The NorrSound Tenors trio was first conceived in the mind of Dave Hoehl in 2014, then the music director at Wooddale Church. When I had attended Wooddale, I’d sung several times with the choir and toured Ukraine as a soloist with their Wooddale Chorale Tour in 2008.
When Dave reached out; wondering if I’d “put together a tenor trio and arrange a few Christmas pieces to perform”, little did he know that I’d actually been hoping to do that very thing. Little did I know that we’d still be singing as a trio today!
Our original trio consisted of Chanhassen favorite Aleks Knezevich (Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, and Lancelot in Camelot), MN Opera Resident Artist David Walton and myself.
Over a weekend we performed our original arrangements for an estimated 4000 people at the annual Christmas at Wooddale. A month later, we’d been contacted by the concert series manager from Chanhassen Dinner Theatres wondering if we’d like to featured on their concerts in December. Despite a change in personnel during that year, enter Dr. Aaron Humble on 3rd tenor, we sold out our debut two nights in swift fashion, even for mid-week days, and week-of-Christmas no less.
Our 2015 show consisted of wonderful variety and a surprise appearance of Olaf from Frozen singing “In Summer.” We were pleased that entire families were enjoying what we brought to the table. In a world where we are inundated with entertainment via our media it’s exciting to see quality vocal talent sung in person. Our ‘Three Tenors Christmas offered audience members the opportunity to hear some familiar tunes sung in exceptional ways with plenty of “spine tingling high notes.”
In 2017 we welcomed John deCausmeaker to the trio. John and I performed in several MN Opera productions when I’d recently moved back to MN from graduate school. He is currently the National Anthem singer for the Minnesota Wild. That year we enjoyed the IDS Center’s Holiday Under Glass Series in the Crystal Court. It was nice to bring a little holiday cheer to downtown Minneapolis!
In past years we’ve had other 3rd tenors join David and I including Dr. Sam Baker, and Brian Wallin.
Spring of 2024 found NorrSound Tenors singing as the surprise guest artists for the Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism Diamond Service Award Gala at the DoubleTree Hotel in Bloomington. We brought the entire band and enjoyed putting together a great show for an excited audience. John deCausmeaker jumped in to do this production and we had such a great time together that we convinced him to join us for A Three Tenors Christmas at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres again.
2025 is looking exciting with a spring/summer concert offering and A Three Tenors Christmas tour!!!
If you’re interested in bringing us to YOUR venue, please contact me!
Nathan Bird 