Miss Minnesota Travels

In with the new...

2007-06-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

There's a new queen in town, and her name is Jennifer Hudspeth, Miss Minnesota 2007!

It's hard to believe my year is over, but I had a great last week with all the Miss Minnesota contestants, and we put on a great show! Here are some snapshots from Saturday night:

the crowning moment - she was so excited!!!

my farewell

(in one of my favorite gowns of all time - Rodney Alfred, you're the best!)

the new faces of the Miss Minnesota Organization:

Jennifer Hudspeth, Miss MN '07

Chantal Wilson, Miss MN's Outstanding Teen '07

my farewell performance

I'll probably update from time to time, and if I start a new blog, I'll be sure to post here to give you all the address. I know Jen will be starting a blog of her own very soon so that you'll be able to follow all of her adventures as Miss Minnesota 2007!

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve and represent all of Minnesota this year.

Farewell,

Nicole

Prelim Night!

2007-06-15T22:15:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to all fifteen contestants for a FABULOUS preliminary show! There were four preliminary awards given tonight:

Community Service - Cori Shellum, Miss Coon Rapids
MAO Scholar - Meghan Kuznia, Miss Marshall County
Preliminary Swimsuit - (tie) Jennifer Hudspeth, Miss Mankato / Mackenzie Ross, Miss Brainerd Lakes
Preliminary Talent - Kathryn Knuttila, Miss Heart of the Lakes

SS winner Jennifer Hudspeth

SS winer Mackenzie Ross

Talent winner Kathryn Knuttila

aaaaaaaaaand just for fun, a photo of my talent performance of the night (courtesy of Liz's facebook page - thanks!)

In less than 24 hours, someone else will be wearing the Miss Minnesota crown... I can hardly wait to see who it will be!

Stay tuned...

Let the crownings begin...

2007-06-14T21:07:00.000-07:00

I just got back to the Holiday Inn after tonight's Teen pageant, and we have an early morning tomorrow... so this will be quick!

Congratulations (!!!) to Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen 2007, Chantal Wilson! She's a fantastic pianist from Greenbush, MN, and she's looking forward to an exciting year promoting her platform of Literacy.

no, not all Minnesotans are blonde. just a lot of us.

I think she missed the instructions to make a silly face...

Lacey, Danielle, Kasandra, Mackenzie, Cindy, Kathryn, Cori, Tina, Lauren

(me = giant in the back row)

Karissa, Meghan, Liz, Amanda, Colleen, Jennifer

The adventure continues tomorrow with Preliminary Competition for Miss Minnesota. The contestants have their personal interviews starting at 9:30am (hence the early morning... it may not sound early, but once you factor in hair, makeup, wardrobe, breakfast, and travel time [potentially with traffic]... you get the idea). The show begins at 7pm... be there!

Good night to all :)

Football, Golf, Dance...

2007-06-13T23:28:00.000-07:00

We started the morning out with breakfast at the Original Pancake House in Eden Prairie. The restaurant is owned by former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee.

Jake (our host for the morning), me, and Max

Max's Superbowl ring - he let us all try it on!

Lacey strikes a pose with the diamonds

Kasandra & Meghan feed each other delicious berries

Cindy makes her "I want coffee" face

After breakfast, we went to Dwan Golf Course in Bloomington for the Miss MN Golf Tournament. Seven teams of 4 players made their way around the 18 holes, while groups of contestants camped out on certain holes. The golfers played "Stump the Contestant". If they succeeded, they could subtract one point from their score! They paid for this opportunity... money for the scholarship fund! I administered a putting contest, and we picked a pretty tricky putt; out of 48 shots, NOBODY made it in, so the closest to the hole won the prize.

My dad's team won the tournament!

Of course, I completely forgot to sunscreen my neck, so I now have a lovely ring of red around my neck... hoping it fades soon!

We had our first rehearsal at the Eden Prairie Performing Arts Center, and it is AMAZING! There are still seats available for the 3 shows... and there's not a bad seat in the house. Seriously. If you haven't ordered your tickets yet, they'll be available at the door.

Tomorrow - Teen pageant! Hope to see you there!

Day 3...

2007-06-12T20:54:00.000-07:00

I know, I'm getting really original with these titles...

This morning started out with a visit to the Capitol! My representative, Mary Liz Holberg, met us for a tour of the House Floor. Natalie Davis (Miss MN's Outstanding Teen) has an uncle who is a state senator, and he kindly gave us a tour of the Senate Floor and the Rotunda.

The view from the top - 3rd floor, on our way up to the roof!

All the Misses and all the Teens!

Natalie & I with the famous golden horses

Lunch at the Minnesota Room at Le Cordon Bleu - we had a fantastically energetic hostess (here she's snapping photos for the contestants)

Flaming Coffee!!!

(Happily endorsed by Miss Twin Cities, Miss Coon Rapids, and Miss Midwest)

Riding the Light Rail on the way to the Twins game!

I love public transit :)

Natalie & the Teen contestants outside the Metrodome

Mackenzie, Lacey, me, & Karissa in the Metrodome's lobby

We were introduced on the field - we stood on the line outside the baseline (it probably has an official name and I just don't know what it is)... but we were within FEET of the players warming up!!!

Tomorrow - Golf tournament, and our first rehearsal in the theatre!

Day 2...

2007-06-11T18:50:00.000-07:00

Monday, Monday... This morning, we piled into our 15-passenger vans to visit Gillette Children's Hospital in St. Paul.

Tina, Meghan, Kathryn

Cori, Cindy, Jennifer, Danielle, Karissa

Once we arrived in the parking ramp, we used windows of random cars as mirrors to make sure the crowns were on and straight!

Lauren & Meghan

Mackenzie, Amanda, Liz

Kathryn & Danielle

The tour was amazingly eye-opening. Gillette is the Children's Miracle Network-affiliated hospital in Minnesota, and the care and services they provide is incredible. We met a few patients, including 4-year-old Kaili, who was wearing a blinking crown and was SO excited to spend time with real princesses!

Lunch was generously sponored by Santorini in St. Louis Park... delicious Greek food!

Colleen, Liz, me, Lacey, Karissa

Flaming Cheese!

the WHOLE group - click the photo for full-size image

This afternoon, Allyson (our fabulous producer and Miss Minnesota 2002) taught us Friday's opening number and portions of Saturday's... we definitely had to remind ourselves, "It's only Monday," several times. We'll be perfect by show time. Promise.

Dinner was at Buca di Beppo in Eden Prairie... platters upon platters of bread, salad, fettucine alfredo, spaghetti and meatballs, cheesecake, and delicious delicious delicious chocolate cake. Needless to say, there was much talk of squeezing in a workout tonight.

Tomorrow... visit to the Capitol, lunch at the Minnesota Room at Le Cordon Bleu, rehearsal, and TWINS GAME! Hopefully we'll see some of you there!

A demain-

Nicole

Pageant Week Kickoff - Bowl-a-thon!

2007-06-10T19:04:00.000-07:00

Pageant week is here! The 15 local titleholders arrived this afternoon at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington. After settling into our rooms, we headed over to Brunswick Zone in Eden Prairie for pizza & bowling! We were greeted by Eden Prairie's mayor, Phil Young, who presented me with a proclamation in honor of my year as Miss Minnesota.

The fabulous bowlers of lane 23: David Shepardson (Co-Executive Director), me, Amanda Murphy (Miss Midwest), Cindy Neseth (Miss Twin Cities), Jennifer Hudspeth (Miss Mankato).

We played three games and improved our scores every time... during round three, I bowled a TURKEY!!!

Lacey Gebeke (Miss Frazee), Danielle Refsland (Miss Perham), Cori Shellum (Miss Coon Rapids), and Karissa Kujak (Miss Winona) pause to smile for the camera.

Kasandra Meehl (Miss Northwest), Colleen Meyer (Miss Anoka County), and Mackenzie Ross (Miss Brainerd Lakes) anticipate a... strike, maybe?

Tina Rosenthal (Miss Austin), Lauren Demming (Miss South Central), and Kathryn Knuttila (Miss Heart of the Lakes) model our matching T-shirts.

Tomorrow, we'll be visiting Gillette Children's Hospital (Minnesota's Children's Miracle Network-affiliated hospital), enjoying lunch at Santorini in St. Louis Park, then beginning work on the SHOW!

Stay tuned - I'll be posting updates and photos (including some group shots - I promise!) nightly.

Love,

Nicole

So many questions...

2007-06-04T07:34:00.001-07:00

My favorite part of any school presentation is Question & Answer time. That's when I really get to hear what's important to the students, when their curiosity and creativity shine through.

On May 29th, I visited Sacred Heart School in Waseca. I presented to the entire school, grades K-4, in two shifts. During the second Q&A time, one girl raised her hand and asked, "When you shower... do you take the crown off?"

On May 30th, I visited middle schools in the Robbinsdale school district. One student asked if I would kiss him (I'm sorry, but no), and another asked if I was engaged to Joe Mauer (also no). Some students wanted to know if I had specific advice for string players, and others were interested in what it takes to become Miss Minnesota.

Questions aren't limited to grades K-8, however. This past weekend I was in Atlanta for the wedding of my friends Mary & Gavin. Bridesmaids, relatives from Mississippi, servers at the reception: "Are you really Miss Minnesota?" (yes) "At Miss America, did you call each other by your real names or by states?" (both) "Has it been a good year?"

