St. Olaf Band

press release:  The St. Olaf Band will perform in Madison, Wisconsin at James Madison Memorial High School on Saturday, October 20 at 7 p.m. as part of its 2018 national tour. The concert will also feature the James Madison Memorial High School Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and musicians from Edgewood High School.

The St. Olaf Band, conducted by Dr. Timothy Mahr, is the oldest music organization at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, a campus internationally renowned for its high caliber of musical ensembles. This tour’s program, