Village Arts will bring the sounds of the 1920s to Rugby High School’s Tillman Hovland Auditorium on April 3 at 4 p.m.

Bonnie Berginski, executive director at Village Arts, said the concert, titled “Music of the Twenties,” will feature compositions from George Gershwin, Fats Waller, and other Jazz Age favorites.

The Village Arts Symphony Orchestra and Choir will play many of the cheery 1920s selections. Others will come from Village Arts’ new ukulele group, directed by Christine Halvorson.

“We have a new conductor from Minot State University,” Berginski noted. “Anthony Schreier is his name. He’ll be directing the symphony orchestra and he’ll be playing with the strings section in other parts of the concert.

“Then, Andee Mattson will be directing the choir,” Berginski said.

“The choir is going to feature a special number arranged by David Halvorson to honor Tillman Hovland for his many years of service,” she added.

Berginski said Hovland has been with Village Arts for many years and has made many contributions to the local music scene.

When Hovland brought up a need for a performance space for music students to the Rugby Public School Board during his days as a teacher, Rugby High School raised funds and had an auditorium built. They named the auditorium for Hovland.

“He gave a lot of instrumental lessons,” Berginski said of Hovland. “He directed the

orchestra and he was a band instructor at Rugby High School for many years.”

Berginski added, “(Hovland) played with a brass group in Minot. He’s done a lot for music students in the area. He did private instruction and loaned out a lot of instruments over the years.

“He’s been a very valuable person to Village Arts and the community,” she said of Hovland.

“We’ll be honoring him with that piece composed about him and then there will be a reception afterwards in his honor,” she said of the concert.

“This is a concert we were going to do in 2020,” Berginski said. “It would have celebrated our 20th year of the symphony orchestra in Rugby. So, (Hovland) would have been directing, probably.”

She said many talented community members have made contributions to Village Arts music programs in the past.

“In the strings, we had Dennis Feichle, Deb Jenkins, and David Halvorson,” she said. “Now, we have Chris (Halvorson) in the strings and ukulele group.”

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted a 20-year tradition of concerts brought by the musicians of Village Arts to the community, postponing performances for two years in a row, according to Berginski.

“We haven’t had a concert since December of 2019, so we’re about due,” she said.

Tickets for the performance will be sold at the door, priced at $10 for adults and $5 for students.