A Musical Family Circus

The past week has been hectic but fun. I attended three school concerts within a five-day period (plus a performance of the musical Meshuggah Nuns at the Paradise Theater in Faribault, starring my friend Myrna). So it seemed only fitting, considering all the schedule-juggling, that the district band concert last night had a circus theme.

The Northfield district band concert is a great one – every fall, all the band students in grades 5 through 12 gather on the floor of the high school gymnasium and take turns performing for a standing-room only crowd of family and friends in the bleachers. It’s noisy and crowded, but it’s worth it to see the progression of musicianship, from youngest to oldest.

Last year the concert had a Civil War theme, and this year, we went “Under the Big Top.” A seventh-grade teacher played the role of ringmaster, some students contributed their talents in clowning and unicycling, and there was even popcorn and candy for sale. The Schell’s Hobo Band from New Ulm was the guest band (man, those guys can play!) The band plans to return to Northfield in early August for the Vintage Band Festival 2013, so mark that on your calendar.

Louisa and Sebastian both performed in their respective high school bands, the Concert Band and the Symphonic Band. Here’s Louisa’s band playing “Entrance of the Gladiators” by Julius Fucik:

And here’s Sebastian’s band playing “The Grand Entry”:

The concert concluded with all of the musicians (minus the fifth graders) playing several measures of the classic circus song “Barnum and Bailey's favorite” by Iowa bandmaster Karl King.

Friday evening I attended the high school orchestra and choir concert at the middle school auditorium. There was no circus theme, but it was an impressive program of music. Sebastian performed in the ninth-grade concert orchestra. Here is his orchestra performing “Ellis Island” by Alan Lee Silva:

I was in that same middle school auditorium on Thursday evening (with many of the same parents), this time to hear the middle school orchestras and choirs perform. It was Elias’ first concert as a middle school student. His sixth-grade choir sang two pieces. Since Halloween is tomorrow, it seems appropriate to post the second piece, “Ezekiel and Dry Bones.”

That takes care of school concerts for a while. However, I will be at the Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud next Monday for a concert celebrating the 125th anniversary of the St. Cloud Municipal Band.

The big top may be down, but the schedule-juggling continues.