NRHEG hosts Fine Arts Showcase

NRHEG Secondary hosted the 2026 Gopher Conference Fine Arts Showcase Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. A total of 71 band and 87 choir students from NRHEG, Blooming Prairie, JWP, Hayfield, Medford, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Randolph, Triton, USC and WEM participated in this extraordinary event. 

 

Fifteen NRHEG students participated. Playing instruments were Scarlett Chance (clarinet), Alexis Loken (clarinet), Alexis Olson (alto saxophone), Jordan Brouwers (trombone). Singing with the choir were sopranos Amelia Duryee, Kendel Klocek, Madeline Schlak, and Sophia Wlliams; altos Kaitlyn Dobberstein, Cloe Muilenburg, Faith Phillips, Abbie Viktora; bass singers Jacob Karl, Wyatt Larson, and Dom Porter. 

 

The “festival” for the students began Friday at 9:30 a.m. as students from the 10 area schools arrived in New Richland. Rehearsals began at 10 a.m. and ran until lunch time. The afternoon began with “Sectionals” before more rehearsals toward the end of the school day. 

 

On Saturday, students arrived by 8:30 a.m. Rehearsals and warm-ups occupied their time until early afternoon. 

 

After a hearty lunch, those orchestrating the music were introduced: guest directors Erin Holmes and Melissa Williams and accompanist Mindy Sletten were introduced. 

 

Guest director Holmes is in her 26th year as a music educator, recipient of the 2022 Schmitt Music Educator of the Year Award. She says she strives to live by the phrase “every day is a good day to get better.”

 

Guest director Williams, soprano, is a frequent soloist throughout the Twin Cities, Western Wisconsin and Upper Michigan; she served for several years as the president of the Summer Burst concert series board of directors. She has directed choir and taught piano at Free Lutheran Bible College and Seminary, directed the Finlandia choir and taught voice at Finlandia University, and taught voice at Martin Luther College. 

 

Accompanist Sletten is a musician from Lake Mills, Iowa. She attended Augustana University, currently accompanies for the Lake Mills Community School, is a church musician and runs her own piano studio.

 

The day’s Showcase Program began with the band performing “Burn After Reading” by Andrew David Perkins; “Ten Marches in Two Minutes,” arranged by Timothy Loest; “Pastel Sunset” by Heather Hoefle and “Fate of the Gods” by Steven Reineke and Matt Conoway. 

 

“It is such a beautiful, beautiful thing that we get to do,” Holmes said prior to the performances. “I’m so proud to be able to play a piece of music that features a bunch of different marches.

 

“It is important to recognize the arts, so getting the opportunity to bring these students together with kids they don’t know gives them a chance to learn from each other,” she continued. 

 

Following a brief intermission, the choir performed the following:

“Gloria in Excelis” by Antonia Vivaldi and Ed Mason Martens; “I Sing Because I’m Happy,” arranged by Kenneth Paden, adapted by Rollo Dilworth; “When the Light of Morning Breaks” by PinkZebra; “Run!” by One Republic, arranged by Jacob Narverud; and “Muhona” by Cedrick Howoseb and Ed. Ryan Main.

 

NRHEG Superintendent Michael Meihak included the following messages in the program, Saturday:

 

“To our students: Thank you for your dedication to music programs. We are proud of the work you have done and grateful that you are sharing your talents with us today.

 

“To our directors and staff members: Thank you for the time, energy and care you invest in your students. Your dedication to music education and to building strong programs is evident in the quality of performances we enjoy.

 

“Thank you for being here and for supporting arts education,” Meihak concluded. “We hope you enjoy the festival.”