To the last one... Absolutely. A gigantic, resounding, YES!!! I know I've said this before, but it's hard for me to believe it's all coming to an end. At the same time, though (and yes, I'll say this again too)... I can hardly wait for Miss Minnesota 2007 to have the time of her life.

Who will that be???? Come to the pageant - June 15-17 - and find out! Click here for your tickets... I'll see you at the show!

(And yes, there will be updates along the way!)

South to North

2007-06-04T07:33:00.001-07:00

This week took me from southern Minnesota to the northern part of the state!

5/18 - The Miss South Central committee, chaired by Luke and Rochelle Odenbrecht, hosted a handing-off party at their home in Waseca. The Miss Waseca Sleigh & Cutter committee has taken over the South Central title and will be holding a dual pageant at the end of July. Jennifer Burt and Christy Stewart are excited to be taking on the new responsibilities and will be fantastic directors for two lucky girls. Pictured below is their current titleholder - Miss Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter, Liz Wandersee!
Thanks to Luke & Rochelle and everyone on the new and old South Central and Waseca committees - it was a pleasure to entertain you for the evening :)

5/20 - I performed the National Anthem to kick off the Minnesota AIDS Walk. As participants registered and tried to keep warm in the morning (it was the chilliest day we've had in awhile!), I walked around with volunteers, taking pictures with guests... and a few mascots, as you can see below. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event as a walker or a sponsor - it was a privilege to be a part of it!

Goldy Gopher!

with John Hines and Lee Valsvik, the morning hosts

Target's Bullseye mascot - he was warm!!!

5/23 - I spent the day in Kasson-Mantorville, neighboring towns with a unified school district. In the morning, I visited with 5th-graders at the middle school. After a delicious lunch at the historic Hubbel House, I rehearsed with the Senior High band and string players, then spoke to and performed for the 7th & 8th-graders (along with a few of the high school classes). That evening, the bands held their year-end concert, which they entitled "Music is Instrumental". The photo below is from a newspaper article about the concert.

Thanks to Nathan Davidson, the middle school band director, who did a fantastic job of organizing the day and all the people involved in it! Eileen Van Driest and Paula Knoll had both visited with his students during their years as Miss Minnesota... so our next titleholder with a music platform will definitely be welcomed in Kasson-Mantorville!

5/26 - My parents and I drove up to Duluth to visit my grandpa. He's recovering from an injury, so he's currently living in a physical rehabilitation center. While we were there, one of the nurses said, "Wait, are you... are you Miss Minnesota? I've heard all about you!" She asked for my autograph and said it made her day. I've told people that one of the best parts about this job is making people smile, and I'm so glad I could do that at a time when I wasn't even looking glamorous or wearing my crown :)

I think it's finally starting to hit me that someone else will soon be filling this amazing role... To all the contestants gearing up for Miss Minnesota (or any other state title, for that matter) - give it your all! You are about to embark on an amazing journey, and I am so excited for each and every one of you!

The Ides of May

2007-06-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

Mid-May. Only one month away from mid-June, when a new face will become Miss Minnesota. But the adventure isn't over yet!!!

5/10 - I visited with a Brownies troop at Orchard Lake Elementary in Lakeville. Chloe, one of my viola students is a member and invited me to speak to her friends. Chloe and I played a few duets, I performed, and we had question-and-answer time. Many of them told me they want to be Miss Minnesota someday, and I said that would require lots of practicing and goal-setting!

5/11 - Young Audiences of Minnesota hosted their annual dinner & theatre benefit, and I served as celebrity emcee for the evening. It was an honor to be part of an event in support of such a great organization that provides in-school arts learning opportunities for students throughout the state. We were treated to a delicious dinner at Graves 601 Hotel in Minneapolis, followed by All Shook Up at the Orpheum.

5/16 - In the morning, I rehearsed with the orchestra at Park Center High School for the next evening's concert. That evening, I interviewed with Carla Beaurline and Mark DeJoy on Around Town Radio. Click here to get more information on the show!

5/17 - Orchestra concert at Park Center High School... I performed the first and second movements from Telemann's Viola Concerto. It was the final concert of the year, which also meant the final high school concert ever for the seniors. The class officers gave a very warm tribute to Mary Gagnon, the orchestra director (pictured below). She teaches and conducts with amazing energy! Many thanks to the Mary, the PCHS students, and those who attended the concert in support of the program!

Prom Queen, Math Geek, and Politician...

2007-05-08T12:40:00.000-07:00

As a state titleholder, one wears many hats... not always just a sparkly crown. The past few weeks have been a shining example of that fact.

*****

On April 28th, I went to Prom in Foley, MN... and it was my first prom ever! (Nope, I never went in High School.) Needless to say, I was ridiculously excited. The theme of the event was "A Red Carpet Affair", and the Prom Committee did a fantastic job of decorating!

In the school's lobby, a red carpet (complete with backdrop and velvet rope) was arranged for picture-taking, and it felt very reminscent of my experience in Vegas at the Rocky Balboa premiere! I'm pictured here with my boyfriend Matt, and the emcees Jesse Godzala and his girlfriend Nina.

In the gymnasium, a limousine had been constructed, and each couple came through the limo and walked the red carpet as Jesse and Nina announced them. Brilliant!

In keeping with the evening's theme, I played selections from various movies - Titanic, Phantom of the Opera, The Bodyguard, West Side Story, and others. At the end of Grand March, I performed Praeludium & Allegro by Fritz Kreisler (my Miss Minnesota Talent selection).

Many thanks to Jesse and "the Jens" at Foley High School for inviting me to be a part of their event!

*****

Two days later, on April 30th, I performed at the Employer's Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) recognition dinner. The purpose of this event was to recognize and reward certain companies and individual employers who have generously supported their employees who have been called to active duty. Dorothy Benham sang the national anthem, I played a medley of Ashokan Farewell and Amazing Grace, and we performed God Bless America as a duet.

We also met Governor Tim Pawlenty...

...and The Crusher! (WWII veteran Stan Kowalski)

Dorothy and me with Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad, his wife Pam, and former Queen of the Lakes titleholders

*****

On Wednesday, May 2nd, I had the amazing opportunity to speak at the graduation ceremony for UMTYMP (University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program - it's pronounced um-tee-ump). This program allows junior high and high school students to enroll in college-level mathematics courses. I was an UMTYMP student from 7th-10th grade, and though I may not remember all the multivariable calculus I learned, it was a great program that taught me more than just math. So I shared with the graduating students and their parents three life lessons I learned through UMTYMP:

1. Show your work. Life isn't just in the destination; it's in the journey. Plus, showing your work keeps you accountable!

2. Read the reading. Math problems won't make sense unless you understand the underlying principles; research and knowledge are important in every area of life.

3. Time management. You can't wait until the day your homework is due to finish it. You know how this applies to real life :)

This is Professor Harvey Keynes, the director of UMTYMP. He's an amazing man with an incredible passion for mathematics and education.

Me and Scott Gilbert, who directs the Institute of Technology Center for Educational Programs at the U.

*****

The next morning, I headed up to the State Capitol to perform at the House of Representatives. I played the National Anthem at the beginning of the session and sat through the next two hours of debate. The political process is simultaneously fascinating and frustrating, but it's always neat to see policy being made and debated before my own eyes. Many thanks to Mary Liz Holberg, my representative, for arranging my visit!

*****

I know this is getting to be an uber-long post, but there are a few more tidbits of exciting information I want to share with you all... On Thursday night (May 3), Matt proposed to me! I now join the ranks of other Miss America 2007 contestants who are engaged - at last count, that included Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, and Utah. It'll be a busy summer of crownings and weddings for all of us who will be taking on a new role: wife! Matt & I are planning an August wedding followed by a move out to California where I'll become a student once more at the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles.

I feel incredibly blessed to have had all of these opportunities as Miss Minnesota 2006, and I look forward to what the next 5 weeks will bring... and I'm so excited for whoever will be crowned Miss Minnesota 2007!

Stay tuned...

Love,

Nicole

The Beginning of the End

2007-04-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

At least, that's what people have been calling it. This past weekend was Contestant Forum, which included orientation for State Week, a fun project for the contestants, and a fashion show gala. I had been out of commission all of last week with bronchitis and an ear infection, but the antibiotics had kicked in enough that I was functional and vertical for the weekend.

It's definitely different to be on this side of things, as Miss Minnesota, looking back on my year and trying to remember the things going through my head at this time last year. I loved being able to spend time with this year's contestants. I am so excited for each one of them and the opportunities they will experience over the next couple months as they prepare for Miss MN week. I'm also excited for them as a group - State Week is going to be so much fun! Our pageant will be held at a new and glorious facility - the Eden Prairie Center for the Performing Arts, and our new host hotel - Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington - has been fantastic for all the events thus far.

For everyone who wants to be a part of State Week, don't forget to turn in your registrations for the Twins Game, the Golf Tournament, and the Saturday Brunch. All registration forms are available on the official Miss Minnesota website.

