7/2/2011 Independence Celebration Parade, Plummer, MN

On July 2, 2011, I participated in the Plummer Independence Celebration parade.  This event has been a staple for Plummer for as long as I can remember, and the people make it an amazing experience.  For those of you that have ever been to Plummer, you know that the community is only a few hundred strong.  However, for this parade, I think every person that has ever lived in, or had a connection to Plummer returns!  The streets are loaded with people along the entire route!  So much patriotism being shown!  It makes me proud to be an American!  I'd like to say a special thank you to Sherry Sorenson for helping arrange my parade schedule and to Brent Fuller for being so kind as to drive me in his Ford Mustang!

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6/14/2011 Elks Lodge #1308 Flag Day Celebration

Every year for the last 11 years my brothers and I have been able to perform the Flag Day ceremony for our local Elks Lodge.  It is a great honor to share the history of our flag and all the sacrifices that have brought it to its current state.  A special thank you to Steve Stone for delivering his patriotic message! God Bless America!

6/5/2011 Brianna L. Drevlow Piano Recital, Thief River Falls, MN

On Sunday, June 5, 2011 I held the second annual Brianna L. Drevlow Piano Recital for my students at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Ten of my fifteen students were able to perform and they have had great musical growth in the last year.  It was fun to see them share their talents with the audience and their families.  I know with practice and dedication each of these students will excel!

6/3/2011 Scott's Piano Stores Annual Piano Contest, Grand Forks, ND

Every summer our good friend, Steve Thomas, owner of Scott's Music Stores, Inc., holds a piano competition in Grand Forks, ND for the students of the region.  This year I competed in level 6 of Scott’s Music Store’s 24^th Annual Piano Competition held Friday, June 3, 2011, and Saturday, June 4, 2011, at Columbia Mall, Grand Forks, North Dakota.  My competition pieces included “Estampes, No. 1, Pagodes” by C. Debussy and “Sonata in B Minor” by Franz Liszt.  In this photo, I am pictured with two of my friends, LeeAnn Szeto, who placed second in level 6, and Taylor Blaine, who placed 3rd in Level 5.

All piano teachers in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota could enter only six piano students in this select piano competition.  Each contestant memorized two piano selections with contrasting styles representing two different periods in music history.

            Twenty piano teachers entered fifty-two piano students to participate in this piano competition.  There are six categories set up according to age:  Level 1 (ages 8 and under), Level 2 (ages 9-10), Level 3 (ages 11-12), Level 4 (ages 13-14), Level 5 (ages 15-16) and Level 6 (ages 17-18).

Piano Professor Eduardo Orozco, Minnesota State University- Moorhead, Moorhead, Minnesota, was the adjudicator for this piano competition.  The top three award-winning piano students for each level were invited to perform in the Honors Recital on Saturday, June 4, at 2:00 pm, at the First Presbyterian Church, Grand Forks, North Dakota.  I am appreciative to have had the opportunity to compete and perform in the Honors Recital. 

5/26/2011 A visit with Lorie Line and Esmerelda!

On May 26, 2011 Lorie Line performed a concert in Thief River Falls at the Lincoln High School Auditorium.  Needless to say, it was a sold out concert.  She played many of her hits with her band and after the concert took time to visit with area piano students including my family.  We visited with Tim and Lorie Line for about an hour after the show.  She is so supportive of our local musicians, sharing tips and techniques.  Thank you, Lorie!

5/10/2011 Lincoln High School Speech Team awards banquet

On May 10, 2011 the varsity speech team met at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls to celebrate a successful speech season.  Most of the team was there and we had a great time revelling our year.  We had four speakers make it to State this year, myself in Humorous Interp, my brother Brett in Original Oratory, Elle Gillespie in Dramatic Interp, and my brother Brock in Great Speeches.  We are already making plans for next season and 10 of us have made plans to attend the Gustavus Summer Speech Institute at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN!