Submitted Photo This photo of the eight Moen children was taken at Serena’s wedding June 15, 2024. They are, from left to right, are Evan, Clayton, Amanda, Serena, Hannah, Elizabeth, Leland and Merryanna is in front.

UPHAM — The phrase, the family that prays together stays together, rings true with the Moen family, but with a musical twist.

The group grew up on a farm near Upham. Marilyn Moen said her children have been performing for about 25 years – since they were young.

She and her husband, Duane, were musicians, and they passed the gift of music down to the children. The Moen children are Evan, Clayton, Amanda, Serena, Hannah, Elizabeth, Leland and Merryanna.

The Moen Family will be performing at the Frozen Fingers Festival Saturday, April 11, at 3 p.m. This will be the first time since 2017 the group has performed at the festival, according to Marilyn Moen. The festival will be held Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, at the Sleep Inn in Minot.

The Frozen Fingers Music Association of Minot, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving old-time and grassroots music, provides funds for students to attend the International Music Camp, north of Dunseith.

Moen family members learned to play bluegrass, gospel and old-time country music with many instruments — guitar, mandolin, violin, string bass and others.

Marilyn Moen said her husband purchased violins at a garage sale when their daughters were young. She said she taught the children how to play the piano, which was the “stepping stone” to learning other instruments. She said the impact of learning to play influenced them to enjoy music and then they took off from there.

The musical family is diverse in playing various styles of music. One of the group’s favorite music genres to play is gospel. At Frozen Fingers, they will mostly play country and bluegrass.

When they were children, the Moen family members traveled with their parents to entertain at nursing homes, churches, other special events and festivals. For a few years, two of the family members traveled with Chloe Raye Music as band members.

Family members said their favorite thing to do is use their talents to glorify God. They all are involved in their local churches.

“When it comes to God, he plays a pivotal role in their life. God is important to us as a family,” Marilyn Moen said.

Family members said events are few and far between when they are able perform together as a family. That makes the invitation to perform at Frozen Fingers Festival special, they said.