Some photos from the weekend:

The contestants participated in a Project Runway-inspired event. Their challenge: create a cocktail dress from a box filled with miscellaneous materials.
*I know there are more pictures of the finished products - email me at missmn06@gmail.com if you have any, and I'll post them!*

At the fashion show, I modeled gowns from Isabella Collections in Lakeville and Dorothy Benham Bridal in Richfield (featuring Rodney Alfred and Jovani). This red number from Isabella's was created by the same man who designs dresses for Deal or No Deal!

The people who make it all happen: David, Barb, Jackie, Rod, Paula, Julie, and Jennifer... the Executive State Board

The lovely ladies competing for the crown!
front: Mackenzie, Danielle, Tina, Amanda, Lacey, Liz, Jennifer, and Meghan
back: Colleen, Cori, me, Cindy, Kasandra, and Lauren
not pictured: Kathryn (had to catch a flight) and Karissa (couldn't make it on Sunday morning)

Starting mid-May, I'll be posting Q&A's with each contestant, so if there's anything YOU want to know about THEM, let me know! Post a comment (you can even do it anonymously) or send me an email (missmn06@gmail.com). Let's make this interactive!

'Til next time...

Event Alert - Young Audiences of MN

2007-04-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

Young Audiences of Minnesota is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to "Inspire, Empower, and Unite Children and Communities through Education, Arts, and Culture." Their annual dinner-and-show gala will be held on Friday, May 11, and I will be the guest emcee for the evening.

Your ticket includes:
-Dinner and silent auction at the Graves 601 Hotel in Minneapolis
-Show at the Orpheum Theatre - "All Shook Up"

Proceeds from the event go towards programming for Young Audiences events - workshops and residencies much like the ones I've been giving as Miss Minnesota.

This is a perfect way to celebrate a special occasion - birthday, anniversary, promotion... or could be a great evening out with a group of friends.

Sponsor a table of 8 for $5,000 and receive:
-8 tickets to the show with superb seating
-Pre-theater cocktail reception and dinner for 8
-Recognition as a sponsor on the evening's program, Young Audiences' website, and in the YA catalog and newsletter
-$500 worth of programming at a location of your choice
-Tax deduction of $3,700

Individual tickets are available for $250 each.

Call 651-292-3399 to reserve your tickets today!

I'll be participating in a few Young Audiences events in Lakeville over the next few weeks, and I look forward to sharing photos and stories of what this organization is doing in Minnesota's communities!

Oh, Say, Can You... (what noise do timberwolves make?)

2007-04-03T22:30:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I performed the National Anthem at the Timberwolves vs. Cavaliers game at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

That's me, center court... if you squint...

The Jumbotron makes things a little easier...

with Crunch, the team mascot

I wore my Rodney Alfred cocktail dress that I had worn for On-Stage Question at Miss America - blue is one of my favorite colors, and it's a Timberwolves color too! Rod, David, Barb, Jackie, Kevin, and my Mom & Dad and cousins Richard and Paul joined me for the game. The Wolves lost, but they were up against some pretty stellar talent.

Fun story: as I was warming up backstage (or back-court, or whatever it's called), the Cavaliers players were walking by... every one of them stopped for a double-take, and one held up his arms as if he were playing a violin/viola. I was later informed by the intern (thanks for everything, Jackie!) that it was LeBron James. The superstar.

Oh, and it's snowing. I always get fooled into believing April actually means spring or summer... *sigh*

A Long-Overdue Update

2007-04-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Greetings, one and all. I know it feels like forever since my last post, and two months IS a pretty significant chunk of time, so first of all... my apologies. I haven't been trying to keep you out of the loop! Rather, February was a relatively slow (and unphotographed) month, and March was the busiest of any I've experienced throughout my entire year.

My time as Miss Minnesota can be divided into 4 sections: 1) post-MissMN insanity, 2) Miss America prep, 3) post-Miss America recovery, and 4) pre-MissMN windup. The work I've done with my platform has been the one constant throughout every segment, though the number and frequency of appearances has definitely varied from month to month. With Contestant Forum next weekend, we're cruising right along into section 4 of my year, which seems hard to believe!

This post, however, is to give a recap of the past two months. Without further ado...

FEBRUARY
8 - Read-a-thon (Burroughs Elementary School, Minneapolis): I read Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin, M is for Music, and The Jazz Men to a class of 5th-graders
9 - Pay it Forward (Medina): I was a celebrity dealer for this casino night fundraiser to support breast cancer patients and families. Assigned to Baccarat, I felt a little unsure at first, but I caught on quickly and had a great time - and the event raised over $80,000!
10 - Miss Coon Rapids/Miss Anoka County Pageant (Coon Rapids): Congratulations to Colleen Meyer, the new Miss Anoka County, and Cori Shellum, the new Miss Coon Rapids!
16 - Rodney Alfred Photo Shoot (St. Louis Park): Love these gowns. Seriously.
17 - Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Clinic (Minneapolis): I presented at the Advocacy breakout session.
22 - Chippewa Middle School (Mounds View school district): A day of presentations and workshops with all the orchestra students, including some visiting elementary schoolers. I was so impressed with Connie Aiken, the orchestra teacher - she teaches with such joy!
23-24 - Miss Twin Cities Pageant (White Bear Lake): Congratulations to Cindy Neseth, the new Miss Twin Cities!

MARCH
1-3 - Robbinsdale Residency (Robbinsdale school district): Worked with students at Cooper and Armstrong High Schools and performed a solo at the district Spring Festival.
3-4 - Minneapolis Home & Garden Show (Minneapolis): I assisted at the S&S Tree & Horticulture Specialist booth - my dad is one of the senior certified arborists. (He's a tree doctor.)
5-7 - Mounds View Residency (Mounds View school district): Visited orchestra students at Edgewood Middle School, Irondale High School, and Valentine Hills Middle School; also gave two school assemblies at Pinewood Elementary.
6-7 - Friendly Hills/Heritage Middle School (South St. Paul): I was a guest adjudicator for two middle school orchestras.
8 - Minnesota Arts Advocacy Day (St. Paul): 500 Arts Advocates descended upon the State Capitol to meet with our elected officials and ask for increased funding for the Arts.
- Lake Conference Arts Festival (Bloomington): I performed "lobby music" during a gallery showing of top high school artists from the Lake Conference
10 - Minnesota's Junior Miss Program (Apple Valley): I was Minnesota's Junior Miss in 2001, and it's a treat to return to the program every year as special entertainment. Congratulations to Nora Ali, Minnesota's Junior Miss 2007!
11-13 - National Arts Advocacy Day (Washington, DC): A team of 14 Minnesotans ventured to DC to ask our elected officials at the national level for their support of the arts. This includes NEA funding, arts in education programs, charitable contribution laws for artists, and the position of the arts in No Child Left Behind. I also got to see my fellow Mu contestant - Kate Michael, Miss DC. It was fantastic to catch up with her!
13 - Mounds View Concert (The Great Hall at Bethel University, Arden Hills): My mom picked me up from the airport as I flew in from DC and drove me straight to this performance, which went off without a hitch! Hallelujah for clear weather and no traffic!
14 - State Capitol (St. Paul): I met with Representative Mark Buesgens, who is the Academic Director for the Saint Paul Conservatory, a charter high school with a strong emphasis on the arts. Rep. Buesgens is looking into starting a similar program in an elementary school setting south of the river.
16 - My dad got laser surgery on his eyes! Edina Eye Physicians and Surgeons is a fantastic Miss Minnesota sponsor, and after seeing how my new vision has changed my life, my dad decided to take the plunge. He's now seeing better than he did with his glasses or contacts!
18 - Dakota Valley Symphony (Lakeville): I performed Telemann's Viola Concerto with the DVS, and was pleased to see so many students I had worked with at various schools attending the concert!
20-24 - Colburn Conservatory Audition (Los Angeles, CA): Since I'll be crowning a new Miss Minnesota in just over 2 months, it's time for me to be making some preparations for life after the crown... I've wanted to attend Colburn for a few years, and I've recently received official word that I've been accepted into their Professional Studies Certificate program. California, here I come! Also, I met with the Educational Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic (I had met her at National Arts Advocacy Day) and got a tour of the beautiful Disney Concert Hall (which is conveniently right across the street from Colburn). And... I got to hang out with my brother and sister - so excited to live near them again!
24-25 - Great River Strings (Crosby-Aitkin): This was such an amazing weekend, I don't really have adequate words to describe it. This small community of 5,000 in north central Minnesota has a civic orchestra with over two doezn performers! We gave two performances (I performed solo, solo with orchestra, and as a member of the viola section) to two amazingly appreciative audiences. Lynn Foote was the coordinator of this event, Rich Aulie conducts the orchestra, and the Bast family hosted me for the weekend - to you and everyone else who made me feel welcome, thank you. It was a blessing to be a part of your community for a weekend!
27 - Miss Minnesota Board Meeting (Minneapolis): We're putting finishing touches on plans for Contestant Forum - it's going to be fun!
29 - Young Audiences of Minnesota (St. Paul): I'll be the celebrity emcee for an upcoming event in May, so I met with the Executive Director of the program and the chairperson for the benefit. More on this in a separate post.

And just like that, it's April!

Thanks for your patience in waiting for updates (and for your diligence if you've actually gotten to the bottom of this post!). I will be blogging at least weekly from now on, and as the Miss Minnesota Pageant approaches, I'll be showcasing each one of the fantastic contestants competing for the crown and the job of Miss Minnesota 2007.

