Local News

MMHF celebrates Paul Wendinger Day

NEW ULM -- The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame (MMHF) closed its season on Halloween with a Paul Wendinger Tribute Day that recorded the largest crowd of the year.

Local musicians, fans and family members gathered to honor Paul Wendinger and other Minnesota musicians, composers, educators and archivists.

The museum was at capacity. The main room was full of people standing and sitting. Attendees filled doorways and other exhibit rooms.

The event also marked a birthday for Joleen Wendinger, Paul Wendinger’s widow. Family and friends gathered for the presentation and Joleen’s birthday during the program of music, stories and presentations.

Joleen Wendinger said she was surprised by how many relatives attended.

“I am so happy so many came today,” she said.

The morning program featured a video series by filmmaker and Minnesota Music Hall of Fame board member Neal Bond. Bond spoke to the full room about preserving regional music history.

“Today, we are celebrating not only the musicians who have been inducted, but those who have passed away. It’s a special day because we are celebrating one of the greatest -- Paul Wendinger,” Bond said.

Organizers showed highlights from the series during the event. Attendees received a link to watch the full series at home after the season ended Friday.

Bond also announced that the Fezz Fritsche original music archive had returned to New Ulm. He said the Hall of Fame received pieces of music that had not been played in more than 50 years.

“Yesterday we had something very historic happen: pieces of music that have not been played for over 50 years were donated to the Hall and are going to be preserved digitally,” Bond said.

Bond said the donated music will be preserved digitally as part of the Hall of Fame’s effort to maintain regional music history.

The exhibits and videos covered Minnesota music history beginning in 1912 when F. Melius Christiansen started the St. Olaf Choir after immigrating from Norway. The history included Dr. Kurt Bell and the early rehearsals of the Concord Singers.

The exhibits included information on local dance band leaders Harold Loeffelmacher and the Six Fat Dutchmen, Whoopie John Wilfahrt, Fezz Fritsche, clarinetist LeRoy “Slivers” Dewanz, and his wife Jeanne Dewanz.

The exhibits also included information on performers with Minnesota connections, including Judy Garland, the Andrews Sisters and traditional jazz musician Doc Evans.

Jackson Newgord, 11, attended with his mother. He performs as the Jackson Lee Olsen Band. He is the grandson of Leon Olsen, a concertina player, Hall of Fame volunteer and original Minnesota Music Hall of Fame board member, and the son of Alyssa Olsen.

He has performed at the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame at events including Prince Appreciation Day and the Legacy Series tribute that honored his grandfather and other regional musicians.

Newgord performed on concertina with Peter Wendinger -- Paul Wendinger’s brother. Peter Wendinger is himself, an award-winning bandleader and concertina player.

The performance paired a younger player with a veteran player. Attendees watched the two perform together.

Peter Wendinger’s wife, Dodie Wendinger, said Newgord had talked about wanting to perform with Peter Wendinger.

“That was his dream, that he wanted to play with him,” Dodie Wendinger said. “He said it was his dream and his goal; he wants to play with the ultimate player.”

Dodie Wendinger said the two were playing well together.

“They’re doing really well together,” she said.

Newgord and Peter Wendinger played polkas, including the complicated jazz number “In the Mood,” on two concertinas.

Later, Newgord played concertina with Steve Moran, a longtime member of the Wendinger band.

In the afternoon, the museum operated as a social gathering that feaured live music, cake and coffee.

Visitors looked at displays, spoke with Joleen Wendinger and took photographs next to a large, life-sized cutout of Paul Wendinger.

Local author and historian Dan Groebner held a book signing. He met visitors and signed copies of his book, “Good to Be a Musician: Community Bands in New Ulm.” He spoke with readers, musicians and fans.

Bond spoke about Hall of Fame memberships with annual membership costs $30. People who signed up for a membership during the event received a five-volume set about inducted members and an event poster signed by the Wendinger family.

Bond said the money supports preservation and education.

Hall of Fame volunteer John Kass said Saturday was the largest attendance day of the year.

“It was a record crowd, the most people we’ve had all year,” Kass said.

The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame closed for the season Saturday. It reopens Thursday, April 1.

The event concluded the Hall of Fame’s 2026 season.