third year, homegrown musical talents will be presenting a “Home for the Holidays” concert; the two performances will be at Trinity Lutheran Church, 204 First Street Northwest in New Richland. The first will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7; another will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. The free-will donations accepted during the concerts will help fund the support provided to area organizations and projects by the New Richland Area Foundation.

 

The concert will feature Adam Moen and Gavin Berg, with Ellen Johnson and Eva Wayne as special guests. All four are NRHEG graduates who grew up in or near New Richland.

 

Adam and Gavin say they have been considering what musical numbers to include since this past summer and began some practices in October. Although they decline to give away any secrets, Adam says, “We have a great set list this year. Some from years past, some new ones,” then goes on to say all of the performers are excited to perform for a hometown crowd.

 

Gavin said one particular song is the “pinnacle” piece for the concert, remembering from his childhood that, “It was officially Christmas when Vianna (Ebnet) Bohlen would sing ‘O Holy Night’ at Christmas Eve mass. That piece is still a favorite to this day. So this year having Adam sing it during the concert will again feel like the season has begun!”

 

First-time concert participant Ellen Johnson said she will be glad to perform with Adam and Gavin, remarking that the last time they took the stage together was in a high school performance of “The Sound of Music” more than 20 years ago. Ellen says she is now working in the heart rhythm services department at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and typically has time for church and small local music activities, “It will be truly special to be part of this concert,” she says.

 

Eva Wayne, now in her second year at St. Thomas, is majoring in finance, but says she practices up to two hours a day for the organ lessons she is taking as part of a fine arts requirement for being an accompanist at two area churches, and, lately, for the “Home for the Holidays” concert. Though she, too, is cagey about details, she commented, “This is going to be the best concert yet.”

 

The New Richland Area Foundation uses the money it raises to support organizations and projects that benefit New Richland area residents. The organization’s decision-making board has awarded more than $18,000 in 2024 toward projects, including repairs and upgrades to the base of the civil war era cannon in the New Richland city park, a new radar system for the New Richland police squad car, a kitchen update in the community room at the New Richland City Hall, and electronic and playground equipment for use at the school.

 

The Home for the Holidays concerts have brought in more than $7,000 a year in donations, making them one of the most significant sources of income for the organization.

 

Adam comments that he’s thrilled to be part of yet another much-loved tradition for New Richland. “I find it extremely fulfilling to come home to do this concert. From the first year, the support has only gotten stronger. We are so lucky to have a community that comes together to support not only us, but the foundation. It’s become one of the most exciting things to look forward to each year!

 

“Being a ‘small town kid’ makes doing this benefit concert even more special. You look out in the crowd and know every single person. All of these people have impacted our lives in some way. Family, family friends, teachers, mentors. They say it takes a village!

 

“When people ask where I’m from, I am immediately proud to tell them about being raised in New Richland. This response and support from this concert are all the more reasons to be proud of being that small town kid.

 

“My favorite New Richland Christmas memories are Mr. Rud’s elementary school Christmas concerts. He always put so much time and effort into them. Each class was made to feel so special. It was always a highlight of the year. My brother Josh got to sing a duet while riding a tractor around the gym. Pretty iconic if you ask me! And of course, how could we forget going to see the amazing Christmas light display at Vince Peterson’s each year?”

 

Said Gavin, “This is my favorite weekend of the year. It's such a joy to make music with this crew - and it's an incredible honor to bring hundreds of people together to raise thousands of dollars for the New Richland Area Foundation. Adam, Eva, Ellen and I have each known one another since we were little ones. I'm so grateful that we get to continue to build our friendships and make music together at this point in our lives - and for a great cause!”