Love to all -
Nicole

Reflections

2007-02-02T17:32:00.000-08:00

I’m no stranger to competitions. My viola and I have performed in front of judges since I was in 6^th grade. And though I’ve been blessed with considerable success over the years, I’m also no stranger to losing.

Is it disappointing? Yes, sometimes.

But throughout the years, I have found that my preparation for a competition and my interest in the outcome are inversely proportional. When I haven’t done my very best, I somehow want the judges to say, “That’s okay. You were good enough.” When I’m fully prepared, I am at peace with the outcome whether I emerge victorious or not.

Life is in the journey, not the destination.

Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the Suzuki Method, wrote in his book Nurtured by Love: “Until we die, we should spare no effort in turning our weaknesses into merits. It is pleasant and interesting work.”

Over the past 13 months of my involvement in the Miss America Organization, I have done just that. I am now healthier – physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, and spiritually. I am more confident as a speaker and as a performer. I have a greater sense of who I am and how I can serve others through my talents. And I will continue to develop all of this not only throughout the duration of my year as Miss Minnesota but for the rest of my life.

I will forever cherish the 10 days I spent in Las Vegas. Words cannot express my gratitude to everyone who helped us throughout the week, from the hostesses and production crew to the hotel employees and the Miss America staff and Board of Directors. I am honored and humbled to be a part of the Miss America Class of 2007, and I can hardly wait to see where we all end up 20 years from now.

More immediately, I am excited to continue to be Miss Minnesota for the next 5 months. Regardless of who the judges chose or didn’t choose as Miss America, I still represent this program to everybody with whom I come in contact.

I am proud to carry that responsibility.

On a lighter note, here are some photos from my last few days in Vegas - I'll publish more as soon as I get them!

drinking SmartWater before my interview... not sure if it helped or not

Friday's visitation - my fan club!

It matched my dress. I couldn't resist.

Saturday's visitation with the Miss MN State Board - Jennifer Hagman,
David Shepardson, Rod Simonson, Barb Gehlen, Julie Carlson

Receiving a Non-Finalist Talent award at Monday's visitation from Sam Haskell
(an amazing and inspirational man).

with my Dad :)

The Miss MN State Board at Monday's visitation

My siblings! [L to R: Erik, Marissa, Justin]
We had a great post-pageant celebration with family & friends.

Oh, Bellagio, how I love thee.

Change of Plans

2007-01-25T10:19:00.000-08:00

I slept in this morning!

My interview had been scheduled for 9:52am, with a hostess pick-up at 8:55 and an appointment with my hairdresser at 7:30. Last night, I set my alarm for 6am and crawled into bed at 9:30pm. An hour later, Heidi and I received phone calls from our hostesses that interviews had been rescheduled due to one of the judges being sick.

This morning, we learned that Delta Burke is ill and will not be judging the remainder of the competition. Her scores from the interviews in which she took place will not be counted, so we will all receive 5 scores for each category. That's the way I understand it, at least.

It's like they've been telling us all along... stay on your toes, because you never know when something might change!

Thanks to everyone (even the strangers!) for the encouraging comments. I truly appreciate your support throughout this process! Blogging from this point on may be rather limited, but my state board is here and will be sharing their thoughts and photos with you at missmn2007.blogspot.com. Enjoy!

Day 5? Already?

2007-01-23T22:56:00.000-08:00

We've been warned all week that we will get tired. We have been instructed to conserve energy. Today, many of us were starting to feel it. During Swimsuit & Evening Gown rehearsals, many contestants in the groups not rehearsing curled up on the floor for power naps. Donilee's shoulder made a nice pillow during our extended lunch break :) (that's Shelley's [SC] hand in the photo)

Another fix? Coffee. We always have a table set up with coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water in our rehearsal and dressing rooms, and there's a 24-hour Starbucks on the Casino level of the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood.

This evening's special event was a dinner at Planet Hollywood restaurant in Caesar's Palace. Conscious of the fact that we have competition coming up soon (very soon), they created a special meal for us: salad, grilled chicken, rice pilaf, steamed vegetables, and a fruit/yogurt parfait. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmdelicous. Following dinner, there was opportunity for photos... and a dance! Accompanied by tunes from the Electric Slide to Beyonce to Sister Sledge, we (or most of us... I admit, I sat a few numbers out) expended what was left of our energy.

Oh! and we met our judges. Well, everybody except Chris Matthews... he's still commenting on the State of the Union address and is flying in tomorrow morning. The other five were pleasant, friendly, and shared inspiring words with all of us. I feel confident they're taking their job seriously, and I'm looking forward to spending time with them on Thursday morning! The Sigma and Alpha groups have interviews tomorrow, while Mu rehearses and rehearses and rehearses some more.

Some of my family & board members are arriving tomorrow, and I'm so excited to know they'll be here with me!

It's almost show time...

But for now, it's just bed time. Sweet dreams, world!

Che Bella

2007-01-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

The morning began with rehearsals, during which we nailed our opening number (both versions) and made a few changes to the Swimsuit routine. Just after lunch break, we had a photo shoot with Jennifer Berry (Miss America 2006) for the Children's Miracle Network - Miss America's new national platform partner. We were told to wear business attire from the waist up... so there was quite a bit of this:

Stacey and Bryan, our fabulous choreographers - they led us through a great set of warm-ups this morning and keep us moving every day!

During this afternoon's break, I hit the gym for a date with an elliptical machine. Scheduling a full workout is difficult for us, so we take advantage of the moments we can.

THEN... today's special appearance was a visit to the Venetian. We were greeted with much fanfare... literally. There were buglers in full regalia playing a celebratory march for us as we walked the red carpet into the hotel. After a photo shoot, we floated down the canal in gondolas steered by singing Italians. There was also a dessert reception with a variety of delectable bite-sized concoctions. The New York Post took photos as well, so look for those!

The Mu group riding the bus to the Venetian:

Somebody taller than I am!

Tomorrow: we meet our judges during afternoon rehearsal and eat dinner at Planet Hollywood's signature restaurant at Caesar's Palace!

we are dreamgirls...

2007-01-21T23:43:00.000-08:00

I wonder what we'll be tomorrow? :)

I knew it would be a great day when I awoke to a beautiful sunrise outside our window. Morning and afternoon rehearsals flew by! We've officially learned both versions of the Parade of States - one for the Preliminary nights and one for the telecast. We also reviewed blocking for Swimsuit. Our rehearsal space was much larger than it was yesterday, and stage markings were taped out on the floor, so we're starting to get a feel for what the show will be like!

During our 1.5-hour break, I talked to my parents for the first time since they dropped me at the airport on Friday - Hi again, Mom & Dad! After that, I decided to indulge in some quality time with my curling iron... check out the results in these photos... what do you think? :)

After dinner, we bussed (funny-looking word) over to Brendan Theatres at the Palms, where we were treated by CMT and Paramount to a private screening of Dreamgirls. I had already seen it once, and I honestly enjoyed it even more this second time around! Visually stunning, well-acted... Jennifer Hudson's passionate performance is absolutely inspirational. A CMT crew filmed us before & after the screening and interviewed us about our thoughts regarding the movie... I'm not exactly sure when that will be aired. If I find out, I'll let you know.

On tomorrow's schedule... more rehearsal (we'll learn Evening Gown!), a photo shoot for Children's Miracle Network, gondola rides, and a dessert reception at the Venetian... which Mike Allegretto keeps telling us is AMAZING. Definitely looking forward to that.

Until then...

~Nicole~

we are rock stars.

2007-01-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

In fact, we're so awesome that during Day One of rehearsal, we learned our Opening Number and Swimsuit blocking so well that our choreographers cut 3 hours from our rehearsal time tomorrow... which means we get an extra hour to sleep in! (We'll get the other 2 hours in the afternoon.)

After rocking our rehearsal time with choreographers Barry, Stacy, and Brian, we made a quick wardrobe change and traveled in 3 buses over to Fashion Show Mall. THIS was amazing. We emerged from the floor in a gigantic glass elevator and walked an 80-foot runway in front of an enthusiastic crowd. An autograph-signing session followed. Everyone was friendly, wonderfully patient, and so excited to meet all of us!

We then signed more autographs during a dinner reception for some of the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood's VIP guests, a few of whom were from St. Paul! We sat at tables according to our geographic regions, and it was great to spend some time with my fellow Midwesterners.

Tomorrow will bring more rehearsal... and a screening of Dreamgirls!

Here are a couple photos - I promise to be slightly more trigger-happy on the morrow :)

Viva Las Vegas (original title, I know)

2007-01-19T22:55:00.000-08:00

I'm heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere!

It's almost 11:00pm Vegas time, which means 1:00am Minnesota time... and I've been up since 4am, so this is going to be short.

First of all, I apologize for not posting these past couple weeks; last-minute preparations essentially consumed all my time. I'll do my best to make up for it with regular updates (hopefully including photos) from Vegas!

I arrived mid-morning and rode from the airport with Miss Michigan, Angela Corsi, and our 8 suitcases (5 mine, 3 hers... I brought all my competition wardrobe with me). I was thankful to have a few hours to unpack, do wardrobe try-ons, nap, shower, and get ready for our first group appearance - the arrival ceremony! We were each announced by and presented with a rose by the mayor of Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman.

