Marie Sorenson and Dr. Jennifer Larson

By Kristine Milbrandt

Wartburg College senior Marie Sorenson will be the featured young artist at Simon Estes’ “Roots and Wings” concert Sunday, Oct. 14, at the college.

The Wartburg concert, which will fund scholarships for Bremer County students, will be at 3 p.m. in Neumann Auditorium. Estes, a world-renowned bass baritone, will sing 10 solos, with additional performances from Sorenson, a vocal performance major from Cedar Rapids; the Wartburg Choir, and a Bremer County high school choir.

Estes plans to perform Roots and Wings concerts in each of Iowa’s 99 counties to benefit the Simon Estes Foundation, which creates scholarships for Iowa high school seniors. During the past two years, Estes, whose roots are in Centerville, has performed in 30 counties, raising $150,000.

An artist in residence and distinguished professor at Wartburg, Estes wants to provide selected young artists from Iowa colleges with an opportunity to gain performance experience at the concerts. He asked the Wartburg music faculty for a recommendation. Dr. Jennifer Larson, assistant professor of voice, picked Sorenson.

“We chose Marie because she’s a senior who has exhibited wonderful vocal promise, a beautiful natural voice, and a real sense of healthy production,” Larson said. “Marie is someone who doesn’t forget her roots. She’s not in this for the glory of her singing. She’s in this for blessing the lives of others and, to me, that’s really the reason to sing. She’s a beautiful singer and a beautiful person.”

Sorenson, the daughter of Eric and Roxann Sorenson, is a graduate of Xavier High School. She will perform “Es lebt’ eine Vilja” from “Die lustige Witwe” or “The Merry Widow” by Franz Lehár, and “Till There Was You” from “The Music Man” by Meredith Willson.

This is Sorenson’s second time performing at a Roots and Wings concert. She was chosen to sing in Chariton as a sophomore with a fellow Wartburg student.

“Having the chance to perform two years ago was an amazing opportunity and to be chosen again my senior year is such a great blessing,” Sorenson said. “I am so thankful that Professor Estes is providing young artists the opportunity to share our gifts with the community.”

Sorenson also sings with the Wartburg Choir and Infinity, an 11-person a cappella group that performs arrangements of popular music. She was previously active on campus with St. Elizabeth’s Chorale, opera workshop, and Hope Overflow, a service-focused worship band.

Beyond singing, Sorenson is a member of Student Senate, on the Dance Marathon executive team, Student Conduct Board and is involved with Service Trips. She is a residence hall resident assistant, a job coach for Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and a direct service provider for the Cedar Rapids-based Arc of East Central Iowa, which assists people with disabilities.

Larson has been Sorenson’s vocal professor since 2009.

“Dr. Larson has influenced not only my singing but my life in general,” Sorenson said. “I strive to be as humble, respectful, and dedicated as she is.” 

Tickets for the concert, sponsored by State Bank & Trust, are $17-25 and can be purchased online at www.wartburg.edu/artist or by calling 319 352-8691 or 800 772-2085 ext. 8691 between noon and 4 p.m.