Cantata set for Dec. 14-15 in NY Mills, Perham

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

The 2024 Community Christmas Cantata has been rehearsing this year’s performance of ‘The Wonders of His Love,” by Randy Vader, Jay Rouse, and Camp Kirkland. The group will deliver two performances featuring traditional Christmas carols, contemporary Christian praise songs, and a compelling narration focusing on the Christmas story.

This year’s cantata is directed by Adam Tervola Hultberg and accompanied by Janell Brake, both of New York Mills. With over 50 singers from NY Mills, Perham, Ottertail, Dent, Vergas, Fergus Falls and Detroit Lakes, the chorus ranges from singers of every background and experience.

“There’s about 50-55 singers,” said director Adam Tervola Hultberg. “It’s a nice sounding group—pretty much a conglomeration of the area churches, typically the ones who have choirs. There are also individuals from other churches that have joined the group.”

This is Tervola Hultberg’s first year being involved with the annual cantata and was actually recruited in a whirlwind weekend after Sarah Carlstrom, who has directed the past several cantatas, needed to step away due to family commitments. While shopping in Brainerd, he got a call from local cantata singer, Gary Bach, asking if he would step in.

“Gary called me, kind of in a panic,” said Tervola Hultberg. “So they asked me, and I didn’t have it on my radar, but I thought, ‘well, we can do it on Sunday evenings,’ so the rehearsal scheduled worked, so I agreed to do it. It was one of those last minute things where they had a need and didn’t have anyone else to call.”

Getting right to work, Tervola Hultberg started his work conducting at their second scheduled rehearsal on Sunday, Oct. 27. This year’s cantata, titled “The Wonders of His Love,” was found in the Calvary Lutheran Church cantata library and will be presented in two performances this year.

“Janell Brakel and Lisa Peterson met at Calvary Lutheran to look at their library because they have a lot of cantatas,” said Tervola Hultberg. “They had a morning free that they went and compared notes from the past and what would work with most of the group on short notice. We decided to do one they’ve done in the past, knowing the Sarah had picked one and started working on it, so rather than taking her work, we decided on this one.

“I would say this is a gentle mix of contemporary Christian praise songs and traditional Christmas hymns in a little big of an eclectic version,” he continued. “It kind of winds through the themes of Advent and expecting the coming of the Christ child and reflecting on how His love changes our life.”

The singers have spent six weeks working through each piece of the Cantata and will be showcasing their final performances at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Perham and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 at Trinity Lutheran Church in NY Mills. A 15 minute prelude will take place prior to both performances with the St. Paul’s Bell Choir beginning the night in Perham and Tracy Bieger and Stacie Muench providing a flute and piano duet in NY Mills. Refreshments and fellowship will be available after both performances.

“I think it’s a new opportunity to make music with people in the that I haven’t necessarily crossed paths with,” said Tervola Hultberg. “A lot of the Perham faces are new to me, it’s been an enjoyable time. A lot of like-minded people that want to make music at the holidays, that’s been the best part of it. I think the final product will be something the community will be really able to latch onto and enjoy.”