Singer/Songwriter

This song, and subsequent video, express my thoughts and feelings after a derecho swept through the city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the summer of 2020. As a resident of Cedar Rapids, I experienced firsthand the loss of 65% of our tree canopy. The state of Iowa lost over $7 million trees. Watching an incredibly large crane slowly and carefully lift a branch from my neighbor’s damaged roof, it appeared to be much like a delicate ballet.

The concept is to show the tree or branch as a metaphor for a ballerina. How lovely and delicate she is in all her changing beauty throughout the year. The crane is a metaphor for the male dancer. Together they perform a pas de deux. 

Link to video:

https://vimeo.com/683601830/3ae9081de7

“Strange Ballet” Lyrics

What is this strange ballet

This pas de deux of branch and crane

This odd and awful 

Cirque de Soleil

His muscles, sinew, bones of steel

Lift the lifeless, sweet Giselle

From the shattered footlights 

Where she fell

As he lifts her gently through the air

Sequin floating everywhere

From her tattered tutu   

Once so fair

CHORUS

She was our prima ballerina

She danced for us with every breeze

In her arms the songbirds sang

The sweetest melodies

She cooled us with her soothing shade

She warmed our hearts with autumn blaze

Her silhouette at end of day

She was our poetry, our fairest lady

Our beauty and our grace

For years and years she slowly grew       

‘Til she became our favorite view

Taking center stage 

To rave reviews   

Every season a costume change

Pink chiffon in gentle rain

Green organza

Golden lace

Suddenly we’re left to mourn

As limb from limb she was torn

By this angry dance

This frightful storm

CHORUS

With all the company she lies in state

On every street they silent wait

For their final, solemn  

Resting place

Hear the tolling of the bell

For our beautiful Giselle

Say a final, fond 

Fare thee well

Come next spring we’ll set the stage

For curtain calls and rose bouquets

Never to forget

This strange ballet

 CHORUS

It’s hard to believe how fast the summer flew by. I had a fun-filled, full schedule with the Iowa Opera House Tour. These opera houses are truly an Iowa treasure and the folks I met couldn’t have been nicer.

I have one concert left for 2022 and that is “A Carol Christmas – celebrating the songs of the season”. Preparations are well underway with many decisions to make, songs to rehearse, and promotion to be done.

The date & time: Thursday, December 15 @  7:00pm

The place: CSPS Hall, 1103 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

Tickets available at: https://cspshall.org/a-carol-christmas

Email:  info@cspshall.org

Phone: (319) 364-1580

Box Office Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 12:00 – 6:00PM  

Here’s the something new: Enjoy “A Carol Christmas” in style!

Announcing a limited number of VIP tables for four. Your VIP table will include seating up close and personal, a bottle of red or white wine, and an assortment of concert goodies to enjoy. VIP tables for four are available for $180. Call or go online now to reserve your exclusive table. Use the same phone, email, and link to tickets as listed above.

Note: If you have already purchased your tickets and would like to receive seating at a VIP table, simply call the CSPS box office at 319-364-1580 to upgrade.

The Talent Factory: www.iowatalentfactory.com

What Cheer Opera House: www.whatcheeroperahouse.com

Coggon Opera House www.coggonoperahouse.org

SAT, MAY 21 @ 7:00 PM
WARREN CULTURAL CENTER
GREENFIELD, IA

SAT, JUN 11 @1:00 PM
MACNIDER FESTIVAL
MASON CITY, IA

SUN, JUN 12 @ 2:00 PM
RIDGE HICKORY PARK
MIDDLE RIDGE, WI SAT 

SAT, JUL 9 @ 7:00 PM
THE TALENT FACTORY
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA 

SAT, JUL 16 @ 7:00 PM
WHAT CHEER OPERA HOUSE
WHAT CHEER, IA

SAT, JUL 23 @ 7:00 PM
COGGON OPERA HOUSE
COGGON, IA  SAT 

SAT, AUG 6 @ 7:00 PM
CRESCO OPERA HOUSE
CRESCO, IA

SAT, AUG 13 @ 7:00 PM
OPUS CONCERT CAFE
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA

FRI, AUG 19 @ 2:00 PM
AMES PUBLIC LIBRARY
AMES, IA

FRI, AUG 26 @ 7:00 PM
CORNING OPERA HOUSE
CORNING, IA

SAT, SEP 10 @ 7:00 PM
ELKADER OPERA HOUSE
CORNING, IA

SUN, SEP 11 @ 2:00 PM
DRIVER OPERA HOUSE
DARLINGTON, WI

SEP 19 - 21 
OKABOJI'S WRITER RETREAT
OKABOJI, IA

SAT, OCT 8 @ 7:00PM
KEOKUK UNION DEPOT
KEOKUK, IA

This spring kicks off my “2022 Iowa Opera House Tour” featuring tribute concerts to Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, and Judy Collins – the three legendary women of the folk music scene. Like so many singer-songwriters, I honed my skills listening to their music and learning their songs. In college, their music drifted out of my dorm room and down the halls. I’m excited to pay tribute to these women who have been such an inspiration to me and to share with you the songs we all know and love!

For up-to-date concert information, click https://www.carolmontag.com/concerts/.