This evening, we had an orientation meeting with Miss America officials, our security team(s), our hostesses, and Children's Miracle Network officials. THEN we had a preview of Pageant School: Becoming Miss America, which you can all watch on Friday, January 26 (click the link for details). It was fun to relive memories of our time in Los Angeles in September... it's hard to believe 4 months have passed since then!

Tomorrow morning we have our first rehearsal, a runway show and autograph signing at Fashion Show mall, and a reception here at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood. The festivities begin in just over 8 hours, so it's time for Heidi (Voight, Miss Connecticut - my fabulous roomie) and me to get some sleep!

Sweet dreams, world :)

Alert the Media!

2006-12-30T17:32:00.000-08:00

Some exciting upcoming events:

Tuesday, January 2nd
On-air, in-studio interview with Dave Lee on WCCO radio in the 7:00am hour.

Saturday, January 6th - 3-6pm
Gown Showing/Send-off Party
I don't leave until January 19th, but this is your chance to preview everything I'll be doing and wearing at Miss America... and it's my chance to practice changing really quickly.
Dorothy Benham will be the emcee of the event, and there will be t-shirts and buttons available for purchase.
Location:
Holiday Inn Select International Airport Hotel
3 Appletree Square
Bloomington, MN 55425
and, for your convenience, a GoogleMap!

Tuesday, January 9th - 10am
KARE11's Showcase Minnesota
A live interview & performance... tune in!

I will also be performing the national anthem at the Gopher Women's Basketball game on 1/7 and the Gopher Men's Basketball game on 1/17.

Merry Christmas!

2006-12-25T21:14:00.000-08:00

My entire family was home for Christmas! This situation hasn't occured since 2002, so it was very exciting. My younger brother, Justin, lives in Atlanta, and the other three - Erik, Marissa, and her husband Martin - live in Los Angeles. They all flew in and we went up to Duluth, where my grandpa lives. We always spend some time at the beach, skipping rocks into the great lake.

No, it's not your typical "beach." Left to Right: Erik, Justin, Me, Dad, Marissa, Martin. Mom was taking the picture.

Here's wishing you all warmth and peace in this holiday season!

ROCKY!

2006-12-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

When I received a confirmation email that I had been one of the first twenty contestants to RSVP to the Aladdin's invitation to the Las Vegas premiere of Rocky Balboa, I jumped up and down. Literally.

And I am that excited to go back to Las Vegas in a couple weeks. It was an amazing (I've been using that adjective a lot recently), albeit short (26 hours?) experience. And since a picture paints a thousand words, I'll keep the commentary brief.

Stallone. He's not as short as some people had predicted.
And his movie was truly enjoyable.

One of FOUR (4!!!) limo rides. With Christie Hageman (Miss MT) and
Lynette Boggs (member of MAO Board of Directors)

The group (minus Miss LA - her plane had been delayed) - my apologize for the demonic eyes on everybody... even red-eye tools couldn't fix it!

My Miss America roommate, Heidi Voight, representing the great state of Connecticut. We'll have a blast together :)

Yep, that's Carrot Top. In conversation, he was genuine, intelligent, and kind... but he makes faces in photos. Everybody has their thing, I guess.

Gene Kilroy, former business manager for Muhammad Ali. Seriously. The ring on my index finger is one of his championship rings. Seriously.

Last but not least... the one and only David Hasselhoff!
He's moving to Vegas for this. Amazing.

The end... but really, it's just the beginning :)

Come on, ring those bells...

2006-12-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

...light the Christmas tree... (anybody else know that song?)

Today was Celebrity Bell-Ringing Day for the Salvation Army at the Mall of America. I shared a kettle for a little while with TC Bear, the mascot for the Minnesota Twins, and I think all the kids were on sensory overload... sparkly shiny crown AND a big gigantic fuzzy bear???

And also, I'm officially 24... today was my birthday!

Music is Instrumental in Sartell

2006-12-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Where? Sartell. Home of the Sabres... and some pretty fantastic people. Stacey Fristad of the Sartell Music Association arranged for my visit, and the 3 days passed in a flurry!

Monday, December 11:
I visited both elementary schools (Pine Meadow and Oak Ridge), with two assemblies at each. Both are utilizing the Character Counts! curriculum, so I was able to weave Respect, Responsibility, and Caring into my presentations. I was truly impressed by the feeling of community within these schools, and the respect and admiration the students obviously felt towards their peers, teachers, and principals.

an interactive activity - conducting Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Mrs. Peach's first-graders

Monday evening, the Chamber of Commerce hosted a reception at the Meeting Grounds coffeehouse, where I performed and signed autographs.

Tuesday, December 12th:
Sartell Middle School! My favorite part of this day was spending two class periods with Special Education students. Their teacher, Dorie Hall, uses music and music-making often in her own teaching, and she was excited to have me speak with her students. We had a very open conversation, not only about music but also about overcoming challenges, discovering your strengths, and persevering towards goals.
I also presented to the entire 5th-grade class and worked with various Band and General Music classes and spoke with the Dance Team about poise and performance preparation.

Tuesday night was the Winter Winds concert at Sartell High School. I performed two selections: the Prelude from J.S. Bach's 5th Suite and Fritz Kreisler's Praeludium & Allegro. At the reception afterwards, I signed autographs and answered questions. According to the Sartell Music Association, turnout was the highest it had ever been, with a large number of elementary and middle school students attending who had met me earlier.

with the Sartell Music Association - the people who make it all happen!

Wednesday, December 13th
Today I visited with all the music students at Sartell High School. One of my favorite moments was with Donna Voce, the all-women's choir. They are preparing a piece for their concert that includes two violin parts - so I sight-read and transposed onto my viola. It worked, mostly. It was also nice to have a bit of girl time. I was in an all-female choir my sophomore year of high school, and I look back on that year with fondness.

Many many many thanks to Stacey Fristad for making this residency possible - and for being such a great host mom! To everyone that I met and all the students with whom I worked... always remember two things:
1. Practice makes permanent
2. Tell stories with your music!

Two Weeks in a Nutshell

2006-12-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

These past two weeks have been rather full; unfortunately, I have very few pictures from these events! I'll give you a brief synopsis of what I've been doing...

11/26 - Miss MN USA Pageant
Congratulations to Alla Ilushka (Miss MN USA) and Vanessa Vonbehren (Miss Teen MN USA)! This was my first time attending a USA pageant, and I enjoyed my role as an unbiased observer. The show opener was a live performance of the Evolution of Dance - one of YouTube's top videos of the year!
11/29 - Stillwater Schools
I visited with students at four schools in the Stillwater Area Public School District - Stillwater Senior High, Stillwater Junior High, and Oak Park and Lily Lake Elementary schools. Marla Okner, one of my sister's former violin teachers, was my host for the day.
11/30 - Twin Cities Media Network Fashion Show
For their winter fundraising event, the Twin Cities Media Network hosted a fashion show, and I was a celebrity model. I also performed my Miss MN Talent selection ("Praeludium & Allegro" by Fritz Kreisler) and met several Twin Cities media personalities, including Alison Young from MPR.
12/2 - Mankato Area Youth Symphony
At the MNSOTA workshop in October, I ran into Amy Roisum-Foley, a former band director at my junior high school in Lakeville. She now works at Minnesota State University-Mankato and as the director of the Mankato Area Youth Symphony. This afternoon was MAYSO's winter concert, and I performed (first and second movements of the Telemann Viola Concerto), spoke, signed autographs, took pictures, and played Christmas carols with the group.
12/3 - Isabella Collections Winter Open House
You remember Isabella's. The fantastic dress? This evening marked their first annual Winter Open House. I performed, answered questions, and enjoyed the great company and hors d'oeuvres. Many thanks to Robyn & Jeannie for all their support over the past few months!
12/4 - Interview with Star Tribune
I had a two-hour conversation this afternoon with Kay Miller of the Star Tribune. She writes for the Source section and will be publishing an article at some point right before Miss America! She had traveled with the Minnesota Orchestra on a European tour, and her stories of that adventure were amazing.
12/5 - Coon Rapids High School
I met with both orchestras at Coon Rapids High School this morning.They're preparing for their winter concert, and I was able to give them a little advice on preparation and avoiding performance anxiety!
12/7 - Schubert Club Holiday Luncheon/MPR Testimonial
The Schubert Club has been fantastically supportive of me not only as Miss Minnesota, but throughout all of my musical adventures over the years. I performed today at their Holiday Luncheon - "Carol" and "Christmas Dance" from Vaughan Williams' Suite for Viola and Orchestra. (Er... piano, in this case. I wish I could carry a portable orchestra around in my pocket.)
Then I recorded a testimonial at MPR... essentially a "Hi, I'm Nicole Swanson, Miss Minnesota... and I'm a member of Minnesota Public Radio." It was a little more personal than that... but you'll just have to listen (find your station here) and hear for yourself!
12/9 - MYS String Orchestra Holiday Concert
One of the best things about being Miss Minnesota for me is the opportunity to partner with organizations that have been an integral part of my life. Minnesota Youth Symphonies is definitely one of them. This afternoon, the String orchestra performed a holiday concert at Dayton's Bluffs Recreation Center, and I joined them as soloist, speaker, and viola section substitute.

