♪ MAARJA: WELCOME TO "ALMANAC NORTH," I'M MAARJA HEWITT.

BRETT: AND I'M BRETT SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, YOU'LL MEET THE PERSON WHO HELPS KEEP PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROPERTY VALUES ORGANIZED AND AVAILABLE.

MAARJA: WE'RE ALSO SITTING IN ON AN INTIMATE MUSICAL ACT AS WELL AS ATTENDING A NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY.

BRETT: THOSE STORIES AND MORE ARE ALL COMING UP BUT FIRST WE BEGIN THIS EVENING, IN 2024, BOTH THE HERMANTOWN POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS SAW INCREASED CALLS AND IMPROVED RESPONSE TIMES.

AT A RECENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY JIM CRACE HIGHLIGHTED THEIR PROGRESS.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRANSITIONED TO A HYBRID MODEL, ADDING FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTERS ALONGSIDE MORE THAN 20 PAID, ON-CALL STAFF.

THIS CHANGE HELPED REDUCE RESPONSE TIMES FROM OVER EIGHT MINUTES IN 2023 TO JUST UNDER SIX IN 2024.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO HANDLED NEARLY 9,500 CALLS, WITH THEIR RESPONSE TIMES IMPROVING TO AROUND FIVE AND A HALF MINUTES.

BOTH DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE QUICK, EFFECTIVE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

FULL REPORTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY’S WEBSITE.

MAARJA: THE WISCONSIN DNR INVITES THE PUBLIC TO CELEBRATE THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WISCONSIN STATE PARK SYSTEM IN 2025.

OVER THE YEARS, THE SYSTEM HAS GROWN, OFFERING DIVERSE OUTDOOR RECREATION WHILE PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S NATURAL RESOURCES.

GOVERNOR EVERS PROCLAIMED 2025 AS THE “STATE PARK SYSTEM 125TH ANNIVERSARY.” THE SYSTEM INCLUDES MORE THAN 120 PARKS, FORESTS, AND TRAILS, WITH NEW AMENITIES LIKE CAMPGROUNDS AND UNIVERSAL RECREATION FEATURES.

VISITORS CAN ENJOY EVENTS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, AND PURCHASE ANNIVERSARY MERCHANDISE.

FOR MORE DETAILS, VISIT THE DNR’S ANNIVERSARY WEBPAGE.

BRETT: NEXT, WE ARE SENDING YOU OVER TO DENNY'S DESK WITH DENNY ANDERSON.

DENNY?

DENNY: THANK YOU, BRETT.

I’M DENNIS ANDERSON, AND THIS IS DENNY’S DESK.

FOR YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT GLOBALIZATION IS THE FUTURE.

THE INTERNET AND INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE MADE IT EASIER THAN EVER TO BUY, SELL, AND CONNECT ACROSS BORDERS.

BUT RECENTLY, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING TO LOOK CLOSER TO HOME -- TO SHOP LOCAL, INVEST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND BUILD SOMETHING THAT LASTS.

HERE’S WHY.

PART OF THE ANSWER IS ECONOMIC.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THIS SHIFT HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN DULUTH.

THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN AND THE LINCOLN PARK CRAFT DISTRICT ISN'T JUST ABOUT NEW STOREFRONTS AND TRENDY RESTAURANTS, IT IS ABOUT A RENEWED BELIEF THAT OUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS ARE WORTH INVESTING IN.

WHEN PEOPLE CHOOSE TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES, IT'S ALSO ABOUT CONTROL.

IT'S ABOUT KEEPING DECISIONS, JOBS, AND OPPORTUNITIES HERE, INSTEAD OF LEAVING THEM UP TO CORPORATE BOARDROOMS HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S ALSO A CULTURAL SIDE TO LOCALISM.

FOR YEARS, CONVENIENCE WAS KING.