“A Carol Christmas” is fast approaching and I’m excited to see you in just a few short weeks at this year’s concert. Musicians Cameron Sullenberger, Matt Butler, Jeremiah de la Pena, and I have been rehearsing and planning a great show for you! We’ve compiled a nice variety of Christmas Carols and songs to help you celebrate the season and enjoy a couple of hours of stress-free entertainment. Before you head out the door in your splendid regalia be sure not to forget to bring the following:

• Your smiling face.
• A happy heart.
• A face mask.

The Covid-19 protocol for CSPS Hall performances is as follows: Audience members are asked to kindly wear masks during the performance to help protect one another. (Except when eating or drinking.) We may not be able to see your smile, but will surely be able to see your smiling eyes!

Dates:
There are three concerts to choose from:

• Thu, Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm
• Fri, Dec. 17 at 7:30 pm
• Sat, Dec. 18 at 7:30 pm

Tickets:
Tickets are $27 in advance and $34 at the door. There are three ways to purchase tickets:

• Online: https://cspshall.org/carol-christmas
• By phone: 319-364-1580
• In-person: 1103 3rd St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA

Who Ate the Icing?

Photo by Deva Williamson

As we moved on from the initial announcement that we were now living with a worldwide pandemic, we began to realize that live performance was not coming back anytime soon. No more live theater, opera, ballet, festivals, shows, coffeehouse performances, and the list goes on across all art sectors, for the time being – however long that is. No one knows. We’ve all seen the announcements: “We regret to inform you that this year’s festival (concert series, shows, etc.) has been canceled.”

I have many friends in the performing arts community, and needless to say, they have all been hugely impacted. Not to mention the performing arts/music industry as a whole, with lighting technicians, stagehands, and road crews going without pay. As the year progressed, there was a heightened awareness of how vital live performance is to the continuation of creative activities by the artist. And how vital it is to audiences.

I recently asked fellow musicians how they were feeling about the sudden lack of performances. “Are you feeling more creative? Are you spending your extra time practicing, learning new music? Are you writing new material?” More often than not the answer was, “No, not really.” Although I am sure many artists find themselves creating more than ever during this lockdown period, those in the performing arts are experiencing a more acute sense of mild depression and feeling a bit lost and confused. They do not, for the most part, enjoy standing before their phone or other devices to perform to their living room wall. No doubt we need human interaction for energy and inspiration.

I think we’ve all come to realize, as never before, how truly enjoyable it is to go to a live event. To plan for it, to anticipate it, and to actually go about the activity of attending it. To see faces react just like you, to laugh or cry or sit in awe together. There’s some sort of marvelous connection or bond in that. To run into that person that you haven’t seen in ages. It’s all part of the good-for-you, natural medicine of life. Without live performance, it’s as if someone scraped all the icing off this beautiful cake and ate the best part for themselves. We work to provide for ourselves and our families, we buy groceries, cook meals, clean our homes and maintain them. That is the cake. Live events are the icing. It’s what makes the cake taste really good.

So who ate the icing? COVID ate the icing.

But, we haven’t forgotten the recipe. We still know how. For now, we’ll eat our cake without the icing.

Wait and see. Time will tell. Performing artists will find a way out of their slumpity funk. Start gearing up. More icing for everyone is on its way!

I’ve been invited to present a short concert and share my faith at the First Presbyterian Church, 11100 Spanish Road, Ely, Iowa 52227 in Ely, IA tomorrow morning, February 23. They will be serving breakfast at 8:00 am and the service/concert will start at 9:30 am There is no charge for admission. February 23 is also Masopust (Czech) Sunday, which I am not very familiar with, but I believe it is a celebration just prior to Lent. They describe themselves as “a lively country church with woods & fields, meadows & hills, trees & streams, ground for play & prayer, space to run & rest. We are authentic, not flashy. We invite you! We hope you can join us!”…and so do I! – Carol

I’m slow to report that “A Carol Christmas” was a smashing success! We all had a great time. Thank you every single audience member! YOU made this concert possible and so much fun! Many thanks and words of praise go to musicians Cameron Sullenberger, Matt Butler (our singing cellist), Jeremiah de la Pena for your hard work and excellence. As I thought about this concert it slowly began to shape itself around December letters. I interspersed a few of my own December letters, many written years ago, into the concert. One was written by my oldest son, Matthew. I even wrote a Christmas song titled “December Letters”.

DECEMBER LETTERS

v1. Another year has passed, December letters come

Telling of the news, The joys and sorrows sung

Christmas cards and letters, With a story all their own

Spreading cheer both far and near, And love from home to home

v2. My letter comes to you, In hopes that you are well

I send you my best wishes, And the Christmas story tell

Every year a blessing, Every year a gift

Every year we ponder once again, What Child is this?

v3. May was graduation, Wedding bells in June

We camped in Colorado, Winter came too soon

Next year we’ll retire, And won’t know what to do

Be sure to stop and see us, If you are passing through

Bridge

Seasons greetings, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Love is here to stay

Raise a glass of cheer, For a brand New Year

v4. I wish you joy unending, Days of love and light

A year of new beginnings, Of warm and peaceful nights

I wish you health and happiness, I pray you safe and sound

May God bless and keep us everyone, Until next year comes around

Until next year comes around, Until next year comes around