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Staying true to her enthusiastic and rousing energy, La Crosse Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Amy Mills directs her last performance at this year’s Salute to the Fourth on June 28. This year’s salute will be full of high-energy sound, song and stomping by local musicians and dancers as well as the LSO performers.
“Relax, sing along, and dance if you wish!” Mills said. “Enjoy the harmony of neighbors, friends and family as we come together to share some of the world’s greatest music.”
The duo of Todd Saner, principal at Onalaska Elementary School, and Tom Gibbons will kick off the event, with performances of original and cover material on guitar, keyboard and percussion.
Kenny Ahern also will perform for the entire family.
The winner of the Pops Conductor contest will conduct the John Philip Sousa march “Sempre Fidelis.” This year’s contestants are father-son duo Gary and Daniel Fischer, president of Western Technical College Lee Rasch and retired Holmen teacher Jim Welander.
The salute’s special guest artists, the Grand River Singers, are making two appearances. Robert Jones co-directs the adult show choir group for 18- to 34-year-old singers and dancers. He said the theme of the Grand River Singers’ performance at the Salute is “Dreams.”
“It’s all about if you dream it, it will come true,” Jones said. The numbers include a variety of styles from Broadway, pop music and country. The group will do a full show before the LSO concert and will conduct a patriotic section with the LSO.
“Expect high energy and lots of costume changes,” Jones said. “We want the audience to have fun.”
Jones is the choreographer, and Tim Rortvedt is the music director. Together they co-founded the group because they saw immense talent at local karaoke shows and wanted to keep the talent alive in the community.
The Grand River Singers has 15 performers, 12 of whom have performed with the group in the past.
John Stuebs, a 2003 Luther High School graduate, is excited to be back performing in front of a hometown crowd. He joined the group in April 2008 and has enjoyed it.
“It gets frustrating sometimes,” he said. “It’s hard learning new stuff, but very fun. I like it otherwise I wouldn’t have come back this year.”
Stuebs is excited to be playing with the LSO. One of the numbers is particularly challenging for him.
“Amy Mills wrote this arrangement of ‘Glory Hallelujah’ that is vocally challenging, but it sounds amazing,” Stuebs said. “We’ve been going over that a lot, but it’s coming together really well.”
Participants in the Grand River Singers — which performs about 25 shows each year — have to audition for a spot in the group each year.
“We really promote La Crosse,” Jones said. “We do Riverfest, Oktoberfest, Stepping Out in Pink, Tiny Tim, Macy’s Shop for a Cause.” They also perform at nursing homes and sing Christmas carols.
The group’s biggest event is hosting the Grand River National Show Choir Invitational at the La Crosse Center each March. The Grand River Singers award the winners of that event with scholarship money that goes back to the winners’ high school musical programs.
AT A GLANCESalute to the Fourth schedule of events (estimated times):
5:15 p.m.: Saner & Gibbons
6:10 p.m.: Kenny Ahern
6:45 p.m.: Grand River Singers
8:30 p.m.: La Crosse Symphony Orchestra concert
8:50 p.m.: Conductor Contest winner leads LSO in John Philip Sousa march
9:20 p.m.: Grand River Singers join the LSO for grand finale salute to veterans and our nation
10 p.m.: Fireworks
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