The Star News 3/22/05

Student musicians to share stage with Army Field Band
by Britt Aamodt
Special to the Star News

Twelve band students from the Elk River, Rogers and Zimmerman high schools will get a chance to perform with the U.S. Army’s premier touring group, the Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 29.

Four students from each high school were selected for the honor: Chris Backstrand, Kevin Chyrklund, Jenny Pierce and Zach Schaheen from Elk River; Jenn Bach, Jessica Johnson, Jake Jorgensen and Sarah Skoog from Rogers; and David Carlson, Steven Holcombe, Matt Shevich and Danielle Walker from Zimmerman.

The free concert will be held at Zabee Theater and will feature an eclectic set of patriotic, classical, popular and Broadway numbers. The 65-member Army Field Band and the 29-member Soldiers’ Chorus have played with some of America’s great symphony orchestras, among them the Boston Pops and the Detroit Symphony. In January, the Field Band component kicked off the inaugural parade for President Bush.

Pat Feit, former Elk River High School choir director, first discovered the Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus while conducting vocal clinics on the East Coast. Several Soldiers’ Chorus members numbered among her adult students.

The Soldiers’ Chorus members “spoke so highly and so lovingly” of their organization, said Feit, “that I decided it would be fabulous to bring them here.”

Feit floated the idea with the Elk River Area Arts Alliance, who agreed to sponsor the concert.

“It’s a big process to become a sponsoring organization,” explained Feit. The Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus “want to know that the sponsor will do the advertising and publicity necessary to get the word out. I wrote to legislators. I wrote to community dignitaries. I contacted the American Legion and the Rotary Club for letters of confirmation.”

In 2004, an Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus tour coordinator visited Elk River and gave the green light for the Zabee Theater concert.

Staff Sgt. Michael Klima, a graduate of St. Cloud State University and trumpet player in the Army Field Band, said that the band and chorus’ mission is to “give something back to the citizens for their support of the Army. That’s why the tickets are free.”

Another way the Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus give back is through educational outreach, which they will bring to area schools April 1, when Elk River, Rogers and Zimmerman middle and high school students will be treated to a series of voice and music workshops.

“The Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus break down into smaller groups,” said Klima. Brass, woodwind, percussion and vocal ensembles “go out to local schools and universities and share our expertise through group lessons and recitals. We do question-and-answer sessions, too.”

“The workshops are wonderful for the students,” said Feit, who taught choir at Elk River High School 1992–2002. “It’s always valuable when adult musicians share how music has had a positive, rich impact on their lives.”

Although the concert is currently sold out, unclaimed seats will be available at 7:20 p.m. for the general public. Contact the ERAAA office for more information at (763) 441-4725 or elkriverart@sherbtel.net

Journalist

http://www.erstarnews.com/2005/march/22studentmusic.html 

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