BUT PEOPLE ARE NOW REALIZING THAT CONVENIENCE COMES WITH A STEEPER PRICE: THE LOSS OF PERSONAL CONNECTION.

HERE'S SOMETHING MEANINGFUL ABOUT BUYING FROM A SHOP OWNER WHO LIVES IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR SITTING IN A CAFÉ WHERE THEY KNOW YOUR NAME.

NONE OF THIS MEANS WE SHOULD ISOLATE OURSELVES FROM THE BENEFITS OF A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ISN'T ABOUT TURNING AWAY FROM THE WORLD, IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE OUR OWN COMMUNITIES ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO STAND ON THEIR OWN.

AND MAYBE THAT'S THE BIGGEST LESSON IN ALL OF THIS.

THE WORLD MAY BE MORE CONNECTED THAN EVER, BUT SOMETIMES THE MOST IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS ARE THE ONES RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

AND SO THIS HAS BEEN DENNY'S DESK.

BACK TO YOU, BRETT.

BRETT: THANK YOU, DENNY.

ON THIS WEEK'S “MAKING IT UP NORTH”, OUR TEAM SAT IN WITH THEM COULEE BOYS, LIVE IN STUDIO A.

CHECK IT OUT.

♪ ♪ ♪ MAARJA: A TUNE FROM THEIR FORTHCOMING NEW ALBUM, UP CLOSE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT HERE.

THE VOICE YOU JUST HEARD WAS SORE AND STAFF.

DO YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE THE REST OF THE BAND?

>> YEAH, RIGHT BEHIND ME, I GUESS WE DO HAVE VIDEO FOR SOME OF THIS BUT WE HAVE SCOTT ON DRUMS, WE HAVE MANDOLIN, NEIL CROSSED JENNINGS ON BASE AND BOW JANKY ON THE BANJO.

>> I HAVE TO SAY THIS BAND HAS PROBABLY THE MOST WHOLESOME ORIGIN STORY OF ANY I HAVE HAD IN THE STUDIO.

YOU AND BOW MET WHEN YOU WERE CAMP COUNSELORS AT LUTHERAN BIBLE CAP, WHICH I ALSO WENT TO LUTHERAN BIBLE CAMP SO SHOUT OUT.

[LAUGHTER] TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

AND FOR YEARS YOU WORKED TOGETHER FOR A FEW YEARS, RIGHT?

>> YES, I DID FOUR SUMMERS, BEAU DID FIVE SUMMERS, WHEN WE FIRST MET AND WE WERE FRIENDS WITHIN HALF AN HOUR AND THEN WE STARTED PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER.

AND I IMMEDIATELY FELT THIS CONNECTION WITH HIM I NEVER FELT WITH MUSIC WITH ANYBODY AND LUCKILY WE HAD TO PLAY THREE TIMES AGAIN -- THREE TIMES A DAY EVERY DAY FOR A WHOLE SUMMER AND WE DID THAT FOR THREE OR FOUR SUMMERS AND I THINK THAT ALLOWED US TO CUT OUR TEETH WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT BEING IN FRONT OF AN ACTUAL CROWD, WE JUST HAD TO ENTERTAIN 13-YEAR-OLDS, WHICH IS HARD.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT KIND OF SONGS DID YOU PLAY TOGETHER WHEN YOU WERE AT BIBLE CAMP?

>> SONGS ABOUT JESUS.

[LAUGHTER] SONGS ABOUT THE BIBLE WAS REALLY DIFFICULT SO GETTING THEM INTERESTED WAS HOW WE GOT SO GOOD AT ENTERTAINING.

WE LEARNED HOW TO DO CALL AND RESPONSE, GETTING THE KIDS FIRED UP ABOUT A THING THAT MOST TEENAGERS FIND SUPER BORING.

WE WERE GOOD AT IT AND WE GOT PAID TO DO IT.

