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!

What happens when three well known Twin Cities musicians decide to learn to play new instruments and then form a group? You get PolkaSol! The musicians – Ann Reed, Joan Griffith and Anita Ruth, who usually play guitar, bass, and piano respectively, have tossed those instruments aside and become a trio playing two accordions and a violin. The repertoire consists of lots of polkas, waltzes and old time songs. The music falls into many categories and genres – Scandinavian, Irish, French, old time, folk and popular to name a few. But what PolkaSol likes best is to sing along with their audience. A very interactive group, PolkaSol encourages its listeners to join in the fun. PolkaSol loves to talk with its audience, share stories and humor. PolkaSol wants to bring a smile and a light to the eyes of those that are present and hopefully bring back memories of other days. *This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Remembering the King features Steve Marcio. He prides himself in being a family friendly show and he enjoys entertaining people with this respectful and authentic tribute to Elvis Presley, th King of Rock and Roll. Steve was the winner of the 2005 You Be The Judge contest at the Paramount Theater in Austin, performed at the MN Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006, won the Mall of America Contest of Kings in 2007, The Ultimate Elvis contest at the Owens Theater in Branson, Missouri in 2007, and 2008 finalist at The Elvis Explosion in La Cross, Wisconsin.

A man of many talents, Tom Strohmyer, known professionally as "Woody" has been entertaining audiences from age one to one hundred since 1983 playing guitar, keyboards, saxophone, trumpet, flute, and singing both in various bands and as a solo performer. A Lunch Bunch favorite, Woody is a one-man variety show, offering a variety music delivered in a variety of ways, both instrumentally and vocally. Did we mention he is also a juggler and a magician who can shoot the bull while keeping 5 balls aloft simultaneously?

Kick up your heels, raise your hands, come dressed in your favorite decade, and shout it out! Experience a movin’, shakin’ live rock ‘n’ roll show with an artist who knows the songs, dances, and the history; because he has lived it and played it. Hear rock favorites and dance as Soli takes you through decades of twangy 50’s, acoustic 60’s, disco 70’s, rock ballad 80’s, and alternative 90’s into the current mix of hip hop & pop. You’ll hear songs by Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Santana, The Temptations and many, many more. *This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.