Virtuoso's visit is music to the ears of 2 towns

A pair of small communities in western Minnesota have landed performances by one of the biggest names in classical music.

Japanese violinist Midori has selected Dawson, Minn., population 1,500, and Fergus Falls as two of four rural areas in America in which she will perform.

Next week's concerts are part of a program to promote classical music in areas that don't often get to hear it.

The appearances are already generating a buzz beyond the two towns.

Large school groups from Fargo, N.D., and Bemidji have bought tickets for the Fergus Falls concert, and 30 students from Worthington will travel two hours each way to catch the violin virtuoso in Dawson.

More than 140 students in grades 3 through 12 play in the Dawson school district's orchestra program. Jeanette Lund, high school orchestra teacher and elementary music teacher, said Midori's appearance has given the young musicians a boost of energy and excitement.

"It's creating a big buzz; lots of them are talking about it and several kids are going [to the concert]," Lund said. "They are excited to hear wonderful pieces that they have never heard and right here in our school. For the kids, I think this will be an inspiration to keep music in their lives."

Midori's appearance is part of the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association Performance Arts series, which has primarily featured local and regional artists since it began six years ago. Up to now, the biggest names to appear on stage have been the likes of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Butch Thompson and Maynard Ferguson. But now the marquee is sporting the name of the world-class violinist.

An innovator and champion

Midori burst onto the scene 25 years ago when she was the surprise guest at the New York Philharmonic's annual New Year's Eve concert -- at age 11.

Along with an extensive repertoire of music and an ambitious concert schedule with the world's most prestigious orchestras, the master musician is known as an innovator and a champion of young musicians. She currently is chair of the Strings Department at USC's Thornton School of Music. Last month she was named a "Messenger of Peace" by Ban Ki-Moon, secretary general of the United Nations.

The Dawson-Boyd Arts Association had been courting Midori for two years. Its application, and one from Fergus Falls, was selected from 15 others submitted, said Kelly Gehrs, director of Partners in Performance.

'I just screamed'

"Their applications expressed how much classical music means in their community, how vital it is for the community and how they are trying to keep it alive," Gehrs said. "You just can't pass that up."

Luanne Fondell, performance arts director of the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association, could hardly contain herself when she received news that Midori was coming.

"The day I stood and listened to the voicemail from the agent ... I just screamed," she said. "It's clearly an opportunity to have one world-famous performer on your stage. This is evidence that artists do care about small communities and remote places."

The tenor is the same in Fergus Falls, said Rebecca Petersen, executive director of the Center for the Arts.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it may never happen again," she said. "People are asking, 'How did you get Midori to come to Minnesota?' I tell them, we wrote a grant and asked, and she said yes."

Petersen is a graduate of Dawson-Boyd schools where the parents of her husband, Mark, started the district's orchestra program. Petersen now promotes classical music by bringing concerts to the Center for the Arts.

To land the concerts, communities must be at least 100 miles from a major cultural center, demonstrate support for classical music and have a plan on how to deal with concert proceeds. Midori will play in two Montana towns -- Dillon and Whitefish -- next spring.

Fondell said proceeds from the Dawson concert will be used to bolster an already vibrant string music program in the Dawson-Boyd schools and the art association's classical music programs.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768

Tim Harlow • harlow@startribune.com