Kathy Iverson & Daughters open Music in the Park

Kathy Iverson & Daughters will kick off the Music in the Park Series in Staples on Sunday, July 10, at 7 p.m. this is the first concert in the series which will run for six Sundays.

Expect to hear a combination of folk and gospel music from singer/songwriter Kathy Iverson, as well as tight family harmonies and stellar instrumental accompaniment. Joining Kathy on stage are her daughters Lynnea and Jenessa. In addition to offering backup vocals, Lynnea will be playing cello and drums; and Jenessa, acoustic bass and mandolin.

Hailing from Staples, the Iversons are well-known throughout the area for their musicianship. With a background in music education, Kathy teaches second grade at Staples Elementary School and is the director of Colla Voce Girls Choir. Her husband, Jeff, recently retired as the band director at Staples Motley High School; and all four of their daughters (Becki, Kirstin, Lynnea and Jenessa) have been involved in music. Lynnea is currently studying music education at Bemidji State University.

She’s excited to have this opportunity to showcase her original work, Kathy said, mentioning that she’s been writing music since she was a teenager. “I was 14 years old when I wrote one of my first songs, called, ‘I am Glad.’ I remember I was sitting under a palm tree.” She went on to note that her family was living in Bermuda at that time. “We moved around a lot when I was a kid,” Kathy said. “My dad was a Lutheran pastor. He served churches in New York, Maryland and Minnesota. I was 10 when we moved to Bermuda and we were there six years. That’s where my faith was formed.”

An introverted child, Kathy said her guitar was her best friend during those years and music offered a way for her to express her emotions. “It still does,” she said.

Since writing her first song, Kathy has penned dozens of tunes. “I write about things that inspire me...nature, people, God. Those are the things I will be sharing about at the Staples concert.”

A cancer survivor for the past 10 years, Kathy said she has been reminded of how precious life is and how important it is for her to share her gift of music with others. “I remember thinking one day that if I only had two months left to live, one of the first things I would do is to record these songs I’ve written.

Songs like, “Grandfather John,’ written about her grandfather who was a Swedish immigrant; and, “Life is a Gift,” which she wrote for her sister-in-law who had been diagnosed with cancer. Kathy performed the song at a Relay for Life event prior to her sister-in-law’s death at age 37, and shortly before she herself would discover she had breast cancer. The song has taken on new meaning for her over time. “Now, Jeff and I have a new grandbaby on the way and I am once again reminded that life is a gift.” Kathy is determined more than ever to record these songs for posterity. “A legacy of sorts,” she said.

Kathy’s flower gardens have provided her with a lot of musical inspiration. “Working in my gardens is therapy for me,” she said. “I also find a lot of spiritual parallels in gardening. Such as, ‘Don’t let the weeds in;’ and ‘It’s always a work in progress.’”

Chances are, some of the insights she has gleaned while tending to her vast array of plants will work their way into her music at the concert in Northern Pacific Park.

“My daughter Jenessa is also a songwriter and will be singing a song or two,” Kathy said. In addition, she mentioned that Jeff, her husband of 33 years, has promised to perform at least one song on his soprano saxophone.

“Three decades have gone by since I first thought about performing a concert like this,” Kathy said. “I’m really excited for this opportunity and I know we’re going to have a lot of fun.”

The Music in the Park Concerts are held in the Northern Pacific (NP) Park on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. and will run through August 14. For more information on the Music in the Park series as well as the regular concert series,  check out www.staplesmotleyarts.org.

Northern Pacific (NP) Park is located at 625 6th St. NE. Go north on 6th St. at the junction of Hwys 10 and 210 and go six blocks. In case of rain, the concerts will be moved to Faith Lutheran Church.

The Music in the Park Series is funded by the Staples Host Lions Club. The Series is organized by the Staples Motley Area Arts Council, with the assistance of the Staples Motley Public Schools and the City of Staples.