Rise & Shine

2006-11-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

The best thing about being on the road at 5:30am? Nobody else is. Well, at least not as many as there are 2 hours later.

I spent the early part of my morning as a guest on the Jeff Olsen Morning Show on KOOL-108. We discussed preparing for Miss America (and whether or not I'll eat pie for Thanksgiving... the answer? Absolutely), the ridiculousness of music programs being the first eliminated in budget cuts despite providing the foundation for all other learning, the weather (unseasonably warm), and the news (I got to read the AP headlines of the day). Oh, and Elvis.

We also recorded a segment that will air on Twin Cities Insight - a public affairs program broadcast on all metro ClearChannel radio stations Sunday mornings at 6:30am. Tune in... if the tryptophan has worn off by then.

In the News

2006-11-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

Over the past month or so, a variety of publications have included mention of the Miss Minnesota program or my platform:

(click on images for full-size)

an advertisement for Edina Eye Physicians & Surgeons, P.A.
my wonderful IntraLase (like LASIK, minus the blade) sponsors

the fall newsletter for the New York String Orchestra Seminar

I participated in 2004 - two concerts in Carnegie Hall, including one with Gil Shaham!

AAA Living's Nov/Dec issue

I don't know what I'd do without roadside assistance :)

The Schubert Club's Fall Newsletter
(I participated in Schubert Club competitions for several years and still perform at events they sponsor)

Northern Symphony Orchestra

2006-11-19T22:06:00.000-08:00

This afternoon, I performed the J.C. Bach Viola Concerto with the Northern Symphony Orchestra. I said "the" J.C. Bach instead of attributing the work directly to him because there is some controversy as to who actually wrote the piece. It is a widely accepted theory that French composer Henri Casadesus composed the concerto in the style of J.C. Bach (one of the sons of J.S. Bach, the man we commonly call "Bach") and put Bach's name on it instead of his own, thinking that might increase its chances at notoriety.

Regardless, it's a great piece in the key of c minor... tragic and triumphant simultaneously.

with conductor Mike Halstenson

The orchestra was wonderfully sensitive, and the auditorium (at Champlin Park High School) was a great acoustical space.

At the post-concert reception, I met a 5-year-old named Libby who had just begun violin lessons. She told me it was okay that my dress was a little see-through, because at least "You can't see through all of it. That would be gross."

Thanks to Rodney Alfred for the gown, and many thanks to everybody who made this concert possible, particularly Ed Schaefle & Mike Halstenson!

Minnesota Public Radio

2006-11-17T18:12:00.000-08:00

MPR has a fantastic building in downtown St. Paul, including an amazing recording studio - Studio M.

Today, I recorded a performance and interview with Steve Staruch. You can hear the full audio here.

MPR's lobby has these amazing space-age-looking soundpods. Amazingly comfortable... with MPR stations piped straight in.

Thanks to Craig Thorson (recording technician), Karl Gehrke (producer), Steve Staruch (host), and Leah Siltberg (pianist extraordinaire)!

from East to West

2006-11-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

The Minnetonka School District has two middle schools, and I visited both of them this week. Yesterday morning I went to East, and this afternoon I visited West. Sarah Finn-Sommerfeld is the orchestra director at both schools, and she runs those classes with contagious energy!

It's always fun for me to ask, "Who likes to practice?" ..."Who doesn't like to practice?" ...pause... "Who decided not to answer that question?"

I encourage students not to see practice as drudgery, but as something FUN. Yes, the point of practice is to get better... but the point of getting better is that music is more fun to play (and to hear) when it sounds good and tells a story.

Practice doesn't make perfect. You can do something a hundred times... or a million times... but if you do it incorrectly every time, it'll never be perfect. Instead, practice makes permanent. This was a favorite saying of one of my former teachers, Alice Preves, who passed away on Wednesday. She was an amazing teacher, full of love, patience, and understanding. And her wisdom lives on.

Blaine & Anoka

2006-11-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

The Anoka-Hennepin school district has a great music program. Ed Schaefle is the orchestra director at Blaine High School, and Mike Halstenson directs Anoka High School's orchestra. This weekend, I'm performing as a soloist with the Northern Symphony Orchestra - for which Ed serves as concertmaster and Mike as conductor. I visited both schools over the past two days to promote the concert, spark interest in practicing, and generate discussion using the question... "What's the point of music?"

Feel free to put in your two cents :)

A Star Spangled Evening

2006-11-11T23:02:00.000-08:00

The Minnesota Masonic Charities held their 2nd annual Gala this evening. To honor Veterans' Day, the program was given a patriotic theme and proceeds benefited the National Anthem Project - one of the projects of the National Association for Music Education (MENC). I spoke about the project and music education in general, and performed a medley of Ashokan Farewell and Amazing Grace in honor of those who have served our country. The Metropolitan Boys Choir finished out the program with a variety of patriotic songs... including the cutest version of New York, New York I have ever seen.

Many thanks to Sara Beddow, Director of Communications for MN Masonic Charities, for coordinating the evening - and congratulations on a wonderful event!

Music is Instrumental in Winona

2006-11-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

I returned today from a 4-day residency in Winona. On Monday and Tuesday, I visited all 6 elementary schools; Wednesday I was at the middle school; today was a full day at Winona High School. Winona has a great music program in place: 4th-graders have the option to start a stringed instrument, and there are several musical groups throughout the district.

When I visit elementary schools, my goal is to expose the students to the wide variety of instruments that exist - many have never heard of a bassoon or an oboe... and most don't know the difference between a violin and a viola. I also work their creativity and observational skills by playing a variety of music and asking for adjectives to describe that music.

Some observations:
-Kindergarteners haven't quite grasped the difference between a question and a statement. During Q&A time, I had many raised hands that resulted in statements of "My dad plays the trumpet" or "I have a new baby brother."
-To the youngest students, I was "Miss Winona"; the 2nd- and 3rd-graders got the title correct; and the oldest elementary students referred to me as "Miss America". I'm not a child psychologist, but it must have something to do with how they perceive their world at certain stages of mental & emotional development...

My day at Winona Middle School was spent entirely in the music wing. They have a beautiful, recently-built facility with separate rooms for band, choir, orchestra, and general music - all adjacent to the auditorium, which we used for the majority of the presentations. With these students, I discussed decision-making, how to make practicing fun, and how to tell stories with music.

Today, at Winona Senior High School, my activities varied. I presented to several music classes, joined the viola section for an orchestra rehearsal, played Revolutionary War Jeopardy with an American History class, and discussed the connection between music and foreign language in a Spanish class.

Thanks first and foremost to Mayor Jerry Miller, who made my visit to Winona possible. Other MVPs of the week include Vicki Andring in the district office, the principals at all 8 schools, and every music teacher with whom I worked. Keep up the great work!

P.S. Yes, I voted. Three cheers for absentee ballots :)

Minnesota Youth Symphonies

2006-11-05T22:32:00.000-08:00

I spent 9 wonderful years as a violist in the Minnesota Youth Symphonies, and today I participated in a slightly different capacity - as the co-emcee! James Lileks and I introduced each of the orchestras (there are 4) and chatted about my platform and preparing for Miss America.

with Manny and Claudette Laureano, founders and conductors of MYS

Symphony (the highest of the 4 orchestras) performed part of Mahler's Symphony No. 3, which is a piece I had played as an MYS member several years ago. One of this organization's greatest strengths is its refusal to treat musicians 18 &under like children. On that stage, under that leadership, those students are adults. Professionals.

And they play like it, too.

Congratulations, MYS, on a great start to a new season!

South Washington County

2006-11-04T17:34:00.000-08:00

South Washington County School District added a Strings program to their curriculum this year. It has achieved great success so far - over 250 fourth-grade students are participating, most of whom are beginners. This afternoon marked the celebratory first concert, and I was a featured speaker and performer.

with Music teachers Kristi Sullivan, Michael Sloane, and Nancy Wiessner

I remembered my early recitals - the excitement, anticipation, and butterflies. That same energy was present at this performance. Good luck to all the students, parents, and teachers who have undertaken this endeavor, and congratulations and thank you to the school board for your support of this program.

click

2006-11-04T11:43:00.000-08:00

I've previously mentioned Isabella Collections, a women's clothing boutique in Lakeville, my hometown. This morning, I modeled for a photo shoot at the store. Here are a few of the images (courtesy of photographer Eric Olson from FAME Digest)...

Photos will be running in a variety of Twin Cities publications over the next few months! Thank you to Robyn at Isabella's and Eric & Brenda from FAME.

KTLK

2006-11-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

I was an in-studio guest this morning on Andrew Colton's show The First Word on 100.3 KTLK. In a 10-minute interview, we discussed my platform (Music is Instrumental), the Miss America Pageant, and growing up in the Twin Cities as a violist. I also performed a few selections from Alexander Nagy's 6 Bagatelles for Solo Viola.

Thanks to Andrew Colton (a most excellent host) and Christopher Gabriel (the show's producer) for their hospitality and insight!