NOW WE KIND OF DO THE SAME THING, BUT WITH EVERYBODY TAP INTO YOUR EMOTIONS AND TEACH THEM ABOUT THAT.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I LOVE THAT ASPECT OF WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM THAT THAT YOU CARRY FORWARD TODAY.

WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED PLAYING TOGETHER, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT WAS KIND OF FOR FUN, JUST SOMETHING TO HANG OUT.

JENTS CAME ON VERY QUICKLY TO JOIN IN.

HOW DID IT BECOME MORE THAN THAT AND WHEN DID IT REALLY FEEL LIKE, I GUESS THIS IS WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING?

>> OH, MY GOSH.

WE WERE JUST PLAYING COVER -- COVERS IN THE CABINS AND I STARTED WRITING SOME SONGS.

I HAD BEEN WRITING SONGS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAD A BUDDY WHO WAS GRADUATING FROM RECORDING COLLEGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND HE HAD A SENIOR PROJECT HE HAD TO DO AND HE WAS LIKE, CAN I RECORD SOMETHING WITH YOU GUYS?

SO WE WENT TO HIS HOUSE AND RECORDED SEVEN SONGS IN LESS THAN 20 HOURS.

WE DID IT THROUGH THE NIGHT IN HIS LIVING ROOM WHERE IF WE GOT TOO LOUD, HIS DOGS WOULD BARK AND RUIN THE RECORDING.

BUT YEAH, AFTER WE DID THAT WE WERE LIKE, LET US PLAY SOME SHOWS AND IT WAS JUST REALLY FUN.

I GRADUATED COLLEGE THE NEXT YEAR, HAD A BIG OLD TO BREAK UP AND WROTE A BUNCH OF SONGS.

SO I NEEDED TO DO THAT AND THESE GUYS WERE DOWN FOR IT.

WE JUST STARTED PLAYING PLACES, BARS WE GREW UP GOING TO AND IT JUST STARTED SMALL AND IT WAS KIND OF A SNOWBALL EFFECT.

PEOPLE STARTED BRINGING THEIR FRIENDS AND THAT IS STILL KIND OF WHAT WE DO.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT OUR STRONG SUIT.

FOR WHAT WE DO, IT DOES NOT LEND ITSELF WELL TO THAT LANDSCAPE BUT PEOPLE ALWAYS TELL THEIR FRIENDS AFTER THEY SEE US AND THEY BRING THEM TO THE SHOWS AND YEAH, THAT TURNED TO THIS HOBBY INTO A CAREER FOR US.

♪ MAARJA: OUR GUEST THIS WEEK IS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROPERTY VALUATIONS, MARY GARNESS.

MARY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MARY: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT MY WORK.

MAARJA: LET’S START WITH WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU OVERSEE.

MARY: I DIRECT PUBLIC RECORDS AND PROPERTY EVALUATION.

THAT MEANS I DIRECT THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE AND RECORDER’S OFFICE.

THEY HAVE DISTINCT FUNCTIONS, BUT VERY RELATED IN THAT ON THE RECORDER SIDE WE RECORDED A VARIETY OF DOCUMENTS RELATED TO PROPERTY.

ON THE ASSESSOR’S SIDE, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR VALUATION FOR TAXATION PURPOSES.

I WOULD SAY THE MAJORITY OF MY WORK INVOLVES SUPPORTING THE STAFF.

THAT ARE IN THE DEPARTMENTS.

ENSURING THEY CAN DO THEIR BEST WORK, PROVIDING TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR THEM AND ALSO COMMUNICATING ABOUT OUR WORK AND OUR MESSAGE.

BRETT: WHAT DO RESIDENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR OFFICE AND HOW DO YOU IMPACT THEIR DAILY LIVES?

MARY: I WOULD SAY WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF EMPLOYEES THAT TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES VERY SERIOUSLY, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO LAND, WHICH CAN BE OFTEN CONSIDERED A WAY TO ACCUMULATE WEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE INFORMATION WE RECORD IN THE RECORDER’S OFFICE, WE NEED TO BE ACCURATE, VERY ACCURATE, AND RESPONSIVE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO THOSE RECORDS.

