The Feb. 8 choral program at Cromwell-Wright School treated an enthusiastic audience of grandparents, parents, siblings and community members to vocal and instrumental performances with 28 students taking on songs they chose and loved: some as solos, others as duets or combos.

Elliot Anderson played Chopin's Prelude Op. 28, No. 15 on the piano, a demanding piece, beautifully performed.

The program began with "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," a haunting composition by Gordon Lightfoot. The song honors the crew members who died when the ore freighter sank in Lake Superior during a storm on Nov. 10, 1975. It was sung by Anaka Burton, Catriona Cahoon, Aurora Gervais, Trinity King and Grace Swenson, with choral teacher MaryRose Varo, and her son, Tanner Varo, accompanying.

Several students performed solos, some I had never encountered before. Mya Einberger sang "Lemon Boy," Grace Swenson sang "Perfect," Trinity King sang "I Won't Give Up," Kaylee Smith performed "Like My Father," and Liam Parks chose "Lucid Dreams."

Duets were dished up as well. Miles Lund and Serena Zoeller paired up with "Riptide," and Ashlynn Thompson and Sabrina Zoeller sang "Die from a Broken Heart." "Let it Be Me," made famous by the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley, was delivered by Mya Einberger and Shannon Lind. Kieriahna Goodin and Haylee McKusky sang "July," the duo of Rose Dilly and Allison Gresczyk belted out "All of Me," Aurora Gervais and Tanner Varo teamed up with "Little Talks" and Gervais and Macie Lind sang "Gratitude." Avery Berman and Kim Bridge closed out the choral offerings with "You, Me and the Beat."

Audience members did their share of vocalizing, often rising in energetic applause that was well deserved. Cromwell-Wright families and friends are looking forward to more concerts at the school, including another recital at 6:30 p.m. March 28. The junior high/high school spring concert begins at

6 p.m. on May 18. There will also be a concert on Grandparents Day at 1 p.m. on May 19.

Columnist Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at University of Minnesota.One of the five owners of the Pine Knot News, she lives in Red Clover Township north of Cromwell with her husband, Rod Walli.