The Latest News from Your Minnesota State Band

MSB Awarded State Arts Grant

The Minnesota State Band is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Community Arts Grant in the amount of $4910 from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. The check was presented during a ceremony on February 11 at the Minnesota History Center. This money will be used to pay for expenses associated with presenting 10 concerts during 2010 season in locations throughout the Twin Cities. The Grant money will also allow the band to purchase new music to play this summer and to add to our music library.

Since the Minnesota State Band no longer receives funding from the State of Minnesota, Grants such as this one are essential to the organization’s continued growth. One of the conditions of this Grant is that the recipients of the money raise funds to match the Grant amount dollar for dollar. We therefore welcome contributions from music lovers everywhere to help the band reach this goal. You can mail a tax deductable contribution to Minnesota State Band, PO Box 130033, St. Paul, MN 55113, or you can give online using our secure web page at GiveMN.

MSB Performs Joint Concert with The Podkrkonošský Band

On February 5, the Minnesota State Band and the Star of the North Band played a joint concert with the Podkrkonošský Band from Jablonec and Jizerou, Czech Republic. The association between these organizations began some 18 years ago with a joint concert in Czechoslovakia during the Minnesota State Band’s 1992 European tour. This year the Podkrkonošský Band organized an American tour which included a visit with their musician friends from Minnesota.

The concert was held at the historic Česko-Slovanský Podporující Spolek (C.S.P.S.) Hall in St. Paul and included traditional Czech and American music as well as several Sousa Marches. Prior to the concert, the overflow crowd enjoyed a traditional meal of Czech sausage (jiternice) with sauerkraut and traditional Czech potato salad. Many of the players from the Czech band stayed at the homes of MSB and Star of the North members during their stay. The members of the Minnesota State Band enjoyed the opportunity to play host to musicians from the Czech Republic and to demonstrate a little “Minnesota Nice” during their visit. Special thanks go out to Amanda Kolpin and Gordy Backlund for helping our guests organize their Minnesota visit.

MSB announces St. Patrick’s Day Concert

Our next concert will be on March 17, St Patrick’s Day, at 7:30 pm, at Anishinabe Academy, 3100 East 28th Street Minneapolis. The first half of the concert will be devoted to music of the British Isles demonstrating the best of Gallic traditions and culture. Songs will include Four Scottish Dances by Malcolm Arnold arranged by Paynter, Country Gardens arranged by Grainger and An Original Suite by Gordon Jacob. The second half will be music from Ireland. One Hundred Thousand Welcomes arranged by John Tate and four pieces from Leroy Anderson’s “Irish Suite” which includes The Irish Washerwoman, Minstrel Boy, Rakes of Mallow and The Girl I left Behind Me. It will indeed be a bonnie night. In honor of the holiday, everyone wearing green will be admitted free of charge. (Actually everyone will be admitted free of charge but don’t let on, the Irish need to feel important).