Utah ensemble is a hit at 'Rings' Oscar shindigs

Just ask the members of local baroque ensemble Dorian Mirth. It was e-mail that got them a gig at a huge "Lord of the Rings" Oscar party in Los Angeles next week.

"It all started back in 2001 when we heard of the line parties for 'The Fellowship of the Ring' at The Gateway," said Melonie Mortensen, one of the group's four core members. "We e-mailed one of the organizers and asked them if they wanted some live music, and they asked us to play."

The next year, the group was asked to play at the "Two Towers" line party at the Villa Theater. Then they got word that Howard Shore, the composer of the soundtrack for the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, was premiering a "Lord of the Rings Suite" in the Hollywood Bowl last year. The event was dubbed "Bowlmoot." "We found out that there was going to be a picnic before the concert, and we e-mailed the organizer and asked if they needed live music at the picnic," said Kierstin Gibbs. "They told us we could play."

During that performance, Mortensen, Gibbs, Rachel Wendel and Gina Strack played for some organizers of a 2003 Oscar party, sponsored by www.theonering.net, and were asked to play. "We were shocked but jumped at the chance," said Wendel. "And it was one of the coolest things we've ever done."

Not only did the group mingle with fans of the movies, but they were also able to meet some of the trilogy's cast members, such as John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd. "It was an experience of a lifetime," said Gibbs. "But it wasn't just the fact that we were meeting some of the cast. The fans really made the party fun. I have a feeling most LOTR fans are more mature than the average person. And it was great seeing everyone get together for this event."

This year, Dorian Mirth is heading back to Los Angeles for another onering.net Oscar party, this time for "Return of the King." The group will perform on Sunday, the day of the Academy Awards.

"This year it's a little different," said Strack. "They aren't giving out as many invitations and it's become a little more exclusive. It's a good thing we're going to play. Otherwise we probably wouldn't be able to get in."

Dorian Mirth began in a way equally as humble as Samwise Gamgee's home in the Shire. Wendel and Gibbs, who are sisters, began taking piano and organ lessons in grade school. In college, Gibbs' major was organ, which was Wendel's minor. "We also took a music class together," said Gibbs. "We learned how to play the recorders. It was a lot of fun."

While still in college, four years ago, the musicians' brother got married. He wanted them to play at his reception. "It was an outdoor reception," said Wendel. "And Kierstin didn't want to play the organ outside, let alone move it. So she decided to put a recorder group together."

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