We Are Music of Hope



Gwen Borgen, Mary Jo Falk,Arlette Solom, Rhoda Huglen and Mary Dieter



Arlette Solom started playing the violin/fiddle at the age of 59. She has taken lessons from Dale Blatter of Bemidji, MN and later from Bob Wenzel of Warroad, MN.  Arlette also enjoys jam camp with Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association.  Initially, she started playing Bluegrass with her father and three sisters.  This eventually led to being asked to play violin with Music of Hope in 2009.  Arlette's first violin was made in Romania.  Her second violin, a used Jocabus Stainer model, was purchased at the Homestead Pickin' Palor in Richfield, Minnesota.

Kathy Herseth's earliest memories included listening to her paternal grandfather fiddle the long evenings away - often seeming to approach Nirvana.  He was the impetus in her decision to take violin lessons provided in the Bloomington, Minnesota school district where she spent her formative years.  Moving to Roseau during her high school years meant taking a hiatus in playing since there was no string program - that hiatus stretched out to over 40 years until Music of Hope was formed.  Imagine her unfathomable delight when her husband surprised her with a Bob Wenzel violin one Christmas! Since then, she has spent hours home alone tormenting her bulldog and tantilizing the cat, who somehow seems to speak the same language as the squeaky violin (he insists on sitting right on my lap during these sessions).



Mary Jo Falk started violin lessons in the fourth grade.  Her school district in International Falls, Minnesota had a wonderful string program.  From seventh grade on she was privileged to have a whole hour of strings every day!  Once a week the strings were joined by the best band instrumentalists for "full orchestra".  As an adult Mary Jo let her violin case gather dust for months (and sometimes years) at a time.  Mary Jo states, "I feel very blessed to have found this group of women who feel the same way I do about music."



Rhoda Huglen began taking cello lessons in Superior, Wisconsin, and was a member of the Central High School orchestra until the latter part of her junior year when her family moved to Valley City, North Dakota.  Because there was no string program in the schools there, she missed playing the cello but continued her music education; studying piano and organ at Valley City State College.  Ten years ago, after a 55+ year period without a cello, she was thrilled when her husband surprised her with one.  She considers taking lessons from Naomi Welsh in Grand Forks, North Dakota and playing in Music of Hope great blessings! Rhoda states, "What an inspiration and opportunity to meet with these musician friends who are dedicated to playing with a purpose!"

Rose Gracza - Roseau, MN

Gwen Borgen began playing the violin at age 54.  She has taken lessons from Donna Graff, Greenbush, MN; Cara Caravetta, Warroad, MN and Kim Caldedrone, Casa Grande, AZ.  Gwen states, "I find the violin challenging and frustrating.  I have learned so much from my music instructors and fellow Music of Hope musicians.  And I still have so much more to learn.  Playing with Music of Hope has been a great musical and educational venture.  The women who play with Music of Hope are terrific individuals and great friends."

Mary Dieter started playing the cello at age 53.  She takes lessons from Naomi Welsh, principal cellist in the Greater Grand Forks Symphony.  Mary states, "I should be better than I am but I am better than I was at 52!  The highlight of my summers is the week I get to spend in Ranier, Minnesota with the Rainy Lake Community Orchestra.  Students and advanced string musicians have been attending for well over 33 years."