Directing to succcess

Riverblenders flourish under director Wirtz

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NORTH MANKATO -- The Mankato Riverblenders Barbershop Chorus shouldn't be blamed if they're thanking their lucky star for a young man from New Ulm showing up at their rehearsal some 18 months ago and volunteering to direct them.

For the first time in about 16 years, the 41-member musical group is wearing the crown as Southwest Division, Society for the Preservation of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, champs, with Jim Wirtz, 28, as its director.

Wirtz, who now lives in North Mankato, was enrolled at Minnesota State University, Mankato and seeking a music degree with an emphasis in choral conducting. Having sung with the Riverblenders before, Wirtz stopped by their rehearsal at Loyola High School and learned their present director was leaving.

The son of Bob and Bettianne Wirtz of New Ulm, Jim Wirtz -- now a junior at MSU -- wasn't concerned about accepting the challenge.

"I thought it would be a good experience for me, and I was sure it would help out the guys," Wirtz explained. "Because I used to sing with them, they knew me, and I knew them."

Besides, accepting challenges has been a way of life for Wirtz, who was born without a right arm.

"Having only one arm doesn't affect directing; anybody can direct. Actually, you probably don't need any arms to direct. Directing is not a problem, it just comes with hard work and practice." Wirtz said.

The pleasure he finds in directing, particularly the Riverblenders Chorus, more than makes up for any challenges he might face.

"When I direct, it's an absolute joy because when they sing really well -- and they do it most of the time -- you have the best seat in the house. You see the guys, they're smiling, they're singing real well. The only thing I don't get to see is the crowd reaction until the end of the song."

Wirtz experienced an epiphany regarding choral conducting when he toured for about a year with Up With People.

"It was when I was in Up With People in 1997, touring with them, that I found out I wanted to go into music and choral directing," he explained. "I played trumpet in the stage band with the show. Because it's a Broadway-style musical, there wasn't any real choral stuff I could do. I always had that love so I finally found out what I wanted to do and knew exactly where to go for it."

At MSU, he has performed in concert choir, men's choir and the jazz singers since arriving as a freshman. He also enjoys playing jazz-style trumpet and played in the school's jazz band until this year.

The primary focus now for him is on the group's trip to Fargo, N.D., for the next higher level of competition, the Land O'Lakes District, Oct. 26. While the Southwest Division covers southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin, the Land O'Lakes Division covers all of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northern Michigan, North Dakota, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan provinces in Canada.

If the Riverblenders win there, they would qualify for the International Contest which will be held in Montreal in late June, 2003. The Riverblenders have only won the higher-level district contest once. That was in 1980 when they then advanced to the International Contest in Detroit, Mich., in 1981.

The immediate focus is on the group's annual Spring Show April 20 at Mankato East High School.

"This year's annual show is called Phantom of the Barbershop, kind of a farce off of Phantom of the Opera," he explained.

His short-term goals call for obtaining his bachelor's degree, then a master's in choral conducting. His long-term goal would be to get a doctorate.

"Doing the choral conducting, getting the doctorate, working at a university and either have an associate position or be head of choral activities someplace, that's all part of the long-term goal. Directing barbershop will always be a must," Wirtz said.

Barbershop song-styling always will be special to Wirtz, and he'll never be far from a choral group to direct.

"Yes, its the kind of music when you hit a chord just right, you happen to sell the song, it gives a feeling of real good joy. It's one of those feelings where the hair on your neck stands up, and you get goosebumps all over."