Bows, Strings, & Contentment

10/15/2026

10/05/2026

ORCHESTRA CONCERT - NOV 8TH - The Grand - Northfield, MN

10/01/2026

This Friday, 4:30 to 6:30, check out the amazing sound of Spare Niche Jazz at Chapel Brewing . Enjoy a good b**r too. Featuring Carrie Jennings (vocals, clarinet), Laurie Melting Stegner (violin), Justin London (vocals, guitar) and Jeff Gurney (injured list but will be in audience!).

09/28/2026

This weekend four from our orchestra attended the music camp hosted by the amazing Artaria String Quartet in the charming town of Lanesboro. Beautiful music performances by Laurie Melting Stegner, Lisa Pondelick Olson, Jo Ann Hiebert, and Lisa Revier. Pie eating and bike riding by the spouses.

09/21/2026

Introducing our wonderful viola section (from top left to bottom right) ... Marcia Brady, Brittney Gerlach (principal), Lissa Evans, Amber Lynae, Julianne Morris, Cindy Brady, John Allerson and Krissy Hingst.

09/14/2026

Our Fall Concert Session started last week. Today we begin introductions starting with Lisa Pondelick Olson, our amazing concert master! In the tall picture Lisa is painting our stage extensions. In the lower picture Lisa stopped our rehearsal to look for the source of an annoying clicking sound coming from the pews. We have 43 string musicians on our roster ... stay tuned for more introductions.

08/19/2026

GET YOUR BOWS BOYS (AND GIRLS TOO!)
Bows, Strings, & Contentment (BSC) is recruiting for our Fall Concert. If interested, please reply via the contact information listed below at your earliest convenience, but no later than August 31st.

CONCERT SEASON:
Our Fall Concert session starts on September 8th and ends on November 8th. Our concert theme is "Americana" which will include many genres including classical, broadway, jazz, folk and more. Our concert will be on Sunday, November 8th, 6pm The Grand - Northfield, MN.

REHEARSALS:
Weekly rehearsals will be Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 First UCC of Northfield, MN. We understand absences will occur (family, health, work, trips, etc); we simply ask for advance notice when possible. If it helps, there is a play space for children where we rehearse.

A LITTLE ABOUT US:
BSC is a community orchestra founded in 2023. Our group's name reflects that we are an "all strings orchestra" and is also a play on Northfield's town motto "Cows, Colleges. and Contentment". Our mission is to be a fun and challenging ensemble that welcomes beginner to advanced adult string players. For beginners, this is a new experience for group playing. For more advanced, this is an accessible orchestra experience. We make this possible because of our in-house music arranger, rehearsal guidance, and the encouragement of sectionals. In the end, all the skill levels combined together make wonderful music!

CONTRIBUTIONS:
Contributions help cover the costs for: copyrights, printing, venue space and rental space. Please consider contributing $20 (twenty is plenty, ten is zen, but a few will do).

GOVERNANCE:
Feel free to contact via FB messenger any of our council members: Laura Reichardt Geissler (conductor), Laurie Melting Stegner (arranger), Lisa Pondelick Olson (concert master), Beth Billings Hagemeister (principal), or Peter Stegner (manager).

IN CLOSING:
We are a fun group of people, we work hard together and put on amazing concerts. Check out our FB page to see our concert videos.

Kind regards,

Peter Stegner
612-655-3202
[email protected]

08/15/2026

Bows, Strings, & Contentment is proud to promote The Bridge Chamber Music Festival which starts in Friday August 21 in Northfield! Here is the August concert lineup:

21- Music from Stringwood (free admission)
22- Sarah Reich Live! ($5 admission)
26- Laurie Melting Stegner and the Bows, Strings, and Contentment Quartet (free admission)
27- Young Artist Recital with Pianist Alex Woods (free admission)
27- If I Loved You, voice and piano, with Marita Stryker (voice), Wesley Dunnagan (voice), and Martha Fischer (piano) ($5 admission)
28- Sacred Echos: Songs of Healing and Hope, Artaria String Quartet with Aileen Razey (clarinet) ($5 admission)
Tickets $5 (cash or check only) at the door. College students, 17 years of age or younger are free.

08/05/2026

RECRUITING FOR OUR FALL CONCERT

Hello String Musicians,

We invite you to join the Bows, Strings, & Contentment orchestra for our Fall Concert, please read on.

CONCERT SEASON:
Our Fall Concert session starts on September 8th and ends on November 8th. Our concert theme is "Americana" which will include many genres including classical, broadway, jazz, folk and more. Our concert will be on Sunday, November 8th, 6pm The Grand - Northfield, MN.

REHEARSALS:
Weekly rehearsals will be Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 First UCC of Northfield, MN (aka UCC) on 300 Union St in downtown Northfield. We will rehearse from September 8th to November 3rd. We understand absences will occur (family, health, work, trips, etc); we simply ask for advance notice when possible. If it helps, there is a play space for children where we rehearse.

A LITTLE ABOUT US:
Bows, Strings, & Contentment (BSC) is a community orchestra founded in 2023. Our group's name reflects that we are an "all strings orchestra" and is also a play on Northfield's town motto "Cows, Colleges. and Contentment". Our mission is to be a fun and challenging ensemble that welcomes beginner to advanced adult string players. For beginners, this is a new experience for group playing. For more advanced, this is an accessible orchestra experience. We make this possible because of our in-house music arranger, rehearsal guidance, and the encouragement of sectionals. In the end, all the skill levels combined together make wonderful music!

CONTRIBUTIONS:
Contributions help cover the costs for: copyrights, printing, venue space and rental space. Please consider contributing $20 (twenty is plenty, ten is zen, but a few will do).

GOVERNANCE:
Feel free to contact any of our council members: Laura Reichardt Geissler (conductor), Laurie Melting Stegner (arranger), Lisa Pondelick Olson (concert master), Beth Billings Hagemeister (principal), or Peter Stegner (manager).

IN CLOSING:
We are a fun group of people, we work hard together and put on amazing concerts. If interested in joining, please reply via the contact information listed below at your earliest convenience, but no later than August 31st. Violinists, let me know the section(s) that interest you.

Kind regards,

Peter Stegner
612-655-3202
[email protected]