More than $7,500 raised by concerts

“Look how powerful it is when we share our light,” commented performer Gavin Berg as he watched the 150 or so people in the audience reach from person to person to pass along flames for handheld candles. “It spreads and shines, and shares beauty.”

Watching with him as the light was distributed  was Adam Moen, singer and performer. The two, with the help of NRHEG High School senior Eva Wayne were just finishing Saturday’s two-hour concert performed to benefit the New Richland Area Foundation (NRAF), a non-profit group which distributes funds to organizations throughout the NRHEG community. The two concerts were held at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland.

Funds raised by the two performances on December 10 and 11 totaled about $7,500. And speaking of “spreading light,” all funds raised those days, and any further amounts donated to the NRAF through the end of the year will be matched by New Richland State Bank, up to a total of $10,000–doubling the weekend’s success.

Sources of income for the concerts were the free-will donations for admittance and two “audience participation” challenges. On Saturday, audience members were asked to “vote” during intermission whether Berg’s or Moen’s father, Burton Berg or Michael Moen, would be invited up to the stage for an impromptu performance. “By the way,” mentioned Berg, “neither of us cleared this with our fathers beforehand.”

As Berg and Moen looked into the audience, joking that they were checking to be sure neither father was sneaking out, Michael announced that he was not leaving–he had simply gone into the lobby to deposit $100 into Burton’s basket. Throughout intermission, audience members enjoyed each others’ company and quietly slipped over to the donation baskets to deposit cash. It was announced just prior to the “command performance” that a total of $789 had been collected–and that the vote was close enough that both fathers should come to the front.

Despite a few jokes about “no Christmas present for you this year,” and “you’ll find the door locked when you get to the house tonight,” both dads consented. After being given a few pointers–which were well received by the audience, but perhaps not quite so well by the fathers– on how to “lead” an audience, the two shared the limelight for a Christmas carol singalong.

During Sunday’s concert, which drew nearly 200, the “limelight” was focused on siblings of the two performers. Audience members were asked to donate toward having either Grant Berg and Kelsey Pederson or Josh and Alex Moen dragged….invited…to the stage. Winners Josh and Alex were reluctant but brave. The challenge raised nearly $1,000 in “votes.”

Another singalong during the concert was “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” for which Berg played the church’s pipe organ, Wayne played grand piano, and Moen acted as leader.

Based on the consistently enthusiastic applause and the long line of well wishers who greeted the performers after the performance ended, it would be impossible to name an audience favorite from the concert.

Banter between Berg and Moen provided humor. The two mentioned that they both live in downtown Minneapolis, and even remarkably near each other: across the street.  Moen mentioned that he could look over and see Berg’s Christmas tree. “I have three trees in my apartment,” Berg elucidated. “Adam can only see one of them.”

The audience laughed when Moen responded, “Right, of course you have three trees. It’s not like your mother is Connie Berg or anything…”

Upon which Berg admitted that his mother has seven trees…so far.

In another element of audience participation, Berg announced that Audra Nissen-Boyer, who had once been his babysitter, was in the audience. He invited her to select any hymn she wished from the church’s hymnal, and offered to create an impromptu arrangement of it.

After a false start when Nissen-Boyer selected “Angels We Have Heard on High,” which was already on the program, a second choice of “In the Bleak Midwinter” was decided upon. Berg first played the notes as they appeared in the hymnal, then followed with an embellished version. He explained that, as a church accompanist who typically plays the music as written, he was delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate what the music “sparks” in him by interpreting it on a more emotionally charged level. On Sunday, Berg chose former NRHEG teacher and girls’ basketball coach Mindy Chevalier to select a hymn: her choice was “Away in a Manger.” 

A source of both humorous banter and a well-received performance was a version of “Jingle Bells” made popular by singer Barbra Streisand. Berg explained that both he and Moen had created their “wish list” for inclusion in the concert. 

He informed the audience that Moen had selected three numbers in the key of G Flat major, meaning that every black key on the keyboard was played, and even two white keys were made “flat” by playing the key next to them. In exchange for the demands of playing those songs, Berg joked that he had gotten even by selecting this particular version of “Jingle Bells,” which he asked Moen to describe.

The word “torture” was his first response, quickly downgraded to “challenging” and “difficult.”

Though the tempo and volume changes of the piece quickly made it clear why Moen chose the words he did, the audience saw no evidence of suffering as Moen brought the piece alive.

A serene and uplifting highlight was also a piano solo of “Oh Holy Night,” played by Wayne.

Other numbers included were “Home for the Holidays,” “Joy to the World,” “All I Want for Christmas is You,” “The Christmas Song,” and “Where are You Christmas?”