ON THE ASSESSMENT SIDE, AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE ACCURATE AND RESPONSIVE AND CONSISTENT IN HOW WE VALUE PROPERTIES AS WELL AS RESPOND TO OUR RESIDENTS.

AND BOTH OF THOSE ROLES, RECORDER AND ASSESSOR, HELP ESTABLISH A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR TAXATION WITHIN THE COUNTY, WHICH SOMETIMES CAN BE A TOUCHY SUBJECT, BUT TAXES SUPPORT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AND THE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

SO AGAIN, THE WORK WE DO IS SO IMPORTANT IN ESTABLISHING THAT FOUNDATION, BUILDING TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO OUR INFORMATION TO HELP INDIVIDUALS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

MAARJA: FOLKS AT HOME PROBABLY MOSTLY KNOW THE OFFICE FOR THE PIECE OF PAPER THEY GET IN THE MAIL TELLING THEM ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY VALUE.

HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DETERMINING THE VALUE OF PROPERTY?

WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

MARY: IT IS A YEAR-LONG PROCESS.

I GUESS I WOULD START BY SAYING OUR ASSESSMENT DATE IS JANUARY 2.

THAT IS THE DATE WE USE FOR OUR SPECIFIC VALUATION.

SO WHATEVER EXISTS ON THAT PROPERTY AS OF JANUARY 2 IS WHAT WE ARE AIMING TO VALUE.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT PHASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

OUR APPRAISAL STAFF GOES OUT INTO THE FIELD AND THEY VERIFY INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC PROPERTIES.

THEY VERIFY SKETCHES USING MOBILE ASSESSOR TOOLS.

THEY ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH RESIDENTS, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAVE, VERIFY THE INFORMATION WE HAVE WITHIN OUR RECORDS, TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION IS ACCURATE.

THAT REEVALUATION PROCESS ENTAILS REEVALUATING 1/5 OF THE PARCELS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND WE DO THAT IN A PRAGMATIC WAY.

1/5 PER YEAR.

SO THE FIELDWORK USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE SUMMER AND FALL AND THEN WE ALSO VERIFY NEW CONSTRUCTION OR MAINTENANCE.

WE UPDATE OUR RECORDS WITH ALL THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE IT IS ACCURATE IN OUR DATABASES.

AND WE ALSO VERIFY ALL SALES.

IT IS REQUIRED TO GET A CERTIFICATE OF REAL ESTATE VALUE FOR EACH SALE SO WE VERIFY THE VALUE OF EACH SALE, WE POPULATE THAT AND ANALYZE IT AND COME UP WITH WHAT IS CALLED A SALES RATIO.

OUR CURRENT ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE, COMPARING IT TO WHAT THE CURRENT SALES ARE IN THE MARKET, WE COME UP WITH A SALES RATIO.

THE CURRENT ESTIMATED MARKET VALUE FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR DIVIDED BY THE CURRENT RATE.

THEN THAT GIVES US A RATIO THAT ALLOWS US TO ADJUST UP TO WHAT THE MARKET WOULD BEAR BETWEEN WILLING BUYERS ON SAILORS.

-- BUYERS AND SELLERS.

THE STATE DETERMINES THAT RATIO RATE AND WE HAVE TO GET BETWEEN THAT AND 105%.

SO IF THE MARKET IS DICTATING TO US THAT SALES PRICES ARE ABOVE OUR ESTIMATED MARKET VALUES, WE ADJUST.

IT IS VERY STATISTICAL, ANALYTICAL PROCESS.

AND THEN AFTER ALL OF THAT WORK IS DONE, THE FIELDWORK, OUR ANALYSIS, THOSE ESTIMATED MARKET VALUATION NOTICES GO OUT IN THE SPRING AND RESIDENTS GET THOSE NOTICES, WHICH KIND OF SPELL OUT LOCAL BOARD OF APPEAL AND EQUALIZATION MEETINGS.

