MERRY CHRISTMAS! Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops with The Nutcracker!

Polonaise, from "Christmas Eve" by Nikolai Rimsky Korsakov

I am so proud of my brothers Brett and Brayden, who play with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra!  On December 18, 2011, the GGFSO and Director Alexander Platt teamed up with the Grand Cities Children's Choir and the North Dakota Ballet Company to share the Christmas spirit with their annual Holiday Pops concert at the Chester Fritz Auditorium on the campus of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.  I am happy to share this gift of music with you to spread the Christmas joy!  Enjoy the videos from their concert.  Merry Christmas!

The Enchanted Lake by Anatoly Lyadov

Sleigh Ride (November) from "The Seasons" by Tchaikovsky

 

Troika (Sleigh Ride) from "Lt. Kije" by Prokofiev

 

Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson

 

All is Well by Michael W. Smith

 

Christmas Carol Sing-Along arramged by Finnegan

 

Let There Be Peace On Earth by Sy Miller

The Nutcracker, "The Magic Castle" and "Clara and the Prince" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Chocolate (Spanish Dance)" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Coffee (Arabian Dance)" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Tea (Chinese Dance)" and "Trepak (Russian Dance)" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Mirlitons" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Mother Gigogne and the Puppets" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Flowers" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Tarantella" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

The Nutcracker, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky

VIDEO: Meet a Future Member of the Speech Team!

Most of my friends know that I enjoy forensics.  Public Speaking.  The Speech Team.  I compete in Humorous Interpretation and Story Telling, and from time to time, Drama, Prose, Poetry, Original Oratory, Informative, and even Great Speeches!

This year, there will be five Drevlows competing on the Lincoln High School Speech Team-  me, Brett, Brayden, Brock, and Brielle.  We spend lots of time practicing our pieces together and working with our coaches and mentors.  Its lots of fun.

But...what many of you don't know...is that we have a feeder program at the Drevlow house!  We also work with our younger siblings to get them ready for the future!  Here is a little flavor of our future team member, our sister, Bralynne, who is currently in Kindergarten and very excited about Extemp. Reading and Prose!  Just to forewarn you Story Tellers out there-  she has several stories, too!  Enjoy!

VIDEO of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, performed with my brothers!

VIDEO of Christmas Canon (Canon in D) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

VIDEO of Faith Noel and Siberian Sleighride, by Trans-Siberian Orchestra!

Happy Birthday to Phil McKenzie!

Mr. McKenzie has been a great help for me as an aspiring musician, including helping me to play with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra at times.  His advice has always been helpful and has helped me to grow musically.  I found out that today was Mr. McKenzie's birthday and my brothers and I decided to arrange a special birthday musical treat!  We have arranged a version of Happy Tchaikovsky Birthday!  Enjoy!

An Interview with Robin Roberts, Good Morning America Co-Host

As an aspiring journalist, I look for every opportunity to interview news makers.  While at the 52nd Annual Girl Scout National Convention I had the opportunity to visit with Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts.  We discussed her books, her personal battle with cancer and how she overcame it.  She is truly a genuine person with a story we can all relate to.  Enjoy!

An Interview with Girl Scouts from around the World!

 The Girl Scout National Convention is a melting pot full of the flavors of the World.  The attendees represent Girl Scouts from around the globe and during this year's convention, I was able to interview many of them to find their stories about what Girl Scouts means to them. 

An Interview with Julie Marie Carrier, Miss Virginia USA 2002, Author, and Motivational Speaker

I found the opportunity to interview Julie Marie Carrier during the 52nd Annual Girl Scout National Convention.  She has quite an impressive resume.  She is an award winning national speaker and author, an Emmy-nominated television show host, Miss Virginia US 2002, a semi-finalist on Donald Trump and NBC's "The Apprentice," and a senior leadership consultant at the Pentagon.  Today we discussed the importance of CONFIDENCE and her new book, "Be-YOU-Tiful."

