St. Francis Area Schools

If it has strings, Paul Imholte probably plays it. Known as the “stringman,” Paul Imholte plays nearly a dozen folk instruments. Paul will present a program of traditional Celtic, American, and original music. A master of the hammered dulcimer, Paul is a huge proponent of introducing this somewhat rare and enchanting instrument to audiences across the Midwest. The hammered dulcimer is a trapezoid shaped instrument that is struck with light hammers and is a forerunner of the modern piano. On the dulcimer, Paul plays Irish jigs, light classical music, and his instrumental compositions. Along with the hammered dulcimer, he also sings and plays fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, autoharp, cello, mountain dulcimer, and jaw harp. Paul sings songs about farms, small towns, and people that make their living on the land. He has released ten CDs of hammered dulcimer instrumentals, children music,and farm songs. A native of St. Cloud, Minnesota, he performs at festivals and concerts throughout the United States, and now at Sandhill Center for Performing Arts!

Curtis Beckman was a co-worker and then a manager of the WCCO Radio news staff, between 1966 and 1987. In that span of 21 years, he worked with all of the WCCO Radio personalities and news people to carry onthe stellar performance that kept WCCO Radio at audience levels that led the AM radio industry, nationwide. He’ll tell stories that may surprise you, or cause you to laugh or, perhaps, cause you to shed a tear.Curtis will give you insights into what made the station number one among all AM radio stations nationwide. He’ll regale you with stories about what went right and what might have gone wrong...he sawit all, over a span of 21 years. Boone, Erickson, Speece Viken. Lamont, Nash, Christensen, Chapman, Cannon, Diehl, Enroth, Hobbs, McFarland...they all made their mark on WCCO Radio! He’ll take your questions near the end ofhis presentation. You will spend an hour immersed in your past, which always included WCCO Radio.