Luther College Nordic Choir Brings 6-Year-Old's Story to Life in Special World Premiere

Local voices matter. Help us amplify them by contributing to your local newsroom. DECORAH — The Sing Me a Story Foundation has partnered with the Luther College Nordic Choir to offer a heartwarming experience for Rhett Einck, a local 6-year-old currently battling cancer, and his family. The partnership culminates in the world premiere of a special piece of music based on Rhett's own story, created with the help of the choir and a student composer. The premiere will take place on February 6, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at Luther College's Center for Faith and Life as a part of Nordic Choir's homecoming concert, where Rhett and his family will be in attendance. The concert is free and open to the public. Sing Me a Story is a nonprofit organization that connects children in need with composers and musicians to turn their stories into original songs. The foundation's mission is to bring joy and comfort to children facing difficult circumstances through the power of music. The project began when Rhett, along with his older sisters Trinn, Tinley and Laney, were invited to write and illustrate a story through the Sing Me a Story Foundation. The result, titled "Adventures with Maverick and Fin," tells the tale of Rhett's dogs, who embark on a wild adventure through a busy city as they steal food, sneak into a parade, and dodge security before finally reuniting with their worried family and learning never to run away again. Tyler Belanger, a Luther College student composer and member of the Nordic Choir, transformed "Adventures with Maverick and Fin" into a choral composition that will be performed by the ensemble, directed by Dr. Andrew Last, whose dedication to bringing the project to life has been a source of inspiration. Belanger shared, "I feel so fulfilled as an artist that I am able to bring about some happy feelings for Rhett's whole family, as well as everyone who has heard the piece on Nordic Choir's tour of the Midwest. I have also heard from people within the choir, as well as people we met on the road, be it as far as Dublin, Ohio or as close as Cedar Rapids, that this story really speaks to them. They see the drawings that Rhett and his siblings made to go along with the story. They hear the childlike playfulness of the melodica and guitar. And it all comes together to be a really silly, but also heartwarming, story that allows us to escape the harshness of the real world for a couple minutes, which is ultimately what I want to do as an artist." "We are incredibly grateful to partner with the Luther College Nordic Choir to create this special experience for Rhett and his family," said Autumn Dobbeck, Director of Operations for Sing Me a Story. "Working with Dr. Last has been an absolute privilege—his dedication to this project and to championing our program has been truly inspiring." Rhett's mother, Amber, shared the personal impact the project has had on their family. "It was an honor to be nominated for this foundation and be a part of Luther's amazing music program," she said. "The project was a positive distraction that brought all the kids together. We had many laughs, which we needed during that time." Amber also expressed her excitement for the upcoming performance: "I have a feeling the kids are going to be amazed once they see their pictures and their story performed with music. My kiddos are very talented, more than they even know." Throughout the challenges of the past year, including viral infections and a scare that Rhett's leukemia had returned, the family remained hopeful. "We had to do a bone marrow biopsy to rule some things out, and luckily all results came back clear," Amber explained. "With six months left out of two and half years of treatment, this project helped take our focus elsewhere." Sing Me a Story continues to make a difference in the lives of children by collaborating with musical ensembles worldwide, and the partnership with Luther College's Nordic Choir is a shining example of that vision in action. Become a part of the exclusive circle! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and gain access to special offers, bonus content and insider perks.