BRETT: THAT IS ALWAYS THE FUN PART.

THAT’S WHEN THE PHONE STARTS TO RING.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE WITH KEEPING AND MAINTAINING ALL THE PUBLIC RECORDS?

MARY: THE SHEER VOLUME OF RECORDS WE PROCESS.

AT THE RECORDER’S OFFICE, WE RECORD 150 DIFFERENT TYPES OF LEGAL DOCUMENTS, MOST OF WHICH ARE FOR REAL ESTATE OR REAL ESTATE RELATED LIKE PROPERTY OWNERSHIP, PROPERTY INTERESTS, ENCUMBRANCES.

THEN WE TAKE THOSE DOCUMENTS AND REPOPULATE OUR SYSTEM, WE INDEX LEGAL DESCRIPTIONS SO IT IS EASY TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE.

ALSO THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE RECORDED ARE SCANNED AND IMAGED AND ATTACHED FOR EASIER ACCESS IN THE FUTURE.

BRETT: WHICH IS NICE BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE ALL THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO THAT.

MAARJA: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY LARGE COUNTY.

WE ARE KIND FOLKS ACCESS RECORDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY -- WHERE CAN PEOPLE ACCESS RECORDS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY?

MARY: YOU CAN COME TO THE RECORDER’S OFFICE, WE HAVE ALL THE SYSTEM IN DULUTH, ASSESSOR’S OFFICE WE HAVE TWO OFFICES IN DULUTH, ONE IN VIRGINIA, EALING, COOK, SO THERE IS AN IN PERSON OPTION.

WE ALSO HAVE AN INQUIRY SYSTEM ON THE RECORDER SIDE THAT RESEARCHERS OR THE PUBLIC CAN SUBSCRIBE TO COME UP WHERE YOU CAN COME TO OUR OFFICES AND WE HAVE PUBLIC TERMINALS.

THERE IS ALSO A GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH GIVES A VISUAL AND ACCUMULATES ALL THE DATA INTO ONE SPOT SO PEOPLE CAN VIEW THEIR VALUE FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AS WELL AS LEGAL DESCRIPTION AND OTHER PROPERTY INFORMATION AND THAT COULD BE DONE IN A VISUAL MANNER, SO SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION.

MAARJA: I AM SURE TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED HOW RECORDKEEPING HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST DECADE.

MARY: ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DIGITIZE OUR RECORDS.

GOING BACK IN TIME, IT IS A PROCESS, BUT WE ARE GETTING BETTER AT IT AND WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR THOSE RESEARCHING, DOING GENEALOGY, LOOKING FOR BIRTH RECORDS AND DEATH RECORDS, AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON A NEW LAND RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO HELP ENHANCE SOME OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND ACCESS TO RECORDS.

MAARJA: MARY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

MARY: THANK YOU.

MAARJA: NOW, WE'RE HEADING UP TO THE IRON RANGE, WHERE THE MESABI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS PROVIDING SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS.

♪ ♪ >> I AM BENJAMIN, THE ARTISTIC CONDUCTOR OF THE MESABI CYNTHIA ORCHESTRA.

-- SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

WE ARE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT OUR TWO YOUNG ARTISTS TO COMPETITION WINNERS, VOCALISTS FROM UMD AND DILUTE THIS YEAR AND WE WILL ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE OPERA CARMEN.

THE REST OF THE PROGRAM IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE FILLED OUT WITH LITTLE BITS AND PIECES FROM OPERAS AS WELL.

OUR YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION IS ONE OF OUR BIG EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITE THINGS TO DO WITH THE SYMPHONY AND THIS IS OPEN TO TWO CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE, THE YOUNGER CATEGORY 18 AND YOUNGER, CURRENTLY HIGH SCHOOL AND YOUNGER OR HOMESCHOOLED AND THEN COLLEGE-AGE LEVEL UP TO AGE 25.

