PHOTO OF THE DAY: PIANOS AT PLAY

As event brainchild Kris Carlson suggested at intermission, it was Carnegie Hall quality inside a different kind of hall — Pioneer Hall — on the campus of Freeman Academy Saturday night, April 27 as Mory Ortman and Jordan Ortman returned to their alma mater for The Ortmen Piano Duo. The concert that last just over 2 hours was held as a fundraiser for the Freeman Academy Cultivate 120 fundraising campaign and drew about 250 people, young and old, who enjoyed a concert of mostly classical works that featured the piano prowess of the two professional musicians both playing on grands. Mory, FA Class of 1989 and uncle to Jordan, lives and works in New York City while Jordan, Class of 2009, is in Denver.

The evening included a dessert reception and was made possible thanks to the financial contribution from Marlo and Mavis Ortman, parents to Mory; and Mark and Lori Ortman, parents to Jordan. Carlson also noted special thanks to Matt Wellert of Poppler’s Music in Sioux Falls for working with Freeman Academy on the rental of the second grand piano; the school owns the other.

Watch for more of this special event in the May 2 edition of The Courier.