An interview with Monique Coleman, High School Musical star and web developer of GimmeMo.com

I interviewed Monique Coleman at the 52nd Annual Girl Scout National Convention in Houston, TX the week of November 8-13, 2011.  Ms. Coleman played "Taylor McKessie" in Disney's "High School Musical" series.  Since playing the role of an intelligent young female role model in High School Musical, Monique has gone on to start an on-line talk show called "GimmeMo."  The show is executive produced by Coleman and is dedicated to impowering today's youth by discussing current topics such as teen homelessness, obesity, body image, sex, drugs, and much more.  The goal is to creat an environment where teens can feel safe talking about real issues while inspiring them with resources and postive information.  Check it out!

An Interview with Joy Saxton, Producer, Director, and Actress

I met up with Joy Saxton at the Girl Scouts National Convention in Houston, TX the week of November 8-13, 2011.  Among other things, Joy operates a performing arts school, "Joy Kids Downtown."  We visited about how her involvement in acting has shaped her life. 

Here is a bit more about her:   Joy anchored a kids television show called Kids TV Express beginning at eight years old for over ten years. Joy's mother Gray Hawn, world re-nowned photographer, created and produced the show. The program was written, directed and filmed by kids for kids. The show won two national awards with ACTV and was aired Nationally, ran specials on the classroom channel, Channel 1, aired on PBS Austin and KVC-13 Austin. They did specials on Just Say No to Drugs Campaign, Aids Awareness, Sunshine Kids with Cancer, NASA space missions and more. Joy grew up in local community theater and toured with Peace Child in Russia at age fourteen.  At age seventeen, she started her own performing arts troop called A Little Laughter Productions and recruited forty young people to produce and perform in a play that toured nursing homes, children’s homes, homes for the mentally handicapped, and hospitals. She attended the O’Neill National Theater Institute, which worked with world-renowned theatrical directors. 

In her early twenties she started a program called J.O.Y. International, a non-profit organization, and developed and implemented an educational curriculum for elementary schools in Texas. The curriculum taught children to give back by doing penny drives through out the school to help kids in India and Mexico get school supplies. Joy produced a television pilot, called J.O.Y. Agents that addressed issues regarding children around the world. The TV shows received rave reviews, and celebrity child actors from the Disney Channel helped to promote the program.

Joy teaches at Page Parkes Modeling and Talent Agency, the largest agency in the Southwest.

She has served on several boards and raised over a million dollars for charities including an orphange in India and Africa, Dell Children's Hospital, United Way and J.O.Y. International.

An Interview with Eileen Bartholomew, Senior Director, X Prize Foundation

I interviewed X PRIZE Foundation's Senior Director, Eileen Bartholomew, during the 52nd Annual Girl Scout National Convention on November 10, 2011 in Houston, TX.  The X PRIZE Foundation is an  nonprofit organization working to bring about advancement for the benefit of humanity.  Doing this, they are inspiring the formation of new industries and the revitalization of markets that are currently stagnant due to existing failures or beliefs that success and growth are not possible. The Foundation addresses the world’s Grand Challenges by creating and managing large-scale, high-profile, incentivized prize competitions that stimulate investment in research and development worth far more than the prize itself. It motivates and inspires brilliant innovators from all disciplines to leverage their intellectual and financial capital.

The X PRIZE Foundation conducts competitions in four prize groups:  Education and Global Development, Energy and Environment, Life Sciences, and Exploration (Ocean and Deep Space).  Today the X PRIZE Foundation is widely recongnized as the leader in fostering innovation through incentivized competition.

Recently, a group of Girl Scouts from Ames, IA won an X PRIZE contest.  The group, known as "The Flying Monkeys" won their prize by obtaining a patent on a new type of prosthetic hand helping a three year old to write.

