Northland Gold

1996
LOL District
Second Place Quartet


Read about Northland Gold's Wheaties trip to Florida!

NORTHLAND GOLD began as a way to demonstrate that barbershop administrators can sing and ring chords too! The quartet is made up of Tenor Mark Conlon, Lead Duane Hutton, Baritone Duane Rygg, and Bass Bob Brutsman. The quartet officially started in February 1995 and quickly established itself by finishing 2nd among 28 top quartets at its first Land O' Lakes District Contest.

NORTHLAND GOLD brings a wealth of experience with them. Bob Brutsman, currently District Vice President of Member Services and Executive Vice President of the Land O' Lakes District, is a 28 year Society member. he sang bass with the 1976 District Champion Quartet, The Talk of the Town, and is currently a member of the Hilltop Chapter. Duane Rygg, the musician of the group, studied music at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and is a 20 year member of the Society. He sang lead with the 1986 District Champion Quartet, Northern Comfort, currently sings in the celebrated couples group, Friends and is a member as well as Director of the Greater St. Paul Chapter. Mark Conlon, past District President of the Land O' Lakes District, is a 19 year Society member and belongs to the Minneapolis Chapter. Mark has sung in several Twin City area quartets. In addition to Northland Gold, he currently sings with Friends also. A former Barbershopper of the Year with the Minneapolis Chapter, Mark is active in the Chapter as well as District affairs. Duane Hutton, past Society Board Member representing the Land O' Lakes District, is a member o the Winona Chapter. Although only a 15 year member of the Society, Duane comes from a barbershop family and sang with his brothers and father for 30 years as a member of Dad and His Lads Quartet. Duane is a former Barbershopper of the Year for the Winona Chapter and is the 1995 Land O' Lakes District Barbershopper of the Year.

NORTHLAND GOLD prides itself in producing a rich 4-part acapella sound and blend unique to the barbershop singing style. We hope you enjoy our repertoire of barbershop standards, ballads of yesteryear, hymns and novelty numbers.

NORTHLAND GOLD'S CURRENT SONG LIST:

Happy Days Are Here Again Heart of My Heart Medley
Old Songs Are Like Old Friends Shine On Harvest Moon
Moon Light Bay In The Garden
There's a New Gang On The Corner We Kinda Miss The Good Old Songs
Darling That Someone Is You Good Night Little Boy Of Mine
Emaline Teach The Children To Sing
From The First Hello To The Last Goodbye Sam The Old Accordian Man
I Wonder Who's Milking Her Cow A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet


Meet the Members of Northland Gold

Here are the barbershop resumes of the guys in this quartet:

Tenor Mark Conlon, past president of the Land O' Lakes District, is a 21-year Society member and belongs to the Hilltop and Minneapolis chapters. Mark has sung in several Twin City area quartets. In addition to Northland Gold he currently sings with "Friends."
Bio: Wife Alana, owner of MCSN (a computer consulting business), Quartets Rainbow Chasers, GSGTMC, Front Porch Harmony, Front Page, Twin City Alliance, Northland Gold. Offices held: LOL President, LOL Vice President, LOL Division Vice President 10,000 lakes, Area Counselor Chapter President, Treasurer, Board Member and Show Chairman. Awards: Chaper BOTY, Bachelor of Harmony Award.
(email: mjcon@juno.com)
Lead Duane Hutton ("Big Duane"), past Society board member representing the Land O' Lakes District, is a member of the Winona and Hilltop Chapters. Although only a 17 year member of the society, Duane comes from a barbershopping family and sang with his brothers and father for 30 years as a member of Dad and His Lads quartet. Duane is a Barbershopper of the Year for the Winona Chapter and Land O' Lakes District. Wife Linda, owner of AGRA Advisory Service Inc. (a farm management consulting service)
Bio: Quartets: Officers Mess, Dad and His Lads, Northland Gold, Offices held : LOL Society Board Member, LOL President, LOL Vice President, LOL Secretary, LOL Southwest Divsion Vice President, Chapter Program VP, Show Chairman, Section Leader, Board Member, Bulletin Editor, Awards: LOL BOTY, Chapter BOTY, Bachelor of Harmony Award.
(email: bigduane@juno.com)
Baritone Duane Rygg ("Little Duane"), the musician of the group, studied music at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, and has been a member of the Society since 1977. He sang lead with the 1986 District Champion quartet, Northern Comfort. Duane is a member, as well as music director and 1984 Barbershopper of the Year, of the Greater St. Paul Area Chapter.
Bio: Wife Pat, Luther Seminary Property Manager. Quartets: Nothern Comfort, Front Page, Twin City Alliance, St. Paul Teaching Society, Nova, Northland Gold. Offices: St. Paul Chapter director, LOL Assoc. Dist. Champions Board. Awards : BOTY St.Paul Chapter, Husband of a Queen (Pat is the lead singer of 4 Star Collection, the current Sweet Adeline International Quartet Champions)
(email: drygg@luthersem.edu)
Bass Bob Brutsman, current president of the Land O' Lakes District, is a 30-year member of the Society. He sang bass with the 1976 District Champion quartet, The Talk of the Town, and is currently a member of the Hilltop Chapter.
Bio: Wife Ellen, Contractor Manager for General Mills, Inc. Quartets: Talk of the Town, Front Porch Harmony, Northland Gold. Offices held: LOL Vice President, LOL Secretary, 10,000 Lakes Divsion VP,LOL Area Counselor, LOL Nominating Chairman, LOL Assoc. of Dist. Champions Board, Chapter President, Membership VP, Program VP, Secretary, Show Chairman, and Board Member. Awards: Bachelor of Harmony Award.
(email: bruts@juno.com)

How to contact the quartet:


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