The Public is Invited to Help Celebrate 50 Years of the University of Mary Concert Band

BISMARCK, ND — What time is it when Halloween and All Saints Day are fast approaching? It must be time for the University of Mary annual Fall Band Concert. And while last year’s fall performance was held outside on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River valley in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Fall Band Concert will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, in Founders Hall of the Lumen Vitae University Center (LVUC).

This is a very special performance by the ensemble, as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the university Concert Band. From the first performance on Nov. 30, 1972, the Mary band has strived, as Ernie Borr remarked to the audience in the fall of ’72, “…to bring together young people from divergent backgrounds and schools to make possible the dream that Mary College should have a band.”

The musical selections this fall celebrate the arrival of All Saints Day, and will feature sacred selections from various denominations. “We’re looking forward to performing works based on “Amazing Grace,” “All is Well with my Soul,” “Simple Gifts,” and “Down in the River to Pray,” among others,” says Dennis Gowen, professor of music and director of bands and high brass at the University of Mary.

Also scheduled for the performance is Homage to Léonin (from Medieval Suite) by Ron Nelson. “Léonin was a 12th century French composer at Notre Dame,” says Gowen, “and was extremely integral to the development of polyphonic writing in Western music.” Nelson, who will turn 92 in December, was a 1994 Guest Composer/Conductor in Residence with the Mary Concert Band. He recently corresponded with Gowen, saying “Homage to Léonin is all about creating a ‘mood’ that reminds the listener of medieval chant.”

Also scheduled on the performance is the beautiful work entitled “Reflective Mood” by the late Sammy Nestico. This lush trombone solo with band accompaniment will feature Dr. Daniel Hinman, director of low brass at Mary.

The concert is free and open to the public. Feel free to check umary.edu/covid for any recent protocol updates.

Concert Band Personnel

Fall 2021 

PICCOLO

Greta Anderson, Bismarck ND

Meghan Schneider, Billings MT

FLUTE

Meghan Schneider, Billings, MT

Greta Anderson, Bismarck, ND

Rachelle Klein, Hazen, ND

Rachel Rusch, Bismarck, ND

Myra Arvig, Grey Eagle, MN

OBOE

Emily Cicha, Mandan, ND

Emily Sahl, Wahpeton, ND

CLARINET

Kailee Klein, Wahpeton, ND

Isaiah Blickenstaff, Perham, MN

Raquel Bata, Langdon, ND

AnnaMarie Ingalls, Bancroft, IA

Theresa Karrmann, Fond du Lac, WI

Eve Heupel, Dickinson, ND

BASS CLARINET

Joseph Zimmerman, West Bend, WI

Hannah Wutzke, Elbow Lake, MN

CONTRA ALTO CLARINET

Sarah Puyleart, Forest Lake, MN

ALTO SAXOPHONE

Kat Lawson, Bismarck, ND

Patrick Litton, Bismarck, ND

Riley Cronin, Larimore, ND

BARITONE SAXOPHONE

Lillian Effertz, Velva, ND

TRUMPET

Kennedy Cowart, Houston, TX

Brooke Mueller, Bismarck, ND

Brady Saylor, Bismarck, ND

John Mendiola, Dassel, MN

Stephen Talbot, Carol Stream, IL

HORN

Gina Nelson, Bismarck, ND

Judy Parker, Bismarck, ND

Amanda Rocha, Tigard, OR

TROMBONE

Lucas Schlosser, Mandan, ND

Reese Lausen, Billings, MT

Collin Prom, Swanville, MN

Kendall Tibor, Bismarck, ND

Zachary King, Glendale Heights, IL

Cole Kitzenberg, Billings, MT

Logan Quinn, Wilton, ND

EUPHONIUM

Lucas Schlosser, Mandan, ND

TUBA

Keenan Athman, Hamilton, MT

Nathan Heenan, Larsen, WI

Thatcher Solem, Beulah, ND

Sarah Pankratz, Billings, MT

PERCUSSION

Zach Marquette, Buffalo, MN

Edmund Peliska, Bismarck, ND

Ethan Emineth, Bismarck, ND

Graydon Williams, Bismarck, ND

Jack Luhman, Cokato, MN

Nicholas Amoranto, Circle Oceanside, CA

STAGE MANAGER

Amanda Rocha, Tigard, OR

LIBRARIAN

Theresa Karrmann, Fond du Lac, WI