Around Town

2006-11-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

Carla Beaurline and Mark DeJoy are co-hosts for Around Town, a show that features businesses in the Twin Cities area. Tonight, they recorded their stand-ups (the portions in between the larger segments) at the University of Minnesota's Weisman Art Museum... and I recorded one too! Watch for it on this month's edition of Around Town.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T20:24:00.000-08:00

Tuesday is typically the day I teach violin lessons. Today was a little less than typical...

Nicole, one of my 4th-grade beginners, dressed up as Miss America! My costume was a little less imaginative... but I haven't technically played the role of a college student in almost 18 months, so it was still stepping out of character a little :)

Austin (but not the Texan variety)

2006-10-30T17:45:00.000-08:00

I spent a busy day in Austin! The Austin Symphony performed children's concerts this morning, and I was the narrator (for excerpts from Bizet's Carmen) and featured speaker/performer. Over the lunch hour, I spoke at the Austin Rotary Club and shared my Music is Instrumental message. I met the grandfather of Karyn Stordahl (Miss MN '05), who is a member of the Rotary! I was then whisked away to speak with the Middle School and High School music students. We discussed practicing, goal-setting, and stretching (instrumentalists need to treat their bodies with the same care as athletes do in order to prevent injuries).

with Terry Leas (Rotary President) and my special-edition SPAM
(Hormel Foods was founded and is based in Austin)

at Austin Middle School with the 9th-grade orchestra

Thanks to Steve Ramsey (conductor of the Austin Symphony), Marge Dunlap (Orchestra Manager), the music teachers at Austin High School and Middle School, and my hosts Jeff and Sonia Larson.

Winona - a preview

2006-10-29T20:17:00.000-08:00

Winona High School just finished extensive remodeling and renovations, and they celebrated this afternoon with an open house! I signed autographs for attendees and chatted with Winona radio personality Greg Taylor. I'll be back in Winona next week for a 4-day residency, working with all the music programs at all Winona public schools.

Thanks to Leanne Becker and Gay Mortenson for arranging this celebration, and to Winona's Superintendent Paul Durand!

And the winner is...

2006-10-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

A&W Furniture in Redwood Ralls celebrated a grand remodel with a grand giveaway - $15,000 in home furnishings! I signed autographs and drew the lucky winner's name from over 2,000 entrants.

with Bernice Zamzow (the winner!) and husband/wife owners Bob Wetmore & Mary Ahrens

an interview with Redwood Falls Radio

with the Warehouse Crew

Congratulations to Bernice, and many thanks to Bob & Mary and their hospitable staff!

Breakfast of Champions

2006-10-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

Hooray for visitors! The lovely Christie Hageman, Miss Montana 2006, is in town with Avice Hoff (Co-Executive Director of the Miss MT program) Cami Hoff (Miss MT board member). They're taking advantage of the fabulous shopping available in the Twin Cities (Mall of America, anyone?) and agreed to fuel their day with a delicious breakfast at The Good Earth. David Shepardson (Co-Executive Director of the Miss MN program), Rod Simonson (MIss MN committee member), and I enjoyed the varied conversation - it's always interesting to see how things are done in other states!

Avice Hoff, me, Christie, Cami Hoff

Christie, I hope you found everything you wanted at MOA! I can hardly wait to see you again in a short few months :)

Before Judge and Jury

2006-10-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

The Schubert Club is a non-profit arts organization based in St. Paul. Every spring, they sponsor a scholarship competition for music students from junior high to college. I started competing in 7th grade; throughout the subsequent 8 years, I won a variety of awards, including First Place in the College Strings division in 2003.

They also sponsor several concert series, including the Courtroom Concerts. These Thursday afternoon concerts are held in downtown St. Paul's historic Landmark Center. This afternoon, I was a featured performer. Leah Siltberg and I performed Rebecca Clarke's Sonata for Viola & Piano (1919) - one of my favorite pieces in the viola repertoire.

Thanks to Sharon Carlson at the Schubert Club for coordinating this event!

Dodge Center

2006-10-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

I spent today in Dodge Center at Triton Elementary School, where I spoke with and performed for all K-5 students.

One of my favorite moments: I walked into the cafeteria while the Kindergarteners and First Graders were eating lunch, and hundreds of little hands instantly shot up in the air and started waving excitedly. That illustrates to me the power of the crown - its ability to captivate audiences and give the wearer a larger voice and a broader audience.

Many thanks to Nancy Matti, the music teacher at Triton Elementary, for organizing this day!

A Girl's Best Friends

2006-10-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight was Ladies' Night at Wedding Day Diamonds in Burnsville. They've recently added new lines of fashion jewelry to supplement their wide selection of engagement & wedding rings. I modeled this new jewelry (I've never worn that many diamonds simultaneously) along with fashions provided by Isabella Collections of Lakeville. Beautiful jewels, fabulous clothes... enough said.

(Photos forthcoming. Hopefully.)

MNSOTA (and yes, I know how to spell)

2006-10-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

...that actually stands for Minnesota String and Orchestra Teachers Association, whose fall clinic and meeting was held this morning. Ken Freed, a violist in the Minnesota Orchestra, spoke regarding learning through music and the ways in which music relates to other academic areas. Jane Linde Capistran, faculty member of Concordia College in Moorhead, discussed how to balance the many roles a music teacher must play. I shared my journey of becoming Miss Minnesota and the reasons behind my platform. I met several educators from across the state with whom I was able to set up presentations and performances. The music world is a small place, and one connection always leads to another!

Center Stage

2006-10-15T15:15:00.000-07:00

Last night, I made my solo debut with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. I performed Max Bruch's Romanze for Viola & Orchestra, Op. 85.

(the performance (click the photo for full-size image)

with conductor Markand Thakar

According to the Duluth News-Tribune: "Swanson's silvery evening gown matched her consummate poise as she filled the auditorium with sonorous melodies."

I do have some video clips of the performance, and I'll post those as soon as I become fluent in YouTube!

Lakewood School

2006-10-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I visited with 5th-graders at Lakewood Elementary School in Duluth. They're about to begin a Science unit on sound, so we discussed how stringed instruments make sound and the differences between a viola and a violin. (In case you've been wondering: the viola is larger than the violin and has a deeper, lower, richer sound.)

On my last visit to Duluth, I enjoyed the fall colors. This time, it snowed. A mid-October blizzard. The students seemed to be excited about it, and during Q&A/Requests time, I ended up performing Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

I guess it's never too early to be festive - especially if you're a Minnesotan!

Happy Anniversary, Loffler!

2006-10-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

Loffler Companies, Inc. celebrated 20 years of business this evening!

with Jim Loffler, founder and CEO

Loffler prints our program books and brochures - and does a fabulous job! I performed a little Bach on my viola and chatted with the guests: a variety of employees and clients from across the Midwest.

Congratulations, Loffler, on two decades, and best wishes for continued success!

Women in Leadership

2006-10-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today, I was a guest at the Northland's News Center Women in Leadership Luncheon in Duluth. I was humbled to be a part of this event honoring 10 extraordinary women. Michelle Lee introduced each honoree with a brief story and background. The variety of these women's accomplishments is astounding, but they have one thing in common: a heart for leadership. An advocate for Down Syndrome awareness, a reverend committed to social justice, a college president, a stroke survivor-turned-author... I found myself wondering what the women of my generation - including my fellow titleholders of the Miss America Organization - will achieve throughout the coming decades.

with Peggy Kott and Michelle Lee from Northland's News Center

with honoree Sister Virginia Schwartz (3rd from Left) and friends

Lance Secretan wrote, "Leadership is not so much about technique and methods as it is about opening the heart. Leadership is about inspiration—of oneself and of others. Great leadership is about human experiences, not processes. Leadership is not a formula or a program, it is a human activity that comes from the heart and considers the hearts of others. It is an attitude, not a routine."

Thank you to
-Barb Beeksma, Jodi Stauber, Shari Swenson, Kathleen Nelson, Judith Arvold, Reverend Kathy Nelson, April Wiita, Linda Bonney, Cleo Hutton, and Sister Virginia Schwartz... for demonstrating true leadership.
-Peggy Kott and Northland's News Center... for allowing me to be a part of this special occasion, and for taking the initiative to honor these extraordinary women.

A Day in Mankato

2006-10-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Shelly Bartlett rocks. Seriously. She's the director of the Miss Mankato Pageant, and she arranged for me to visit Mankato today and participate in a variety of activities...

I spoke to the Key City Sertoma Club at their luncheon meeting, hosted by Bob at the Bandana Brewery; performed for K-6 students at the Bridges School and answered their questions about being a musician; and spent time with preschoolers at Jesus Loves Me Preschool.

with Sertoma District Governor Susan Fix and Key City President Shelly Bartlett

an interview with KEYC-TV - Channel 12 in Mankato

Bridges Elementary School - K-6 students

Jesus Loves Me Preschool

so much curiosity!

I also made the evening news - click here to see the story.

Many thanks to Shelly & Justin on the Miss Mankato committee and my other hosts throughout the day!

Nobody Knows Trees Better

2006-10-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

This morning, I recorded radio commercials for S&S Tree Specialists, the company for which my dad has worked for over two decades. The spots will air during Gopher and Twins games on WCCO-Radio!

We've Got Pep

2006-10-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the Minnesota Twins’ victory as American League Division Champions, five thousand people gathered this evening at Peavey Plaza in downtown Minneapolis. As G.B. Leighton and the BoDeans provided crowd-rousing entertainment, I helped sell Homer Hankies and distribute wristbands and raffle prizes.

