DETROIT LAKES — It's been a tradition at Detroit Lakes Public Schools for nearly six decades now; every spring, local band students in grades 6-12 gather at Detroit Lakes High School for the All-City Band Festival.
But for the past couple of years, pandemic safety restrictions have put this tradition on ice — so students and band teachers alike are eager to see the return of the festival this week.
Guest conductor Jim Siewert, a retired band teacher from St. Peter, Minnesota, will be leading more than 250 kids from Detroit Lakes Middle School, Holy Rosary Catholic School and Detroit Lakes High School in learning the music for the festival's grand finale concert, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12 in the Lakeshirts Fieldhouse at DLHS.
"Each individual band — 6th grade, 7th grade, 8th grade, concert band and wind ensemble — will play two songs," says DLHS band director Timothy Siewert. "New this year, our jazz band will also play some pre-concert music as people come into the gym."
The bands will play with their local music directors for one song, and the other will be led by the guest conductor, who will also lead a mass band performance featuring all 250 students that will close out the evening's festivities.
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The similarity of the last names of the guest conductor and DLHS's current band director is not a coincidence; Jim Siewert is Tim Siewert's father.
"I'm excited for it, he's excited for it and the kids are excited too," said Tim Siewert, who is enjoying the opportunity to coordinate the musical selections with his father.
"Me, my dad and Nino (Tarara, director of the Detroit Lakes Middle School band program) all decided on the music for the mass band performance," said Siewert. "We thought 'America the Beautiful' and 'Stars and Stripes Forever' were a great choice."
Jim Siewert will arrive in Detroit Lakes on Monday, April 11, and spend both Monday and Tuesday working with the individual bands on their performance pieces. A mass band rehearsal will take place on Monday evening at the high school.
Tuesday night's concert is open to the public; general admission tickets will be on sale at the door.
If you go
What: The 56th Annual All-City Band Festival Grand Concert, presented by Detroit Lakes Public Schools
Where: Lakeshirts Fieldhouse, Detroit Lakes High School
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11
How: Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students, and will be available at the door.
