Gorecki Alumni Center. Photo illustration by Chester Beltowski/The Dakota Student.

Alumni, faculty and community members enjoyed a candlelight dinner and private concert at the Gorecki Alumni Center on Friday night.

The “Winter Wunderland” dinner and concert hosted by the UND Alumni Association and Foundation and the UND Music Department, raised money for the UND choir trip to Cuba in May.

More than 100 people enjoyed catering by UND Dining Services.

The choir made use of the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design platinum certified Gorecki Alumni Center. They performed on the winding staircase, balcony, lobby and amongst the audience. The acoustics of the center enhanced the students voices.

“They have the perfect facility for a small, intimate type of event … they really set it up beautifully,” Coordinator for College Relations and Events Tanya Butler said.

The UND Concert Choir, The Varsity Gentlemen and The Vocal Hues Jazz Choir performed a variety of Christmas songs and non-holiday songs.

“There were also a lot of smaller groups singing, some of them from concert choir members, some of them not, which is actually awesome,” bass singer Ben Jager said. “Those who were not from Concert Choir had to work their butts off to do a really good job. I think we did a wonderful job.”

Community members agreed the performance was a success.

“It was perfect,” Grand Forks resident Linda Butler said. “I think there was a nice blend of the traditional, and I always look forward to the traditional Christmas music, but I like that they kind of tweaked it up a little bit. They had some comical songs in there, and then the one from Cuba, that was kind of interesting too, so that was kind of nice.”

The event provided a unique and intimate setting to support and highlight many of the things the university has to offer.

“It’s amazing,” Linda Butler said “There’s good talent here, it’s really fun. My only complaint is that it could have gone longer.”

Tanya Butler and Associate Director of Alumni Relations and Events Brooke Conlin said the event was magical and worthwhile.

“The idea is it’s an experience then,” said Tanya Butler. “You’ve made this $75 contribution to UND choirs, and then you get this great experience with the students who are performing. It’s very magical. The students fill the room — literally fill the room — and perform. It’s really cool.”

Fundraising

The two-day Winter Wunderland events are in support of the UND choirs after a bill to allocate $20,000 to the UND choirs for a trip to Cuba was vetoed by Student Government.

“Specifically this event tonight is to raise money for our trip … we’re going to Cuba in May, and the students are paying a big chunk of that, (but) we also are looking at some funding from Student Government.” Concert Choir Director Joshua Bronfman said. “So this event, the proceeds will go directly to the Cuba trip. In other years, it’ll go towards scholarships and supporting students in other general ways.”

While the fundraiser garners financial support for the choirs, it also brings attention to the music department, something Bronfman believes to be equally important as the money.

“Raising our visibility is a big deal,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of help in getting our message out there, showing people how great the Music department is at UND, and this is just another way that we can do that.”

Conlin said the music department, particularly the choirs, contains hidden talent.

“It absolutely is a magical atmosphere, it really gets you into the holiday spirit, and the talent of the students is unbelievable,” she said. “They’re not in the spotlight as much, they’re kind of a hidden talent, so to be showcased and to able to have them share their talent with people like this — it’s awesome.”

The event also put a spotlight on the Gorecki Alumni Center Conlin said.

“It’s also a chance to show the alumni center as a place where you can have events,” she said. “It is a place not only (where) our campus partners can have functions, but also for holiday parties, meetings, different conventions, things like that. We want as many people in here as possible, because it is a gateway to the university.”

President Robert Kelley, Dean of Arts and Sciences Debbie Storrs and many other UND faculty members were among those attending. Community members like Linda Butler were welcome as well.

“We came with eight of us,” she said. “It was great. This is the first time that we’ve been at the Gorecki. Last year we were at the Chester Fritz. It was nice to see the facility and kind of a really nice ambience, good dinner, so it was fun.”

Paula Kaledzi is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].