FRIENDS, FAMILY AND THE 4TH

Hello to all and I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Our busy season is from September to May so we use the off time to relax a bit as well as catch up on all the work necessary to ensure a smooth touring season. We did perform here in our own backyard with the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra as part of their sesquicentennial celebration on July 3rd. It was a beautiful night for an outdoor concert and the fireworks at the end were quite something. While performing in the Twin Cities area is not all that common for us, we would like to make it more so. Along that line, we will be at the Minnesota State Fair this August at the Leinie Band Shell on the 27th and 28th. We’ll be singing with an 8-piece band including the amazing Willis Delony at the keyboard. We have been working with Willis for many years now as conductor, pianist and arranger. His gifts are astounding and we are blessed to count him among our friends and colleagues and a member of the Five By Design family.

Speaking of family, I just returned from a trip up north to spend the 4th of July with my family. My brother, Kurt, and his wife, Lorie, who both sing in the group, drove me up and we had a wonderful get-together on Saturday at our uncle’s cabin. The weather was perfect, if a bit breezy and the food was fantastic. We had all the traditional staples of a 4th of July cookout from brats and hamburgers to potato salad and watermelon. I’m glad we have a little time before our next show to work off all the calories I put in over just a couple of days. All the kids were there except our sister, Sheryl, who was unable to make the trip up from Indiana. The whole brood doesn’t get a chance to be all together that often so it makes it extra special when it does happen. The older I get, the more I come to appreciate any time I am able to spend with friends and family. I enjoy singing in Five By Design and it is a terrific feeling to bring joy to others through what we do, but at the end of the day it really boils down to family for me. Every family has their struggles but it is important to remember that those problems are temporary and should never overshadow the love we feel for one another.

Excuse me a moment while I step down from my soapbox....that’s better. Now, I hope to see those of you who can make it to the State Fair as well as our other shows throughout the year and across the country. We want to hear from you, whether by e-mail or in person. So drop us a line or stop by after the show to say hello. We appreciate your support and will endeavor to bring our brand of entertainment to you for years to come.

Terrence Niska