Minot City Band kicks off summer season
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Minot City Band opens its summer performances this week as part of the annual Midsummer Festival in the Scandinavian Heritage Park with a concert at 7 p.m. on Friday.
"During the ceremony the band will perform the national anthems of all nations represented throughout the program. Following the formal ceremony, we will perform a few numbers from our upcoming first, formal concerts to be held on Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m. in Oak Park," said David Rolandson, director of the band this year.
Rolandson said because of the proximity to June 19 on the calendar, the band's first formal concerts will be a musical celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.
"The concerts will feature the music of multiple, prominent African American composers including William Grant Still and living composer Omar Thomas. In addition, the program will feature Mark Camphouse's musical tribute to the life of Rosa Parks, titled 'A Movement for Rosa' and Frank Ticheli's beautiful setting of 'Amazing Grace' for concert band," he said.
Rolandson replaces Joe Alme. Alme was a member of the band for 30 years and directed it for a number of those years.
Rolandson is chair of the Division of Performing Arts, associate professor of music and director of bands at Minot State University, where he conducts the Concert Band and leads the MSU Marching Band in addition to teaching trombone, euphonium, tuba, conducting and music education courses.
Currently, he is principal tuba with the Minot Symphony Orchestra. He's often requested as a guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician in North Dakota, Montana and Minnesota.
Following are the Minot City Band's concerts scheduled for this season:
June 16: Scandinavian Park, 7 p.m.
June 18: Oak Park, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
June 25: Oak Park, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
June 29: Main Street, 7 p.m.
July 9: Oak Park, 4 and 7 p.m.
July 16: Oak Park, 4 and 7 p.m.
July 20: Oak Park (Sousa Concert), 7 p.m.
July 22: State Fair Parade.