An Interview with Harlem Globetrotters TNT and Buckets

While I was at the Girl Scouts National Leadership Convention in Houston, TX, and had the opportunity to "score" an interview with two members of the legendary basketball team, The Harlem Globetrotters.  I met with "TNT" and Buckets" to discuss the impact that practice has on their game.  It was no surprise that they work hard to sharpen their skills.  They practice two hours before every game, which is no little task.  They play about 270 games per year!  Further, they urge all young people to believe in themselves.  Confidence.  They are an equal opportunity sports powerhouse, too, as TNT is the 9th woman to wear the team's trademark red, white, and blue uniform.  Although she is the first woman in 19 years to make the team, the first woman to ever play for a professional men's basketball team was also a globetrotter (Hall of Famer Lynette Woodard).  So to all the aspiring athletes out there-  take it from Buckets and TNT-  have confidence and work hard!  It reminds me of a quote from Hollywood mogul Samuel Goldwyn, "The harder I work, the luckier I get!"

An Interview with Christine Coburn Whack, Lyric Soprano

 While at the Girl Scout National Convention in Houston, TX, I was able to pursue my dream of being a journalist.  I am a special correspondent with Thief River Falls Radio News and had the opportunity to interview Lyric Soprano, Christine Coburn Whack.  Ms. Whack is an opera singer and has performed around the world.  She visited with me about the importance of hard work and practice.  Enjoy the interview!

An Interview with Soledad O'Brien, CNN News Correspondent

Many of you know that I am an aspiring journalist and have done some work with Thief River Falls Radio (KTRF AM 1230). Recently I met with one of my role models, Soledad O'Brien of CNN, to discuss her documentary work with "Black in America" and how her experiences have changed her life.  The interview was done at the 52nd Annual Girl Scout National Convention in Houston, TX, November 11, 2011. Watch the video above to listen to the interview. More interviews will be posted shortly, so keep following my blog!  A special thank you to Mrs. O'Brien for doing this interview with me!

An Interview with Anna Maria Chavez, CEO of Girl Scouts USA

Many of you know that I am an aspiring journalist and have done some work with Thief River Falls Radio (KTRF AM 1230).  I had the opportunity to put my journalistic skills to the test at the 52nd Annual Girl Scout National Convention in Houston, TX, November 10-13, 2011.  Watch the video above to listen to my interview with the new CEO of Girl Scouts USA, Anna Maria Chavez.  More interviews will be posted shortly, so keep following my blog!

TRF Radio News Story including interviews done at GSUSA convention, Houston, TX

Thief River Falls Radio News Director, Key Teeters, did a story on KTRF/ KKAQ/ KKDQ radio summarizing my inerviews with several speakers at the Girl Scout National Convention in Houston, TX last week.  Key's audio can be found on the KTRF web site here.  The story about my interviews begins a bit over a minute into the news report for the day. 

Be sure to come back over the next few days as I will be posting full audio clips of my eleven interviews.  I'll also provide text of the interviews plus pictures!

Thief River Falls Radio Special Correspondent to the Girl Scouts USA National Convention

I'll soon be posting audio from my interviews! 

From a news story at TRF Radio, by Key Teeters, News Director

We sent her off with a mike and a word of advice.

Brianna Drevlow, of Thief River Falls, is representing Minnesota, North and South Dakota as a delegate to the 2 thousand 11 National Session of the International Girl Scouts and – when we saw the list of celebrity speakers scheduled for the event – we decided to give her a mike and a title; Special Correspondent: Thief River Falls Radio News – as well as some advice; be persistent and ask the questions your listeners would ask.

Brianna says it is fun, but stressful – working with media reps or just aggressively approaching celebrity speakers – a number of Journalists among them – including; former CBS Anchor Katie Couric and ABC Good Morning America Co-Host, Robin Roberts.

In addition to her Thief River Falls Radio “side-line” Brianna – a Girl Scout Gold Award Winner – is also representing the Dakota Horizons Girl Scout Council at the 52nd Annual Convention in Houston, Texas.

Academic All American Honors!

(From a news story by Key Teeters Asp, Thief River Falls Radio)

It is the highest tribute awarded by the NFL –

We’re not talking football, but Forensics – as in Speech and Debate. The National Forensic League this week named a Thief River Falls Teenager as an Academic All American. The Honor went to three time state speaker Brianna Drevlow.

