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Arz, 23, moved from Germany two and a half years ago to study music at Winona State University. After graduating in December, she’ll move back to Germany.
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Heike Arz, 23, will perform as a featured soloist at the Winona Oratorio Chorus concert Sunday at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Arz moved to Winona from Germany two and a half years ago to study music at Winona State University. After graduating in December, she’ll return home.
(Photo by Melissa Carlo/Winona Daily News) |
On Sunday, Arz will sing her penultimate concert with the Winona Oratorio Chorus at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Her last concert will be the Messiah Sing-in on Dec. 6 at WSU’s Somsen Auditorium.
Arz joined the Oratorio Chorus as soon as she came to Winona. Sunday’s concert, titled “Two Viennese Classical Masterworks,” will feature a soprano solo by Arz in “Mass in G Major” by Franz Schubert. The piece written by the German composer will be sung in Latin. Arz likes its beautiful passages, especially the soft emotional parts.
The other featured piece is “Lord Nelson Mass” by Josef Haydn, in which WSU professor Suzanne Rhodes Draayer will be the soprano soloist.
The longer Arz has sung with the chorus the more she has enjoyed it.
“It’s fun the more people you know,” Arz said.
Arz always wanted to come to the United States to work or study.
“It was more like a wish. You hear about the American Dream in school.”
She mainly listens to classical music but also likes bands such as Placebo, Coldplay, Nirvana and Incubus. Arz also plays guitar and piano, but her main focus is singing.
“I wanted to do something with singing as long as I can remember.”
When she gets back to Germany, she’ll pursue her masters degree in musicology. Ultimately, she would like to teach music at college while also performing.
Arz will miss the kindness of the people she has met in Winona. She couldn’t believe people actually bag your groceries or will show you where to find something in a store.
What she won’t miss is American food.
“I’m not big into sandwiches,” Arz said.
That has limited her restaurant options in Winona. Plus, she can’t find ingredients for favorite German dishes like Klöße, a mashed potato and bread crumb mixture eaten with meat.
“I’ve never seen so much pre-made stuff. It’s different.”
Arz has enjoyed her time in Winona but is looking forward to getting back to her friends and family in Germany.
“It’s enough,” Arz said. “It’ll be good to come back home.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Winona Oratorio Chorus presents “Two Viennese Classical Masterworks”
WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 360 Main St.
TICKETS: $12 in advance or $10 for students and senior citizens age 60 or older, $5 for children 12 and younger, available at both Midtown Foods locations, Hardt’s Music and from chorus members; tickets at the door are $15 or $12 for students and senior citizens or $6 for children 12 and younger.
