One Nation, Under God

Malta native kicks of NAN concert series

Get ready for Malta to be entertained!

Kristen (Engebretson) Estelle and her band “The Heartstrings” bring their eclectic and energetic music to the Malta High School Auditorium on Monday, October 1, at 7 p.m., as the opening act of this year’s North Eastern Arts Network concert series.

Estelle, a 2006 Malta High School graduate, and daughter of Jeanne and Erik Engebretson, told the PCN she was thrilled to be able to perform in her hometown.

“I feel so incredibly grateful and fortunate that I get to bring my music back to my hometown and the community that helped raise me,” Estelle said.

Estelle was originally a classically trained clarinetist, hailing from Malta’s prairies where she performed in the middle school and high school developing her skills.

“I remember watching the North Eastern Arts Network performers as a child, in the same chairs and venues, and thinking ‘wow! I would love to do that!’,” Estelle said. “I had no idea, at the time, that I would not be playing Classical clarinet, or singing jazz, or that I would be playing in a pop band that didn't have drums. I just knew that I would love to perform someday, and I recognized, even then, that playing at "home" would be an amazing experience, a gift.”

Estelle graduated from Malta High School in 2006 and studied clarinet and music education (like her father) at the University of Montana in Missoula. She said she sustained a wrist injury during a year off from school and decided to move to New York City to pursue a career in jazz vocals.

“The jazz scene was quite an experience,” Estelle said. “Something that was altogether wonderful and altogether distressing, to say the least. Along the way, I found a teaching position at Larchmont Music Academy, and had the opportunity to play music with my current lead cellist, Sam Quiggins, at Carnegie Hall.”

In addition to Estelle on vocals and Quiggins on cello, the Heartstrings are comprised of Patrick James (electric bass), Molly Aronson (cello), Trevor New (viola), and Ally Jenkins (violin). Considering their distinct sound, a knack for live performance, and group interplay, they are not a band to be missed.

“We decided that we would form a pop band and abandon all of the rules of Classical or Jazz,” Estelle said. “My bassist, Patrick James Roberts, also taught with us and told me he was on board to play my music! It was such an amazing feeling to know that people wanted to play original tunes and wanted to start this musical journey with me! This band was originally a traditional pop band, keys, bass, drums, vocals, cello, but my musical director and my drummer left to tour with Post Modern Jukebox. So, I ended up rewriting our pop music for a band with only strings!”

She said audience members on the night can expect to hear “pop-y” melodies, in a Classical music wrapping paper!

“We are playing a couple covers, but it is mostly my own writing,” she added. “Many of the songs are about love, but isn't life all about love? The song that is closest to my heart is also our single, called "Home,” which is a love song to Montana. I am over the moon and a bit nervous to share this music with the community that I love so much. Music is my heart, it will be amazing for it to meet my home.”

Please join them for an entertaining, fun-filled evening in the Malta High School Auditorium. They will be spectacular, and you will go home with a smile on your face and a song in your heart!

Tickets will be available at the door. Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $10 for students (Students with activity passes are free

 

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