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WELCOME TO THE TWIN CITIES OF St. Paul and Minneapolis are collectively known as the Twin Cities. They share a location, but each city has its own personality and style. St. Paul includes historic buildings, grand Victorian mansions, and the State Capitol. Minneapolis is made up of glass towers and trendy neighborhoods, the urban sculpture garden and modern art museums. This year’s conference will be held at Macalester College which is located in the heart of St. Paul on Summit Avenue, a boulevard of classic old homes. As you travel east from the campus you pass through a neighborhood of older and larger mansions including the James J. Hill house (a museum in the home of the famous railroad tycoon), and pass by the spectacular St. Paul Cathedral. Ahead, you see the Minnesota History Center where our banquet will be held. To your right and down the hill is downtown St. Paul, located along the banks of the Mississippi River. Macalester College was founded in 1874 by Rev. Dr. Edward Neill, who was the first superintendent of schools for the Territory and chancellor of the University of Minnesota. He also founded two St. Paul Presbyterian Churches. He was a secretary under Abraham Lincoln and on returning to Minnesota he founded the Baldwin School, which was later named Macalester in honor of Charles Macalester, a prominent philanthropist. It took a decade before the college enrolled its first class. To insure endowment, the Presbyterian Church adopted Macalester as a denominational institution. Dr. James Wallace was president from 1894 to 1906. His son, DeWitt Wallace, graduated in 1911, and went on to found The Readers Digest. He has been a major benefactor to the college. Janet Wallace Fine Arts Center is named after DeWitt Wallace’s mother. The college lies on 53 acres convenient to both cities. Macalester consistently ranks among the top liberal arts colleges in the number of National Merit Scholars enrolled. The student body contains representatives from nearly every state as well as 80 other countries. Among its graduates is Kofi Annan: the United Nations Secretary-General and 2001 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. To quote Kofi Annan, "Macalester's academic excellence is deeply rooted in a reverence and respect for other cultures. The focus which I found here has never failed me." Much has been added to this attractive campus in recent years. The Campus Center was completed a year ago and Kagin Commons, where the exhibits will be, is being completely remodeled as we prepare for the conference. The Fine Arts Center and the Chapel are also recent additions. For more information on Macalester College, go to www.macalester.edu.
We are delighted to be able to host the 35th Conference of the American Harp Society as we celebrate its 40th Anniversary. The conference will be held in conjunction with the Anne Adams Awards Auditions which will take place on Tuesday, June 18, 2002. The Anne Adams Award Winners will be introduced in a concert as the first event of the conference on Wednesday. Later in the day, special music will be provided by the Young Professional Winner/Concert Artist at the General Membership Meeting. You will not want to miss this exceptional young lady… Annabelle Taubl. There will be two other daytime concerts later in the week: a Chamber Music Concert including several works commissioned for harp and other instruments, and also a Jazz and Pop Concert. Not only will you hear wonderful music this week, but you will also be introduced to two of the Twin Cities’ finest concert halls.
A significant part of Macalester’s make-up today is its focus on internationalism. The opening concert is in keeping with this international theme… a recital presented by Marisela González of Venezuela(Principal Harpist of the Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela). Marisela will also hold a masterclass on Thursday. An application form for this masterclass is included in the registration packet. Workshops for the conference have been arranged to provide something for students, teachers, and professionals during each session. We will be treated to a glimpse of our group’s early history and also learn to understand our bodies at the harp and how to prevent injury. Young people will be turned loose on improv and stage presence; teachers will have a chance to take part in a teacher’s forum and a session on how people learn; and everyone will be entertained with an unforgettable wedding. The adult aficionados (non-professional harpists or adult students who play for enjoyment) will have several chances to play together in a stress-free forum. If you wish to take part in this, be sure to fill out the appropriate section in the conference registration form. To help celebrate the 40th Anniversary, there will be a replication of the very first conference’s opening concert on Thursday evening. The featured harpists, Pat and Beth Wooster, and Anne-Marguerite Michaud, will perform works by Salzedo and Grandjany. Choral music will be presented on Friday evening with Maija Niemisto (harp) joining the Northfield Youth Choir and Kathy Kienzle (harp) performing with the Dale Warland Singers. A performance by Lynne Aspnes (harp) and Paul Kantor, an outstanding violinist, will also be heard. The conference will conclude as we dine at the Minnesota History Center, home of the Minnesota Historical Society. Built in 1992, this building is a landmark between the State Capitol and the St. Paul Cathedral. Following the banquet, jazz harpist Christa Grix and her trio will entertain us with a closing concert. SPECIAL EVENTS Two special events have been scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The first is a trip to the Mall of America for an afternoon on your own… exploring what it is all about. People come from Japan on tour to see this "wonder". It is the largest fully-enclosed retail and family/entertainment complex in the U.S. and has more than 520 specialty stores. The mall is also a great place for young people to enjoy Camp Snoopy, the nation’s largest indoor theme park, and Underwater Adventures which was recently voted the “World’s Best Shark Encounter”. There are over 3000 living sea creatures in this aquarium. The second will be a 3-hour tour of the beautiful Twin Cities area. This tour includes both downtowns of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Experience the famous Nicollet Mall, skyway network of downtown Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The journey continues through the Kenwood residential area to see the television home of Mary Tyler Moore and around sparkling lakes and lagoons on the way to the legendary Minnehaha Falls. Next you will follow the Mississippi River past Fort Snelling. While in St. Paul, our guide will provide commentary on Rice Park, the Ordway Music Hall, the World Trade Center and Landmark Center. You’ll drive along stately Summit Avenue (the longest stretch of restored Victorian homes in the country!) to see the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald and mansions once owned by wealthy lumber and railroad barons. Also included in the tour is the University of Minnesota and St. Anthony Falls area – the birthplace of Minneapolis.
Please make your reservation for both of these Saturday afternoon events on the conference registration form. Past Conferences: |
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