Sacred Heart packs calendar with a week of events

With the week of entertainment Sacred Heart Music Center has planned, it should consider selling season passes. The eclectic slate starts Friday night with Jearlyn Steele performing songs from "A Prairie Home Companion," and telling stories about her times on Garrison Keillor's popular public radio show.

Sabrina Coleman Clark presents "Legacy of Hope: The Marian Anderson Story" on Sunday -- a multimedia tribute to the first black artist to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Wednesday, the Vienna Boys Choir returns for their first show in Duluth since 2004.

Jearlyn Steele

Last May, Steele was performing with "A Prairie Home Companion" in Baltimore, and she teamed up with Carol King for "Natural Woman."

"She gave me such an amazing compliment," Steele said. "She said: 'That's how that song is supposed to be sung instead of the way Aretha sang it.' I said: 'Either you're deaf or drunk.' I had a smile on my face for months."

Steele had a small role in the movie version of "Prairie Home Companion" starring Lily Tomlin and Lindsay Lohan. But Steele's keeping those stories in the vault for now.

"You get none of that," she said with a laugh. "You'll have to come see the show."

Steele also performs gospel music with her family in a group called the Steeles, which has performed at Carnegie Hall. She has sung on recordings by George Clinton and Prince and considers herself a soul musician -- "music that touches the soul."

Her show is part of Public Radio's Troubador Program, in which artists travel through the state performing.

Sabrina Coleman Clark

Six years ago, Clark was commissioned by the Baltimore Opera to tell the story of Marian Anderson, a contralto who was the first black artist to perform regularly at the Metropolitan Opera. At first it was an educational program, with slides, narration and music. It has evolved into a performance that the Duluth Festival Opera has brought to Sacred Heart Music Center.

"I enjoy language," Clark said. "Figuring out that people are a culmination of their experiences. The way we learn is by telling our stories, and I'm excited to do other people's stories."

Clark, who is based in Baltimore, said the show has a strong message:

"Motivations, inspiration, choices and limitations," she said. "Recognizing that you have so many opportunities and decisions and a matter of making the right choices. ... That's what I think Marian Anderson has done with her life."

Vienna Boys Choir

The tour of 24 boys, ages 10 to 14, returns for their first concert here since 2004, when they sold out Sacred Heart.

The elite Vienna Boys Choir, conducted by Andy Icochea, has existed for more than 500 years.

Dan Skorich, who saw the choir in 2004, said they performed religious songs and classic choral songs by famous composers.

"It was sweet," he said. "That space is geared for choral music. The sound was terrific. That type of music is beautiful in that setting."

Go see it

All performances at Sacred Heart Music Center, 201 W. Fourth St., Duluth.

* Jearlyn Steele, songs and stories from "A Prairie Home Companion"

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Tix: $15 in advance; $20 at the door

* Sabrina Clark Coleman, a tribute "Legacy of Hope: The Marian Anderson Story"

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Tix: $15 in advance; $20 at the door

* Vienna Boys Choir, 24 young singers performing traditional choral music

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Tix: $30 in advance; $35 at the door