One group has stood the test of Time

This is the 11th in a series of articles commemorating the history and the 100th anniversary of the Glenwood Band Shell.   A special celebration will be presented on Wednesday,  July 9. 

By Bandshell

Anniversary organizers

There have been many musical groups that have come and gone throughout the history of Pope County. Township bands were prominent for many years, a few city bands and orchestras were to follow. The Cornet Band of the 1870’s got the area known statewide. The Glenwood Academy brought in outside talent and leadership. But as time went on, the local school systems replaced the many amateur adult ensembles and organizations. 

As the school districts joined forces in the 1990’s and the newly formed Minnewaska Area building was constructed, local city and county wide musical events have become a thing of the past. Their concerts and performances have remained the primary source of musical entertainment for the past 35 years. Recent efforts, the Thursday Evening ‘Music in the Park’ Series that began in 2016,  by the Glenwood Welcome Center have revived a tradition that existed for over a century. For many, many years, the Wednesday or Sunday concerts were faithfully presented and attended. Area festivals in each town have provided musical events as well.

But, one group has been a stalwart of musical presentations and for that we greatly thank them. Started as a Glenwood Area Chorus production in 1971, “The Messiah”. It featured a 70-member chorus and featured chorus members from Glenwood, Starbuck, Brooten, Farwell, Lowry, Sedan and Alexandria. It was directed by Harold Skillbred, who we might mention, A World War II naval veteran and following the War devoted 36 years of his life to musical education. 

The following year a concerted effort to form a group of interested individuals in the Glenwood area to become a county-wide organization for the purpose of staging musical events. Their hopes were to interest local civic clubs to serve as sponsors for their concerts and performances. An evening of entertainment was presented in March of 1972. Highlighted by Bob Bergman and a group of local talent, including Clem Stumpf, Rita Pederson, Sharon Strong, with accompaniment from Faith Thorfinnson. Lee Paulson directed the evening event. It was entitled- “Showstoppers”. And thus, a group of local singers, musicians, directors and support technicians began a journey that has been in existents for 54 years – and will again present a Waterama musical and also a winter stage comedy – the group ? The Minnewaska Showstoppers !   That summer in 1972 they also presented a one act musical- The ‘Lowland Sea’ at the Glenwood Cinema Arts Theatre. The male lead was Bob Bergman and female lead was Debbie Whittemore. The local presentation was a “musical treat” and the newly named group was on its way to of providing decades of some of the finest musical entertainment in out- state Minnesota. Individuals such as Bob and Sandy Bergman( sadly to say, 90 year old- Sandy passed away May 12th of this year), Irma and Dick Sivertson, Lee Paulson, and oh so many others have guided and performed for several years. Mark Halvorson and Curt Bredeson had joined in the early years of their careers and thus the group has had continuous leadership and success. As I said, there are hundreds of folks that could be noted, but these are an example of one of the finest musical organizations in rural Minnesota.

The Minnewaska Showstoppers…. South Pacific, Fiddler on The Roof, Paint Your Wagon, Damn Yankees, Kiss Me Kate, The Music Man, Anything Goes, Guys and Dolls….. need I say more ? Add in variety shows, winter dinner theatre and various other “spotlight” performances for area civic groups and holidays and yes, they are one ‘heckuva’ example of what dedication and a love for music can do !

And we are happy and proud to say that members of the present day “Showstoppers” will be part of our 100th year Celebration of the Glenwood City Park Bandshell on Wednesday July 9th. They will do a few of the songs from “Newsies”, this year’s Waterama production. Join us for noon, the afternoon and evening. We hope to see you there. 

Look for the Celebration’s program accompanying this story.