Towards the end of the evening, a man walked up to the booth and asked, “What’s the party for?”

Well… most of us have pep. Go Twins!

Lights... Camera...

2006-09-29T17:02:00.000-07:00

Q. What’s more fun to wear than a beautiful evening gown?

A. Dozens of beautiful evening gowns.

Today’s main event was an all-day photo shoot for Rodney Alfred, the gown line by Minneapolis’ own Rod Simonson. Words simply can’t describe the beauty of these pieces (or the photography, by Jana Noonan), so I’ll just wait until I have photos to post. Soon, hopefully.

Break a Leg

2006-09-25T23:34:00.000-07:00

Tonight marked the second annual Ameriprise Financial Ivey Awards – a celebration of Twin Cities theatre. Solera hosted a pre-show VIP reception. Attendees included Mayors R.T. Rybak of Minneapolis and Scott Coleman of St. Paul; representatives from KARE 11, WCCO, the Pioneer Press, Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine; and Sun Country’s CEO Shaun Nugent. Scott Mayer, one of my judges at Miss Twin Cities, coordinated the event – and did a fabulous job with it.

The show itself was spectacular. There are 64 participating theatre organizations in the Twin Cities metropolitan area (selling more seats per capita than any other American city besides New York), and each was represented. My favorite performance of the evening was the final number: a 26-member youth ensemble comprised of members of all the children’s theatre companies in the area. They performed “The New World” from Jason Robert Brown’s Songs for a New World with intense energy and excitement. As emcee Isabel Monk O'Connor said, “If these youth represent the future, then the future is bright indeed.”

Up North

2006-09-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

My older siblings live in southern California, where the sky is perpetually blue and temperatures rarely drop below 50. They can gloat all they want in mid-January, when we Minnesotans battle below-zero weather and windchill temperatures so low schools across the state are required to close.

But they don't have fall.

Not like this, at least...

Autumn's glory, displayed prominently in Duluth

As previously mentioned, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra performed their season-opening concert this weekend. The 75th-anniversary season, nonetheless! Copland's John Henry, Brahms' Double Concerto, and Symphony No. 13 ("The Organ Symphony") by Saint-Saens comprised the program.

Viola section of the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra

I was also able to spend some time with Angie McDermott, Miss Austin, who attends the University of Minnesota-Duluth. I've been to Duluth quite a few times throughout my life (my dad grew up there and my Grandpa and Uncle Dan still live there), but she showed me some places I'd never been - including a fabulous ice cream shop with a view of the lake. (And by "the lake", I mean "Lake Superior" - largest freshwater lake in the world!)

Self-portrait (or should I call it a selves-portrait?) with Angie

I'll be back in Duluth mid-October. Hopefully the hills will still (bill gill fill mill... sorry, couldn't resist!) be ablaze three weeks from now. I'll be sure to take plenty of photos so you Californians can experience autumn vicariously!

A Perfect Day

2006-09-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Stellar. Seriously.

This morning, I co-hosted the North Suburban Beat for CTV-15 with Carla Beaurline... fun AND educational. I minored in journalism, and it's definitely a potential career path for me - especially if I can combine it with music in some way. You can watch the video here. I really got into the swing of things about halfway through, when I remembered that it's not about me reading the words off the teleprompter (even though that's fun); it's about connecting with people and providing them with information they can use. Next time, I'll make sure to think about that from the beginning.

Next, I had a photo shoot with my eye surgeon, Dr. Marshall Everson of Edina Eye Physicians and Surgeons P.A. at Steve Silverman Imaging. [I'll post some proofs once I have them.] The entire staff at Edina Eye is remarkably kind & generous - special thanks to Lisa Sundberg (Marketing Director) and Christina Scherbing, who helped me select sunglasses to protect my new 20/15 vision! Purple frames with rose-colored lenses... delicious.

I then made the trek up to Duluth for rehearsal with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra. We rehearsed the Organ Symphony by Saint-Saens, which I first played as a member of the Minnesota Youth Symphonies back in the day. I love witnessing the progression from the first rehearsal to the concert, and this will be no exception.

Rally Capping

2006-09-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

Today, I performed the National Anthem on my viola at the Twins vs. A's game. Some highlights of the experience:
-Walking through the backstage tunnels, being introduced as "National Anthem"
-Jumbotron!
-Hearing the reverberations throughout the Dome as I played. Surround sound... times a million.
-Post-performance accolades: TC (the mascot) bowed down to me and gave me a big bear hug, and the players in the dugout applauded.
-Dollar dogs. Baseball just isn't the same without a hot dog :)
-Glo Westerdahl, Community Relations Coordinator for the Twins, was amazingly warm and hospitable. Thanks, Glo, for making this happen!

O'er the land of the free...

Yay Jumbotron!

With the audiovisual crew - their jerseys were awesome!

The day would have been even better if the Twins had won, and if Liriano's arm injury hadn't been exacerbated. But the glass remains half-full: Liriano is young, and with proper medical care should still have an excellent career (or so my experts tell me); and the Twins can still make the playoffs.

Here's to hope!

In the City of Angels

2006-09-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well, technically we were in Santa Monica.

We (the 52 Miss America 2007 contestants) lived on the 7th floor of the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Yes, it's as incredible as it looks. I roomed with Kristen Eddings, Miss Washington, who is wonderfully genuine, has a great sense of humor, and loves coffee as much as I do. The majority of our time was spent within our production groups. Emily (New Hampshire), Janie (Colorado), Blaire (Tennessee), Lizzie (North Carolina), Katherine (Idaho), Pili (Hawai'i), Melanie (Ohio) and I comprised Team Aqua.

The Miss America staff, in conjunction with PB&J productions and CMT, kept us remarkably busy with a variety of events, including a dinner party in Hollywood at the historic Roosevelt Hotel.

Our production crew was fabulous. They filmed over 1,000 hours of footage, and I'm positive it will boil down into a great 2-hour show ("Pageant School" - to be aired in January on CMT, MTV, and VH1). We also met executives and producers from CMT, who filmed our "Up Close & Personal" interviews. These will be available on cmt.com in December, and then you'll be able to meet all my new friends!

The Aqua Girls - in our hoodies by Ed Hardy

My fabulous roomie - Miss Washington, Kristen Eddings

Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood - I thought these were Dick Van Dyke's handprints, but they actually belonged to W.S. Van Dyke. Oops.

Doris Roberts was one of our celebrity guests at the Sunday night dinner party

Many thanks to the Miss America Organization, PB&J, and CMT for a great week! And to my new Miss America sisters - thank you for being friendly, genuine, and FUN - I can hardly wait to see you all again in January!

Look out, Las Vegas :)

The Great Minnesota Get-Together

2006-09-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

At the end of every summer, Minnesotans gather in capitol city St. Paul for 12 days of celebration. The State Fair showcases the finest of Minnesota's agriculture, art, and industry. I experienced three days at the fair this year:

Saturday, 9/2:

Performance and interview with Lee & BT on Cities97

I also won a dance contest - no joke!

Tuesday, 8/29:

An interview with Lois Mae on KOOL108

Moon & Staci from KS95 - this duo is FUN

Brian Gotter, weatherman extraordinaire, pulled me on WCCO-Channel 4's noon news

Sunday, 8/27:

Assisting a budding virtuoso at the Minnesota Music Educators Association booth

With MMEA volunteers Bill Webb and Sarah Chelgren

And, because no State Fair experience is truly complete without some small indulgences, I enjoyed a Pronto Pup, Honey-Sunflower Seed Ice Cream, and cheese curds. Deep-fried dairy products just have a way of bringing people together.

Miss Minnesota Travels

In with the new...

Prelim Night!

Let the crownings begin...

Football, Golf, Dance...

Day 3...

Day 2...

Pageant Week Kickoff - Bowl-a-thon!

So many questions...

South to North

The Ides of May

Prom Queen, Math Geek, and Politician...

The Beginning of the End

Event Alert - Young Audiences of MN

Oh, Say, Can You... (what noise do timberwolves make?)

A Long-Overdue Update

Reflections

Change of Plans

Day 5? Already?

Che Bella

we are dreamgirls...

we are rock stars.

Viva Las Vegas (original title, I know)

Alert the Media!

Merry Christmas!

ROCKY!

Come on, ring those bells...

Music is Instrumental in Sartell

Two Weeks in a Nutshell

Rise & Shine

In the News

Northern Symphony Orchestra

Minnesota Public Radio

from East to West

Blaine & Anoka

A Star Spangled Evening

Music is Instrumental in Winona

Minnesota Youth Symphonies

South Washington County

*click*

KTLK

Around Town

Happy Halloween!

Austin (but not the Texan variety)

Winona - a preview

And the winner is...

Breakfast of Champions

Before Judge and Jury

Dodge Center

A Girl's Best Friends

MNSOTA (and yes, I know how to spell)

Center Stage

Lakewood School

Happy Anniversary, Loffler!

Women in Leadership

A Day in Mankato

Nobody Knows Trees Better

We've Got Pep

Lights... Camera...

Break a Leg

Up North

A Perfect Day

Rally Capping

In the City of Angels

The Great Minnesota Get-Together

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