Jenny Corum Billman is director of Member Services for the NFL, she says in addition to her work with Minnesota State High School League Speech, Brianna must show academic achievement, with a GPA of 3.7 or higher and a score of 27 or higher on ACT College Entrance Exams, along with hundreds of NFL service points in public speaking.

Billman says Brianna, a senior on the Lincoln High Speech Team, has come a long way since her first 6th Grade Competitions, but adds the ability to speak in public is a life-long skill that anyone can achieve.

The Thief River Falls School District offers Competitive Public Speaking or Speech as a Minnesota State High School League Activity, with a Novice Team at Franklin Middle School and a Varsity Team at Lincoln, coached by Elise Row, Rob Burkel and Joe Drevlow.

Greater Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra!



Brett Drevlow (String Bass), Phil McKenzie (Executive Director, Greater Grand Forks
Symphony Orchestra), Brianna Drevlow (Cello), and Brayden Drevlow (Violin).
Mr. McKenzie visited the Drevlow home to congratulate them on their successful auditions to
join GGFSO.



Symphonic Siblings Brett, Brianna, and Brayden Drevlow of Thief RIver Falls join the Greater Grand Forks Symphony.

The Greater Grand Forks Symphony Association is pleased to announce the engagement of three young musicians from the Drevlow family of Thief River Falls who will perform as members of the core orchestra during the 2011-2012 season. The appointment comes following auditions on September 21 with Music Director Alexander Platt.

Congratulations go to Brett Drevlow, string bass, who won a position as a member of core orchestra and to his two siblings, Brianna and Brayden, who were engaged as extra musicians. Brianna, cello, and Brayden, violin, are playing with Brett for the first symphony concert of the year on Saturday night and will be on the "first call" list when the need arises for the remainder of the season.

"The commitment of the Symphony is to put excellence on stage," says Executive Director, Philip McKenzie. "These three individually proved that they could perform to that standard. The opportunity was available and Brett, Brianna, and Brayden earned their way into these competitive positions."

Music Director Alexander Platt was very pleased with their auditions. "When young musicians are ahead of game, they need opportunities to push their abilities. They will be challenged in the Symphony in ways quite different from they might normally see. When they play with the orchestra the expectations will be the same for them as for the rest of their peers. I'm confident that they will rise to the occasion."

The Drevlows will be joining three long time members of the orchestra, also from Thief River Falls: Derek Druse, viola, Kristin Buckley, principal flute, and Philip McKenzie, principal oboe.

The Symphony will perform on Saturday night, October 1 at the Empire Theater in Grand Forks, ND. "Music from the Forties" will include a salute to the Big Bands and Fanfare for the Common Man. More information and tickets at www.ggfso.org.

9/10/2011 Miss Moorhead and Miss Red River Valley Outstanding Teen Pageant, Moorhead, MN


September 10, 2011 was a busy day.  We started pageant preparations at 8 AM and worked all day; the pageant began at 6:30 pm.  Hats off to all the contestants for their hard work and efforts.  Congratulations to our new Royalty, Miss Red River Valley Outstanding Teen 2011 Ellie Bachmann and Miss Moorhead 2011 Alison Vail.  I wish each of you the absolute best this upcoming year as you take your platform to the region!  Good luck at Miss Minnesota/ Miss MNOT!  Take a moment to look through my photo scrapbook below!

Tiffany and I greeting guests along with the Miss Moorhead
committee and my sister Brielle Drevlow



Me and my sister Brielle





Me and Miss Moorhead 2010 Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson




Miss Marshall County 2011 Katie Peterson, myself, and Tiffany




Miss Frazee 2011 Katie Winter, me, and Tiffany




Miss Vergas 2011 Kenzi Kovar, me, Tiffany, and
Princess Altona 2011 Lauren Anderson




Miss Coon Rapids Outstanding Teen 2011 Emily Freeh and me




Miss Thief River Falls 2011 Michelle Stahlecker, me, and Tiffany




Me, Tiffany, and Miss Perham 2011 Paige Meyer




Me, Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis,
and Tiffany



Miss Frazee Outstanding Teen 2011 Hailey Jutz




Presenting the Flag for the Star-Spangled Banner, in memory
of those that lost their lives 9/11/2001




