By Sara Quam
The voice of Emily Lodine Overgaard has become a welcome presence at some local events, but the songs didn't last long enough for some of her fans. Now, her mezzo-soprano expressions are captured on CD for repeated listening.
Depending on the song, her warm voice can wrap around listeners like a comforting quilt, make hearts tight with grief or speed pulses with delight.
The concert Sunday will include a sampling of songs from the CD but will also include some Christmas favorites to meld with this weekend's Winterfest celebration.
"The concert will be very informal," Lodine said. "I'm probably going to talk a little between songs, and there's a reception and CD signing afterward. But people have to take the plastic off for us."
Area proceeds from sales go to the Council for Arts and Humanities in Rock County.
Lodine, rural Magnolia, is accompanied by Karen Carr on piano for both the CD and concert. They connected two years ago in Okaboji, Iowa, at the Lakes Art Center.
When CAHRC asked Lodine to record a CD, Carr became a natural choice as she lives in Milford, Iowa.
Like Lodine, Carr is known for her musical talents outside the region. As a Florida native, Carr was winning competitions at the age of 10 and later attended the University of Tampa on a full music scholarship.
She attended the French Piano Institute in Paris and has been a private instructor in Milford since moving there in 1969.
Carr said, "A lot of the CD is first takes." Re-recording too much of the material would have been difficult on Lodine's voice.
She gives most of the recognition for the quality of the CD to Lodine, but Lodine credits Carr as well.
Lodine came to Rock County after marrying Gary Overgaard in 1996, and her already growing career flourished.
As an Illinois native, she graduated from Indiana University with a degree in music theory. She keeps a busy schedule that has her performing in Chicago on a regular basis as well as St. Paul, Omaha, Jacksonville, Phoenix and Milwaukee.
When she was choosing the repertoire for the CD, Lodine was almost set on a selection of French operas.
She describes the final choices as a collection of "heartland favorites." Lodine said those made sense to sell locally because the content wouldnÕt be so foreign.
"We didn't want it sitting in a warehouse somewhere," Lodine said.
The content is varied on the CD, but Lodine and Carr said the hour of music is easy to listen to.
"It's pretty unified, and the sections break it up well," Lodine said.
The songs are grouped into similar styles on the hourlong CD. Some will be familiar such as "The LordÕs Prayer" and "Pineapple Rag," but the CD also includes music from the Ken Burns Civil War series and Norwegian favorites.
People may recognize the cover of the CD, a reproduction of "Indian Grass," by Luverne native photographer Jim Brandenburg.