Listen to these audio episodes of “Prelude to the Festival” for samples of many of the VBF 2013 bands. Artistic Director Paul Niemisto is the host of these radio broadcasts that range in length from 22-30 minutes. Please share them with your friends.

“Copper Street Brass Quintet” features the work of an amazingly hard-working group of young Minnesota musicians. These guys are musicians-in-residence in public schools all over the midwest. Appearing soon in a school near you!

“Ethnic Focus” highlights the work of Klezmerica, Jack Brass Band, Brass Messengers, and Mariachi Mi Tierra, all notable ensembles from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area.

“19th Century Bands” showcases Newberry’s Victorian Cornet Band from Maryland and the Dodworth Saxhorn Band from Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“German Sounds” features two mid-continent European bands, Eine Kleine Dorfmusik Kapelle from Burgenland, Austria and Original Drachenfelser Musikanten Band from Germany.

“Heritage Bands” showcases three bands: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Cowboy Band, Independent Silver Band, and Ameriikan Poijat.

“Civil War Music” highlights the 1st Brigade Band from Wisconsin and the 26th North Carolina Regimental Band from Maryland.

“British Form” presents two fine Minnesota bands playing in the British brass band tradition, the Lake Wobegon© Brass Band from Anoka and the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band from Red Wing.

“A Look To Sweden” features Oktetten Ehstedts Eftr. and Medevi Brunnsorkester, both superb small Scandinavian wind bands.