NEWS RELEASE
Dec. 13, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 800-658-2539

ROCHESTER, Minn.— An annual Rochester holiday tradition will be shared with a regional television audience for the first time ever this year. KSMQ-TV, the PBS television station serving the Rochester region, has partnered with Rochester‟s Choral Arts Ensemble to televise the ensemble‟s 28th annual “Christmas at Assisi” performance, direct from Lourdes Chapel of Assisi Heights. With special guests Med City Brass and the Honors Concert Choir, viewers will be treated to composer John Rutter‟s magnificent Gloria as well as the premiere of this year‟s Lloyd Ketterling Christmas Carol, David Dickau‟s setting of Love Came Down at Christmas.
"We are thrilled that viewers throughout southern Minnesota and northern Iowa will be able to enjoy our „Christmas at Assisi‟ concert,” said Rick Kvam, Choral Arts Ensemble Founder and Director. “Through our partnership with KSMQ-TV, we can share the majestic space of Lourdes Chapel, as well as marvelous performances from our singers and instrumentalists, with a much wider audience.”

Hailed as "One of the Rochester area's cultural crown jewels" (Rochester Post-Bulletin), the 40-voices of the Choral Arts Ensemble have inspired audiences since 1985 with performances of marvelous choral repertoire. More information about the group can be found on its website www.choraleartsensemble.org.

Broadcast times on KSMQ-TV are as follows:
Thursday, Dec. 20 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 23 at 4:00 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 24 at 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 25 at 2:00 p.m.

Now in its 40th year of operation, KSMQ-TV broadcasts free over-the-air television on Channel 15.1, serving the communities of Austin, Rochester, Mankato, Owatonna, Albert Lea and Mason City, IA. The locally-owned, non-profit public television station also provides unique content on its three other broadcast channels: KSMQ Worldview; KSMQ Create; and the KSMQ Minnesota Channel, a cooperative venture with the five PBS television stations in Minnesota and Prairie Public Television, Fargo. Winner of Upper Midwest Regional Emmy Awards, KSMQ‟s locally-produced programs can be seen anytime on the station website www.ksmq.org and on the KSMQ YouTube Channel.
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Guitarist and composer Billy McLaughlin returns to the Paramount stage on December 13^th at 7:30pm, with his Simple Gifts Holiday Celebration, featuring music of the Season! Some of our favorites he will perform are: “O Holy Night”, “White Christmas” and “Silent Night”. Get your tickets by visiting our website or calling 1-866-859-7908. We are also offering tickets for his concert with the Austin Symphony Orchestra at the Paramount Theatre on February 24^th at 2pm, “Blue Jeans, Billy and Beethoven”. We are very fortunate to also offer a meet and greet with Billy at BOTH performances, exclusively with KSMQ tickets! IF you can’t attend the concerts, you can also get Billy’s CD’s and DVD’s!

 

Please call 1-888-859-7908 or click here to get your tickets and music NOW!

Election Information Coming Soon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 800-658-2539                                                     

GRAMMY-WINNING SONGWRITER TO GIVE BENEFIT CONCERT FOR KSMQ-TV

AUSTIN, Minn.-- Area residents will be treated to a free benefit concert Friday, Oct. 19 being staged to assist KSMQ-TV raise funds to rebuild its television tower destroyed during a storm last month. Grammy Award-winning artist Jon Vezner will perform his fresh original brand of country-folk music at the Paramount Theatre in Austin beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday Oct. 19. A free-will offering will be taken during the concert, with all money collected to be used to help meet the non-profit public broadcaster's $5,000 insurance deductible payment needed to rebuild its television tower. No tickets will be required for admittance, although it is asked that audience members also bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the local food shelf.

Jon Vezner is a Minnesota native and grew up in the Twin Cities area. While he has worked in Nashville for many years, he remains connected with many people in the Minnesota arts community.

"When Jon heard about our tower going down, he asked if there was anything he could do to help," said Eric Olson, KSMQ President and CEO. "That's how this benefit concert came to be. We are of course very thrilled that he took an interest in our situation.We hope that community residents will show their appreciation by coming out and enjoying a great night of music that is appropriate for all ages."

Olson first met Vezner 20 years ago when Olson was working as a reporter in Minneapolis for KARE-11 TV. While at KARE 11 Olson sought out Vezner in order to document his musical career, going so far as to follow along with Vezner to northern California where he was touring with other Nashville songwriters. The experience made a lasting impression on Olson and he has remained a fan of Vezner's ever since.

Jon Vezner was honored with a Grammy for "Best Country Song" and the Nashville Songwriters Association “Song of the Year” in 1990 for “Where’ve You Been,” the true story of Vezner’s grandparents, co-written with Don Henry, and recorded by Kathy Mattea. “Where’ve You Been” was also honored as “Song of the Year” by the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). Vezner’s catalogue of songs reads like a songbook itself, as his compositions have been interpreted and recorded by the greats in the business such as Martina McBride, Janis Ian, John Mellencamp, Nancy Griffith, Faith Hill, Clay Walker, Diamond Rio and Native American recording artist, Bill Miller. 

 What: Benefit Concert for KSMQ-TV

Who: Grammy Award winning songwriter Jon Vezner

Where: Paramount Theatre, Austin

When: Friday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m.