The Official Minnesota State Band Performs in Park Rapids

The auditorium at the Park Rapids Area High School was filled with band students excited to watch the performance of the Minnesota State Band.

Park Rapids Area High School and Century Middle School band instructor John Cook said listening to groups who perform higher level of music broadens a musicians musical experience.

“We know as musicians that we continue to grow and improve when we have the opportunity to hear,“ Cook said.

The Minnesota State Band is able to play in places they would normally not be able to perform in because of a grant they had received.

“Why we get to come to Park Rapids is because we have a legacy grant from the legislature which allows us to travel around the state and play concerts,” Minnesota State Band Conductor Keith Liuzzi said.

The Minnesota State Band was formed in 1898 and is the official band for the state of Minnesota. Liuzzi said they celebrated the band’s 120^th birthday just last year. The band is also a non-profit community band, and Liuzzi said that majority of band members come from all ages.

“We have young and old, all walks of life coming together once a week to make music together, and the fact that they are all willing to take some time off,” Liuzzi said.

Cook said he hopes his students see the group and know that there’s an opportunity to keep progressing and playing and their instruments.

During the concert, the audience can expect a broad range of music. Liuzzi said some songs they will play were composed in 1950 as well new music written last year. He said the audience can expect a piece called “One Fair Summer Eve” and that is is based on the state fair.

“It has four movements all based on different aspects of the Minnesota State Fair. So it’s very Minnesotan,” said Liuzzi.