Best Local Female Musicians In Minnesota
March is Women's History Month and what better way to celebrate than support several Minnesota women prominent in music? Minnesota has always been a great place to nurture musicians. Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm in 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minn. The Andrews Sisters, LaVerne, Maxene and Patty, hailed from Minneapolis, Minn. They could be called one of the most successful female vocal groups in history, at the top of the charts from the 30s to the 50s. All-girl act Babes in Toyland was also from Minneapolis. They made waves nationally from 1987 to 2001. Here are five Minnesota women prominent in music and whose performances you can see this spring.
Lynda Bradley Vacco and the Bethel Chamber Orchestra
Bethel University
Benson Great Hall
3900 Bethel Drive
Arden Hills, MN 55112
(651) 638-6400
www.bethel.eduDate: March 22
Lynda Bradley Vacco and The Bethel Chamber Orchestra have been touring throughout Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan this month. They returned home for their ninth concert of the series. Conductor-in-Residence Bradley Vacco established her musical presence in Minnesota beyond conducting the Bethel University Orchestra. She is a frequent clinician and adjudicator throughout Minnesota. Aficionados may have seen her playing viola with VocalEssence, Minnesota Dance Theater, Minnesota Chorale, Minnesota Sinfonia or Minnesota Opera.
Lydia Hoglund of Bomba De Luz
Performing with Ecid, Sean Anonymous and Enemy Planes
Triple Rock Social Club
629 Cedar Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
(612) 333-7399
www.triplerocksocialclub.com
Date: March 23
Catch the youngest budding talent in the metro area. This high school senior is studying music at McNally-Smith in the post-secondary option program. She has already been featured in an NPR video in 2012 and appeared at the 7th Street Entry on Jan. 2, 2013. You can catch this young lady who sings with a presence years beyond her biological age. Rapper Hooks, DJ Dropkick and DJ Fool Proof are hosting this Triple Rock Social Club event.
Related: 2012 Sounded Good: The Best Breakout Music Acts In Minnesota
Mary Elias
Minnesota Music Café
501 Payne Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55130
(651) 776-4699
www.minnesotamusiccafe.comDate: March 18 and 25
After graduating from St. Paul Sibley High School and Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Mary Elias was an art teacher. Meanwhile, she learned to play guitar, flute and sax playing locally with a group called Cassidy opening for acts such as Bonnie Raitt and Billy Joel. She set off touring the college circuits for 20 years on both coasts but has returned to share her talent in art, singing and song writing. See her at open mic at Minnesota Music Cafe.
Roxxy Hall Band
Minnesota Music Café
501 Payne Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55130
(651) 776-4699
www.minnesotamusiccafe.com
Date: April 6
Spirited, fun-loving and all-women Roxxy Hall Band has been around since 1992. Roxxy Hall and her band have picked up nominations from Minnesota Music Academy for best songwriter, best new band and video production during that time. Come see solid music performers Roxxy Hall on bass and vocals, Jan Boyer on guitar and vocals, Jennifer Evans-Hall on keyboard and vocals, Lee O on drums and Leslee Mckee on lead and backup vocals and harmonica. They are playing at the Minnesota Music Cafe the first Saturday of every month in 2013.
Dr. Nancy Reimers Parker and The Bethel Women's Chorale 2013 Spring Tour
Bethel University
Benson Great Hall
3900 Bethel Drive
St. Paul, MN 55112
(651) 638-6400
www.bethel.eduDate: April 19
See The Bethel Women's Chorale under the direction of Nancy Reimers Parker on the group's 2013 spring tour beginning April 12 and culminating with the home concert at Benson Great Hall. Dr. Parker established a successful record of developing young musicians and now inspires others to do the same. She studied Music Education at Bethel University for her B. A. and Portland State University for her Master's. She "taught music and directed high school choral ensembles in Portland, Oregon for 10 years, bringing junior high and high school concert ensembles to award-winning levels of competence in sight singing and performance." In addition to directing the Bethel University Women's Chorale, Dr. Parker teaches at Concordia University St. Paul and instructs "Teaching Music in the K-8 Classroom" at St. Cloud State University. She holds a Ph.D. in music from the University of Minnesota.
Related: Best Places For Guitar Lessons
Robin Johnson was born in Annandale, Minn. and graduated from the University of Minnesota where he studied Political Science, Business and Industrial Relations. A writer for Examiner.com, he also consults with a variety of organizations and individuals helping them develop and grow. His work can be found at Examiner.com.
