Montana singer /songwriter Hana Pestle, 22, performs at the Beaver Dam in the Minot State University Student Center Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.
Pestle started performing at 14 and was discovered by writer and producer Michael "Fish" Herring and Evanescence co-founder Ben Moody. Both worked on Pestle's debut album with her.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Article Photos
Submitted Photo - - Montana singer/songwriter Hana Pestle will appear Tuesday at the Beaver Dam in the Student Center at Minot State University.
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Arts group names executive director
Arts North Dakota, a private, non-profit advocacy organization whose mission is simply to advance the arts in North Dakota, has announced that Josh Nichols has been appointed executive director of Arts North Dakota effective immediately.
Nichols was appointed interim executive director by Arts North Dakota Sept. 1. He has been actively working to promote Arts North Dakota across the state of North Dakota since his appointment.
"I am very excited about being appointed the executive director of Arts North Dakota," Nichols said. "I have learned much about the organization and the arts throughout North Dakota these past few months. I hope to continue to build momentum with this fast growing organization and build upon the firm foundation set by the board members. I am driven to see AND become a thriving force of the North Dakota arts community."
Nichols is the marketing specialist for the Strom Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. He graduated from Dickinson State University with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. During his time at Dickinson State University he was active in theater productions as an actor. He is the current president and founding member of SneakPique productions, a community theatre organization in Dickinson.
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'Prairie Love' set for online release
A new online-streaming platform is making it possible to watch an award-winning Sundance film by four Minot High graduates.
"Prairie Love," a dark comedy about the search for companionship in a desolate landscape, was written and directed by Dusty Bias and produced by Douglas Mueller and Holly Lynn Ellis. It stars Ellis, Garth Blomberg, also of Minot, and Chicago-based actor Jeremy Clark.
The film debuted at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and has played at festivals across the country, winning two Grand Jury Prizes and an Emerging Artist Award for director Bias. The film was shot entirely in North Dakota, with locations in Minot, Burlington, Lignite, Mohall and Glenburn, in January 2009.
Following its premiere at Sundance, the film was courted by several film distribution companies and the North American rights were ultimately secured by Film Movement of New York. Prairie Love is available for online streaming on (www.prescreen.com) through March 9.
Wider availability on Netflix, Hulu and other online outlets will come this summer. DVDs are currently available to pre-order on Amazon.com and set to ship in August.
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Group to sing to sweethearts
The Nodakords men's quartet Dakota Blend is available to serenade the special valentine in your life on Valentine's Day. For $40, you can secure a time and Minot location for the quartet to present your valentine with some sweet barbershop-styled romance. Call Gail at 624-5414 to set up a serenade or for more information.
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Gov. Art Link Fiddle festival planned in Bismarck
BISMARCK The Society for the Preservation of the Former Governors' Mansion will host the fourth annual Arthur A. Link Fiddle Festival at the Former Governors' Mansion Saturday.
Fiddle and violin students from across North Dakota are invited to participate in this event that will begin at noon and continue to 4 p.m.
This family-friendly festival is free and open to the public. Registration is not required to participate.
The Link Fiddle Festival will start with a few brief remarks from Grace Link and Bruce Hagen, society president. Performances by local elementary school orchestras will start immediately after the introductory remarks and will run between other performances during the afternoon. These students have been working on mastering pieces for several months, and this festival will give them an opportunity to perform them in front of an audience for the first time.
At 1 p.m., local musicians Kelly Kiemle on guitar and Aaron Hummert on violin, will give a brief performance of fiddle and old time music.
At 2 p.m. any student string musician throughout the region is welcome and invited to perform during the "open mic" section of the festival. The student can play any style or period of music. If a student is interested in performing during the informal open mic, please contact site supervisor Johnathan Campbell at 328-9528 or send e-mail to jcampbell@nd.gov so that time can be scheduled to allow everyone to participate.
The purpose of the Arthur A. Link Fiddle Festival is to promote Link's lifelong love of music and to provide an opportunity for music making in a fun and informal manner. Link was a musician and violin player and met his wife, Grace, at a dance while he was playing violin in the band.
The Mansion will be open for the public to tour and light refreshments will be available throughout the afternoon.