Symphony at the Cinema
St Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra
Kristin Tjornehoj Conductor
Colleen Raye Vocalist
Experience the glorious themes from the movies with The St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Colleen Raye. This 65-piece ensemble is under the direction of Kristin Tjornehoj. Themes are in a variety of styles from lush John Williams creations, timeless melodies from Henry Mancini and more. The show has classic and contemporary songs including When You Wish Upon A Star, 9 to 5, Moon River, Arthur’s Theme, Evergreen, I Just Called To Say I Love You, Skyfall from James Bond, The Greatest Showman music, The Way You Look Tonight, Over The Rainbow, Toy Story, Can’t Stop The Feelin’ and a host of others.
Colleen has performed across the country and abroad on mainstages and in Performing Art Centers, most often with shows from her own production company. Charismatic and engaging with a large dose of good humor, Colleen not only has a warm, rich alto voice but brings out the heart of each song she sings. A native of Wisconsin, Colleen entertains with a down to earth presence, capturing the audience the moment she steps on the stage. A music major in college, a musical theatre performer, classical, jazz, country, pop or swing singer, writer, producer, teacher and manager, Colleen is one of the most versatile artists you’ll meet.
Dr. Kristin Tjornehoj
Kristin Tjornehoj is the Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls where she conducts the UWRF Symphony Band, St. Croix Valley Community Band and the St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Tjornehoj founded the Three Rivers Concert Band, a group of adult musicians from Minnesota and Wisconsin, who collaborate and participate in international outreach tours. She co-founded the Composers Conference at UWRF that brings chamber music composers together for a 3-day workshop with concerts and seminars. Dr. Tjornehoj has taught courses in wind conducting, history and literature.
An active guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Tjornehoj has served in these capacities throughout the United States and Canada, and in China, The Czech Republic, England, France, Iceland, Scotland and Spain. She has led performance tours throughout the United States and abroad. Recent experiences include bi-annual World Music and Music Appreciation study tours in Scotland, England and France, plus the Three Rivers Concert tour of Spain in 2014. Dr. Tjornehoj has served on the Shell Lake Arts Center faculty for over 15 years where she is the director of the Concert Band Camp.
Dedicated to the creation of new compositions, her credits of commissioned works or premiers by prolific composers include Joel Blahnick, Todd Coleman, Michael Colgrass, Gregory Fritze, Lars Jansson, Daniel Kallman, Johan de Meij, Joanne Metcalf, Craig Naylor, David Revill, Michael J. Roy, Jared Spears, Jack Stamp, Michael Torke, Joseph Turrin, Charles Young and John Zdechlick.
A participating member in several professional scholarly and community organizations, she currently serves on boards/committees of ArtReach St. Croix, Phipps Center for the Arts, St. Croix Valley Community Foundation in addition to the Wisconsin and Minnesota Music Educators Conferences. She is also a member of the League of American Orchestras, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. Dr. Tjornehoj is active in church music as a saxophone player, pianist and choir director.
Colleen Raye
Colleen began winning vocal awards in classical music as a teenager in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. At age 15 she began performing professionally in musicals and nightclubs. Colleen majored in music with a vocal emphasis at University of WI River Falls where she sang opera and choral music, transfering to UW Green Bay to perform with the UWGB BigBand, The Lovell Ives Quintet and Peter Polzak Jazz Trio and Quartet. At 19 she won The Horace Heidt Jr. Talent Contest in Mn leading to several years touring across the country from Las Vegas to Atlantic City as a vocalist/entertainer in venues ranging from theaters and nightclubs to festivals and casinos as well as several TV and radio shows.. Colleen also has taught Vocal Master Classes as well as Career Seminars for young adults in Vocal Performance and Music Business.
An unusually versatile vocalist, Colleen performs pop, jazz, rock, show tunes, country and classical music. She has recorded several CDs and Albums over the years. She currently has 8 different CDs available.
Not only a vocalist, Colleen Raye creates theatrical shows she performs in. including; “The Girl Singers of The Hit Parade,” “A Musical Tribute to Patsy Cline,” “The Girl Singers Christmas Show," "Belting Babes of Broadway." “Sirens of The 60s,” “An Evening at The Cabaret” and “Sinatra and Company- Music From The Rat Pack Era.” Many of these productions have toured with Allied Concert Services and have been in several theatrical venues across the country.
Colleen continues to produce shows, freelance as a vocalist, teach vocal performance and write and record new music as well as perform. www.ColleenRaye.com
