VBF 2015 Band Bios

New Prague Area Community Band

The New Prague Area Community Band is made up of volunteer musicians who share a love of playing music. Members come from New Prague, Lonsdale, Belle Plaine, Jordan, Elko-New Market, Farmington, Henderson, Lakeville, and Montgomery.  Through their diverse repertoire, the New Prague Area Community Band shares their belief that music should be fun and entertaining.

Lex-Ham Community Band

The Lex-Ham Community Band is a volunteer musical ensemble established in 1992, It is composed of residents and students who live in the Lexington-Hamline neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods of St. Paul, Minnesota. The band plays Sousa marches, show tunes, classical concert band pieces, swing jazz, and Dixieland arrangements.

Sheldon Theatre Brass Band

The Sheldon Theatre Brass Band was founded in 1989 as the resident performing ensemble at the newly-restored, turn-of-the-century T.B. Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing, Minnesota. The band is made up of cornets, trombones, tenor horns, euphoniums, tubas, and percussion. The group performs a diverse repertoire of brass band music, committed to preserving and advancing the British brass band genre.

 

Swing and a Miss

Based in the Twin Cities, Swing and a Miss is an old time dance band that prides itself on versatility. Playing everything from polka to rock n’ roll, Swing and a Miss provides a fun, upbeat musical atmosphere for any occasion.

 

Polished Brass Quintet

Based in Rochester, Minnesota.

Cannon Falls Community Band

The Cannon Falls Community Band is made up of players aged 15-60. Children of original band members perform alongside their parents, playing marches, symphony and show tunes, as well as songs of American independence.

Copper Street Brass Quintet

Copper Street Brass Quintet started in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2007 and settled down in Minneapolis in 2008. The five classically trained musicians, including two St. Olaf graduates, share their fresh take on the brass quintet through their inventive concerts, engaging classroom programs, and full library of original and unique arrangements.

Red Bull Rampage Brass Band

Rampage is an eight piece, horn-based band performing Dixie and brass band style music. Trumpets, trombones, saxes and tuba round out this high energy ensemble. Rampage is led by SFC Don Pashby-sax/clarinet; SSG Joe Corley-trombone; SSG Dan Merrill-trumpet; SGT Chris Finlayson-trumpet; SGT Nathan Stowman-tuba; SPC Hannah Lehman-sax; SPC Maciej-trumpet; and SPC Shawn Nelson-drums.

Ludington Guard Band

The Ludington Guard Band is a community concert band that was officially organized in 1888 but has roots going back to 1877. Hailing from Menomonie, they are the oldest continuously performing community band in Wisconsin.  In the early days the band played a lot of military type marches, but the band began to evolve by introducing more concert and popular selections and lessening the band’s reliance on military music. Today, the band plays a large variety of concert band music including classical and new marches, overtures, and medleys from Broadway musicals and novelty selections.

34th Infantry Division “Red Bull” Band

The 34th Infantry Division “Red Bull” Band provides music throughout the spectrum of military operations to instill in our forces the will to fight and win, foster the support of our citizens, and promote our national interests at home and abroad. Whether performing for the public, supporting military ceremonies, or entertaining US Service members and our allies the Soldier-Musicians of the Red Bull Band are honored to serve in one of the US Army’s most respected Divisions. In recognition of the achievements of the 34th Infantry Division Band the unit has earned the French Croix de Guerre (WWII), the Meritorious Unit Citation (Iraq), and the Colonel George S. Howard Citation for Musical Excellence.

Bavarian Musikmeisters

The Bavarian Musikmeisters are a 35-member wind instrument band from the Twin Cities. They have been sharing the beauty, enjoyment, and history of traditional Germanic band music and culture with people of all ages. Their attire, instrumentation, and musical arrangements of marches, polkas, waltzes, folk dances, and ballads are all authentic.

Mariachi Mi Tierra

Mariachi Mi Tierra is the oldest Mariachi ensemble in the Twin Cities. Rosalio Castro, who formed the group in the mid-2003s, has been playing various Mexican styles of music since he was in his teens. Finally it is possible to bring together a group that could produce the full sound of authentic mariachi. The members of Mariachi Mi Tierra  have brought a great number of regional and current favorites into the group’s repertoire. In addition to events in the local Mexican community, “Mariachi Mi Tierra” also plays at schools, colleges, businesses, casinos, and festivals.

M-Saxteen Saxophone Quintet

M-Saxteen is a saxophone quartet/quintet drawn from the membership of the 34th Infantry Division Band with the ability to cover many genres of music from marches to pop hits. SFC Jennifer Ware, SSG Benjamin Hanson, SGT Bryce David Lyle, SGT Ashley Hawk, and SPC Aaron Shinabargar make up this quintet.

Northstar Brass Quintet       

The Northstar Brass Quintet is one of six active Music Performance Teams (MPTs) of the 34th Infantry Division Band of the Minnesota Army National Guard. The five-soldier ensemble performs throughout Minnesota; playing baroque, marches, polkas, Americana, rock and military-style music. In 2014, the Northstar Brass led the 34ID Band in number of musical missions performed. The group looks forward to engaging with the communities of Minnesota to entertain and educate about the musical mission of the military.

Red Devil Rock Combo  

The Red Devils are a 5-7 member group drawn from the members of the 34th Infantry Division Band that put on a high energy show that features only the best rock, pop and funk from 70s, 80s, 90s and today. The Red Devils can perform sets featuring classic rock, funk, alternative, modern rock or pop.  Requests for specific songs or genres are encouraged.

Coverfire Country/Variety Band

Coverfire is a Country/Pop/variety band is drawn from the members of the 34th Infantry Division Band with a wide range of musical styles from Country, Top 40, Classic Rock, and Blues.