Community Collaboration - The Life and Music of Theodora Cormontan

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$2,041

Project of

Southeastern Libraries Cooperating Legacy Grant SFY 2012 - SFY 2013

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Spring Grove Public Library

Recipient Type

Libraries

Status

Completed

Start Date

April 2013

End Date

April 2013

Activity Type

Education/Outreach/Engagement

Counties Affected

Houston

Project Overview

Performed by Bonnie and Michael Jorgensen of Gustavus Adolphus College, "The Life and Music of Theodora Cormontan" combined storytelling and musical elements to showcase the life of the Norwegian composer. Bonnie portrayed Cormontan, playing the piano pieces the composer wrote throughout her lifetime, while Michael told Cormontan's story and sang in Norwegian and English. After the loss of the family home in 1886, Cormontan immigrated to Minnesota with her father and three unmarried siblings. Over the next 30 years, she moved around Minnesota with her family teaching music lessons, conducting choirs, giving public performances and continuing to compose. Theodora passed away in 1922 while living in Aase Haugen Homes, a senior service community located in Decorah, Iowa.

Project Details

49 attended

Competitive Grant Making Body

Board Members and Qualifications

THE FOLLOWING ARE MEMBERS OF THE SELCO/SELS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE LOCALLY BY LEGALLY CONSTITUTED GOVERNING AUTHORITIES: LIBRARY BOARDS, CITY COUNCILS, AND/OR BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONS. Leo Aeikens - Albert Lea, Sally Baker - Austin, Martha Hauschildt - Brownsdale, Liz Wanschura - Caledonia, Carol Price - Cannon Falls, Denise Mullen - Chatfield, Nancy Smith - Dodge Center, Clint Patterson - Dodge County, Mary Jane Holland - Faribault, Judy Webster - Harmony, Kurt Carlson - Hokah, Marilyn Frauenkron Bayer - Houston, Lori Hopkins - Kasson, Rhana Olson - Kenyon, Robin Yaffe Tschumper - LaCrescent, Andru Peters - Lake City, Barb Payne - LeRoy, Robert Elliott - Lonsdale, Deanna Larson - Mabel, Robert Bruce - Northfield, Thomas Sherman - Olmsted County, John Pfeifer - Owatonna, Kim Aarsvold - Pine Island, Mary Schneider - Plainview, Charles Sparks - Preston, Sara Hoffman - Red Wing, Galen Malecha - Rice County, Diane Moench - Rochester, Valerie Hasleiet - Rushford, Jill Mueller - St Charles, Pat Falbo - Spring Grove, Carol Gross - Spring Valley, Janice Welch - Stewartville, Judith Schotzko - Wabasha, Dave Harms - Wabasha County, Judy Rusert - Winona County, Ann Goplen - Zumbrota

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

THE LEGACY REVIEW COMMITTEE SERVES AS AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF 11 MEMBERS REPRESENTING EACH COUNTY WITHIN THE SELCO/SELS REGION, WITH A MAJORITY BEING CURRENT OR RECENT MEMBERS OF THE SELCO/SELS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE REMAINING COMING FROM THE ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMUNITIES. Diane Moench - Olmsted County, Clint Patterson - Dodge County, Gretchen Schade - Fillmore County, Pat Mulso - Freeborn County, Don Regelman - Goodhue County, Drue Ferguson - Houston County, Scott Anderson - Mower County, Marcy Irby - Rice County, Sharon Stark - Steele County, Judith Schotzko - Wabasha County, Jill Mueller - Winona County

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Project Details: 2013 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota for 2011 Chapter 6, Article 4, Subdivision 4

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$2,041

Other Funds Leveraged

$1,179

Direct expenses

$3,220

Administration costs

$52

Number of full time equivalents funded

0.007

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Educate adults and children in the details of a rediscovered treasure of Minnesota history, the life and compositions of Theodora Cormontan; Norwegian immigrant.
Increased knowledge and interest in about music composition, lifestyle of the 1800s, and Norwegian immigrants to Minnesota over the past century.

Measurable Outcome(s)

There were families in attendance as well as couples and individuals; all ages were represented. Of the 27 surveys returned following the event, all stated that the program met or exceeded their expectations. All were positive and enthusiastic about more opportunities like this. When asked what they felt could be done to enhance their experience, the closest to a negative reply was "longer program- didn't want it to end!"
A quote from one of the librarians after the event was "The performers were excellent! I believe every one of the audience members went to the reception that followed to meet them and thank them personally."

Source of Additional Funds

Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, Southeastern Libraries Cooperating

Recipient Board Members

THE FOLLOWING ARE MEMBERS OF THE SELCO/SELS BOARD OF DIRECTORS. ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE LOCALLY BY LEGALLY CONSTITUTED GOVERNING AUTHORITIES: LIBRARY BOARDS, CITY COUNCILS, AND/OR BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONS.
Leo Aeikens - Albert Lea, Sally Baker - Austin, Martha Hauschildt - Brownsdale, Liz Wanschura - Caledonia, Carol Price - Cannon Falls, Denise Mullen - Chatfield, Nancy Smith - Dodge Center, Clint Patterson - Dodge County, Mary Jane Holland - Faribault, Judy Webster - Harmony, Kurt Carlson - Hokah, Marilyn Frauenkron Bayer - Houston, Lori Hopkins - Kasson, Rhana Olson - Kenyon, Robin Yaffe Tschumper - LaCrescent, Andru Peters - Lake City, Barb Payne - LeRoy, Robert Elliott - Lonsdale, Deanna Larson - Mabel, Robert Bruce - Northfield, Thomas Sherman - Olmsted County, John Pfeifer - Owatonna, Kim Aarsvold - Pine Island, Mary Schneider - Plainview, Charles Sparks - Preston, Sara Hoffman - Red Wing, Galen Malecha - Rice County, Diane Moench - Rochester, Valerie Hasleiet - Rushford, Jill Mueller - St Charles, Pat Falbo - Spring Grove, Carol Gross - Spring Valley, Janice Welch - Stewartville, Judith Schotzko - Wabasha, Dave Harms - Wabasha County, Judy Rusert - Winona County, Ann Goplen - Zumbrota