SO WE START THIS COMPETITION BY ANNOUNCING WE ARE HOLDING AUDITIONS AND PEOPLE SEND IN THEIR PRELIMINARY RECORDINGS OF THEIR PIECES OF THEIR PERFORMING AND THEN A PANEL OF US SIFT THROUGH AND WE INVITE THE BEST OF THE BEST TO COME FOR THE LIVE AUDITIONS, WHICH IS THE SECOND ROUND.

SO THE PERFORMERS COME AND PERFORM LIVE ON STAGE FOR US THE PIECES THAT THEY HOPE TO PERFORM WITH THE SYMPHONY EVENTUALLY.

>> MY NAME IS ELSA PEARSON, I’M A STUDENT AT UMD.

I AM THIS SEMESTER GRADUATING WITH A BA IN MUSIC WITH A CLASSICAL VOICE EMPHASIS AND BFA AND ACTING.

THE PROCESS OF THE COMPOSITION BEGAN BY ME SUBMITTING MY OPERA SONGS, OREOS, TO THE BOARD OF THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.

THEY THEN REVIEW THEM AND I MADE IT TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE COMPETITION, WHICH WAS AN INVITATION TO AUDITION IN PERSON .

THEN I WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE WINNERS AND I HAVE HAD A FEW REHEARSALS, ONE WITH BENJAMIN MILLS, THE DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR OF THE ORCHESTRA, AND ONCE WITH THE ORCHESTRA THEMSELVES.

AND NEXT UP IS ANOTHER REHEARSAL, AND THEN GO TIME.

>> I AM KEEGAN FOSTER, A SENIOR VOCAL PERFORMANCE MAJOR AT UMD.

A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS GO INTO PREPARING FOR THE COMPETITION.

WE FIRST SUBMITTED VIDEOS.

MY TEACHER AND I RECORDED TWO ARIAS THAT I SANG FOR THE AUDITION AND I SENT THOSE VIDEOS IN AND THEN THE AUDITION PANEL WATCH THEM AND GOT BACK TO ME AND SAID THEY WANTED ME TO COME SING FOR THEM IN PERSON.

SO THEN I WENT TO VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA AND I SANG FOR THE CONDUCTOR, BENJAMIN WILLIS, AND I FOUND OUT A FEW DAYS LATER THAT I WON.

>> THE SONGS ARE -- THE SINGERS ARE SINGING TWO SONGS EACH, ALL FROM OPERAS.

THE FIRST SINGER, KEEGAN FOSTER, IS SINGING TWO SONGS BY THE COMPOSER PUCCINI.

ONE IS VERY FAMOUS, THESE ARE ALL IN ITALIAN AND FRENCH, WHICH IS SUPER FAMOUS, PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE IT IMMEDIATELY.

THE SECOND SONG SHE IS SINGING IS FAMOUS AS WELL FROM PUCCINI’S OPERA, LA BOHÈME.

IT IS VERY FAMOUS.

MAYBE NOT QUITE AS FAMOUS AS HER FIRST ARIA BUT I THINK PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY ALSO RECOGNIZE IT, IT HAS BEEN USED A LOT IN POP CULTURE.

OUR OTHER SINGER, ELSA PEARSON, IS SINGING AND OPERA FROM HIS USUAL MESS IN A -- JULES MASINE.

AND THEN SHE IS SINGING A SECOND SONG FROM MONSTER -- FROM MOZART’S OPERA.

THEY BOTH COMMAND THE PIECES THEY SAYING.

AND OPERA, ESPECIALLY THE VOCAL PIECES THEY ARE SINGING, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO ENTER THE CHARACTER OF THE MUSIC THEY ARE SINGING.

