By Jean Schlegel
Valley City Times-Record

Former Oakes resident Curtis Knecht knows how to mix gospel, jazz, classical and cabaret styles of music.
He will do just that at this year's Country Hoedown, sponsored by the NDWS Women's Division on March 3, at 11 a.m. at the National Guard Armory in Valley City.
“Knecht is sure to entertain with a variety of music,” says Mary Ann Leier, who, along with Marge Bessette, is heading up the publicity for the Women's Division.
Knecht is presently living in New York, and is a member of a 200 men's voice choir. He has had the honor of performing at Avery Fischer Hall, as well as Carnegie Hall.  
Knecht graduated from Oakes High School in 1997, and was in several choirs while in school. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Elmer (Butch) Knecht of Oakes.
He has been singing since he was very young. Knecht debuted as Joseph at the LaMoure County Summer Musical Theater in “Joseph and the Amazing Technical Dream Coat.” He decided music was the right career path for him, and while attending Northern State University in Aberdeen, S.D., he played Eddie in “Blood Brothers.”
While attending NSU, he was chosen to be an exchange student at Hunter College in New York City, N.Y. He played Mike in “'Tis the Season” while attending Hunter.
The Winter Show Hoedown runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a chuck wagon lunch available for sale.
The women working on this committee are Carole Miedema, Lois Bjornson, Marie Baumgartner and Marian Gerntholz.