Opening Number with contestants Emily Peterson, Hanna Larson,

Alison Vail, Brittany Bachmann, Mia Pagnac, Ellie Bachmann,

Maggie Wothe, and Maren Anderson




One of many interviews with Emcee Ryan Wouters




Visiting Royalty Miss Frazee 2011 Katie Winter, Miss Frazee OT 2011
Hailey Jutz, Miss North Metro OT 2010 Bailey Wacholz, Miss Coon
Rapids OT 2010 Emily Freeh, Miss Northwest 2011 Siri Freeh, Miss
Marshall County 2011 Katie Peterson, Miss Thief River Falls 2011
Michelle Stahlecker, Miss Vergas 2011 Kenzie Kovar, Princess Altona
2011 Lauren Anderson, and guest





On stage question for Maren Anderson








On stage question for Mia Pagnac




On stage question for Maggie Wothe




On stage question for Ellie Bachmann




Performing my Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen Talent Winning
Gershwin Piano Prelude No. 1




Performing George Gershwin's Piano Prelude No. 1




With Miss RRVOT Pageant Director Melissa Bunkowske




Delivering my Farewell Address




Taking the stage for the last time as Miss Red River Valley OT




One last view of the contestants




Miss RRVOT Contestants Maren Anderson, Mia Pagnac, Maggie
Wothe, and Ellie Bachmann




Congratulations to Miss RRVOT 1st Runner Up!
Me, Maren Anderson, and Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis




Hugs for Ellie Bachmann as she is announced Miss RRVOT 2011




Ellie Bachmann's Crowning Moment
Mia Pagnac, Maggie Wothe, Me, Miss Red River Valley OT 2011
Ellie Bachmann, and Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis




Miss Moorhead 2010 Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson, me, Miss Red River
Valley OT 2011 Ellie Bachmann, and Miss Minnesota 2011
Natalie Davis




Miss Red River Valley Outstanding Teen 2011 Ellie Bachmann
taking her first walk on stage



Congratulations to Miss Moorhead 1st Runner Up!
Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis, Brittany Bachmann, and
Miss Moorhead 2010 Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson 



Alison Vail's Crowning Moment!
Miss Moorhead 2010 Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson, Miss Moorhead
2011 Allison Vail, Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis, and
1st Runner-up Brittany Bachmann



Congratulations to Miss Moorhead 2011 Alison Vail!
Me, Miss Moorhead 2010 Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson, Miss Moorhead
2011 Alison Vail, and Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis




Having a little fun!



What a crowd of Outstanding Teens!
Miss North Metro OT 2010 Bailey Wacholz, Me, Miss RRVOT 2011
Ellie Bachmann, Miss Frazee OT 2011 Hailey Jutz, and Miss Coon
Rapids OT 2011 Emily Freeh



Hugs for best friends!
Me and Miss Vergas 2011 Kenzi Kovar




Pageant Royalty
Miss Moorhead 2010 Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson, Miss Perham 2011
Paige Meyer, Miss Frazee 2011 Katie Winter, Miss Marshall County
2011 Katie Peterson, Miss Thief River Falls 2011 Michelle Stahlecker,
Miss North Metro OT 2010 Bailey Wacholz, Miss Moorhead 2011
Alison Vail, Miss Minnesota 2011 Natalie Davis, Miss RRVOT 2011
Ellie Bachmann, Me, Miss Frazee OT 2011 Hailey Jutz, Miss Vergas
2011 Kenzi Kovar, Princess Altona 2011 Lauren Anderson, and guest




Goofy Girl Pose!




Me and Miss RRVOT 2011 Ellie Bachmann




Congratulations to the Bachmann Family!





Past and Pressent Miss RRVOTs
Miss RRVOT 2011 Ellie Bachmann
Miss RRVOT 2010 Brianna Drevlow
Miss RRVOT 2009 Paige Meyer (Miss Perham 2011)