Audience members listen to Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists perform at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead. Contributed photos/Britta The Photographer
Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists’ “I Call Your Name” concerts held on January 10 and 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Moorhead, set the standard for local live performance in 2026.
It was a show one audience member described on Facebook as “one of the most extraordinary art experiences of my life.”
Another fan simply said, “It was beautiful.”
We call it balm for the soul.
The Saturday and Sunday performances entertained, educated, soothed and inspired with a collaboration that included more than 60 singers, Third Avenue String Quartet — and an unforgettable solo by FMCA alto singer and Concordia College employee Kristen Hatfield.
Songs for ‘tenderness and remembrance’
Caroline Shaw’s “To the Hands” and Connor Koppin’s “I Call Your Name” are both scores rooted in contemporary classical and choral traditions, blending traditional vocal approaches with modern techniques to convey powerful humanitarian and emotional messages.
“These two scores that we sang allowed those in community with us to enjoy a moment of collective tenderness and remembrance,” said FMCA Artistic Director Michael Culloton.
It was different from typical choral performances. Unexpected. Prescient. And utterly moving.
“To the Hands forced us to confront the awful events taking place around the country, notably several hours away in the Twin Cities and now even in communities within the Red River Valley region, and ask questions about how we welcome people (or don’t), and how we can serve as a refuge for those needing shelter,” Culloton reflected in an email.
Members of Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists prepare to perform onstage to audiences. All FMCA singers are members of the Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo and surrounding communities.
Third Avenue Quartet
Collaborating with Third Avenue Quartet gave FMCA the chance to experiment with how string and percussion changes the choral experience—to audience benefit.
Reflecting on the memorable performances, FMCA tenor singer and board member Lucas Rutten said it’s thrilling to see the impact live music can have on audiences, and that’s what it’s all about.
“Having the strings and percussion expanding our sound made for a truly memorable set of concerts,” Rutten said. “And I’m thrilled that so many community members were able to experience it.”
Third Avenue String Quartet members are Jane Linde Capistran, Jennifer Tackling, Elise Buffat Nelson and Tim Nelson.
Kristen Hatfield, second row, fourth from right, performs with Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists. The Concordia College employee sang a technically challenging solo as part of Connor Koppin’s “I Call Your Name” score, which was performed at “To The Hands” on January 10 and 11 in Moorhead.
A solo to remember
Hatfield performed a goosebump-inducing solo during Connor Koppin’s score for “I Call Your Name.”
“It was a very difficult solo, “Culloton said, “And it was a wonderful reminder that beauty exists in the world right now.”
In all, FMCA met the community where they were and then helped us find a common ground through powerful reflection matched with the power of song.
“We were able to create a gathering where people breathe together, listen together, and feel together,” Culloton added. “There was a serendipitous confluence of events that brought the music to life in ways that were more meaningful than I could have imagined.”
Lyric excerpt from ‘Her beacon-hand beckons’ by Caroline Shaw
The third movement in Shaw’s “I Call Your Name” includes the following text, written by the composer as a response to the 1883 sonnet “The New Colossus,” by Emma Lazarus, which was mounted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in 1903.
Her beacon-hand beckons:
give
give to me
those yearning to breathe free
tempest-tossed they cannot see
what lies beyond the olive tree
whose branch was lost amid the pleas
for mercy, mercy
give
give to me
your tired fighters fleeing flying
from the
from the
from
let them
i will be your refuge
i will be your refuge
i will be
i will be
we will be
we will
Upcoming concerts
There’s plenty left of the FMCA season, including “A Singing Valentine,” on February 7 and “Rhythms of Life” April 11 and 12. Follow them on Facebook for updates and events.
About Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists
The Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists (FMCA) is a non-profit organization that brings choral music of all artistic styles and musical periods to the region. This auditioned ensemble represents a diverse range of community members of all ages, professions, and walks of life, and is dedicated to enriching and enhancing artistic communities within Minnesota and North Dakota. Learn more at fmchoralartists.org.