IT IS BEING SUNG BY SOMEONE IN THE OPERA AND THEY NEED TO PORTRAY THAT FEELING OF EMOTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THAT INSTANT.

THEY WERE HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE THAT PERFORMS, EVEN ON DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS THIS YEAR.

IN ENCAPSULATING MUSIC AND WHAT THEY WANTED TO PORTRAY AT THAT TIME.

SO THE WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION DO GET A DECENT MONETARY AWARD, WHICH IS A NICE FEATHER IN THE CAP.

A LOT OF OUR COMPETITION WINNERS GO OFF TO GRADUATE SCHOOL OR CAREERS IN MUSIC SO THIS IS A REAL RESUME BUILDER, FOR SURE, TO SING WITH THE FULL ORCHESTRA.

IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO, THEY ARE OFTEN STUCK IN THE PRACTICE ROOM SINGING WITH THE PIANO OR EVEN ON JURIES OR FINALS, THEY SING WITH THE PIANO, THEY DO NOT GET A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO SING WITH THE ORCHESTRA OR PERFORM AN INSTRUMENT WITH THE ORCHESTRA UPFRONT SO IT IS A RESUME BUILDER, AND KUDOS TO THEM THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO PERFORM WITH AN ORCHESTRA AND IT JUST GIVES THEM MORE EXPERIENCE AND HELPS CUT THE NERVES DOWN LATER FOUR TIMES IN FRONT OF AN ORCHESTRA.

IT CAN BE NERVE-RACKING AT UPFRONT.

SO IT IS NICE TO HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE BUILT UP SO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO PERFORM IN FRONT OF AN ORCHESTRA.

BRETT: I WISH I WAS MORE MUSICALLY INCLINED.

MAARJA: CAN YOU DO ANY?

BRETT: I CAN SING.

IN MY CAR.

THAT’S ABOUT IT.

MAARJA: [LAUGHTER] NOW I WANT A SNEAK PEAK.

BRETT: BEFORE WE GO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU MIGHT BE UP TO THIS WEEKEND.

THE JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON OPENING CEREMONY IS THIS SATURDAY.

LOCATED OUTDOORS AT THE BUFFALO HOUSE RESTAURANT, VET SAFETY TEAMS WILL BE CHECKING ON EACH DOG AND PAW BEFORE THE RACE KICKS OFF SUNDAY MORNING.

THE EVENT IS FREE TO ATTEND, AND THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME TO GET UP CLOSE TO MEET THE TEAMS AND TALK WITH THE MUSHERS.

RACE ORGANIZERS ASK ATTENDEES TO GIVE THE VET TECHS PLENTY OF SPACE WHILE THEY DO THEIR IMPORTANT WORK, AS THIS EVENT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE RACE FOR SAFETY AND FOR THE TEAMS.

THERE WILL BE AN INDIGENOUS BREAKFAST AND DESSERT OFFERINGS TO CELEBRATE THE RACE'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY, AS WELL AS MERCH AND RAFFLES.

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

MAARJA: AND FOR THOSE MORE INCLINED TOWARDS INDOOR ACTIVITIES, THE JOHN BEARGREASE CUTEST PUPPY CONTEST IS BACK AT THE FITGER'S BUILDING.

UP TO 40 PUPPIES AGED 4 TO 9 MONTHS WILL BE GATHERED TOGETHER WHILE ONLOOKERS GET TO VOTE ON WHO THEY THINK IS THE CUTEST.

THE CONTEST IS A FREE FAMILY EVENT WITH MERCH AND RAFFLE TICKETS AVAILABLE AS WELL.

PUPPY CHECK-IN IS AT 10:00 WITH A.M.

VIEWING AND VOTING OPEN AT 11:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1.

BRETT: THAT IS IT FOR THIS WEEK’S SHOW.

GO OUT AND ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND.

I AM BRETT SCOTT.

MAARJA: AND I'M MAARJA HEWITT .

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