Forest Lake High Schoolís annual Bethel Great Hall Concert is always a special event each spring. But this Friday nightís event will be even more so as the concert is being dedicated to Mark Hansen, a beloved art teacher at the school who died this past winter.

The Forest Lake High School Symphonic Winds and Concert Choir will present their 10th annual combined spring concert on the campus of Bethel College in Arden Hills at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 7. Anyone who has purchased tickets in advance is asked to ignore the misprint on the tickets indicating the concert begins at 8 p.m; the concert is at 7:30.

According to band director Rich Hahn and choral director Jim Lindstrom, Fridayís concert will honor the legacy and vision of Hansen, an arts advocate and art educator at Forest Lake High School for more than three decades.

Hansen taught at Forest Lake High School from 1963-1998.

The concert will also be an opportunity to assist one of the programs Hansen strongly supported following his retirement ó the Community Scholarship Foundation.

Along with his wife Gwen, Mark Hansen had been a volunteer for the Community Scholarship Foundation since 1998. The CSF is a non-profit organization which conducts an annual fund-raising drive to raise money for post-high school scholarships that go to Forest Lake High School graduates and residents of the school district.

The CSF board will be represented at the concert on Friday night to present information about the scholarship program and accept donations in honor of Mark Hansen.

A reception follows the concert in the loggia of Benson Hall.

Concert facts

Dan Cromwell, senior trombonist, will be a featured soloist with the Symphonic Winds Friday night.

Other concert highlights include a performance by a select elementary school choir featuring singers form Forest View and Columbus elementary schools. A seventh grade Boys Choir from Century Junior High School will also participate in the concert.

Joining singers from the Forest Lake schools will be members of the Faith Lutheran Adult Choir in Forest Lake.

Soloists from the Faith Choir that will be featured on the finale are Jolene Sunsten, Ken Lamppa, Linda Burk, Terry Burk and junior high vocal director Phillip Pappanno.

Ticket details

Tickets may be purchased from band and choir members.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors.

Tickets are also being sold at the Yellow Bus and The Music Connection in Forest Lake, and at the Activities Office at Forest Lake High School.

For more information call 651-982-8525. Early ticket purchase is recommended and concert goers are reminded the program begins at 7:30 p.m., not 8 p.m. as the tickets indicate.

Top of Page

Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605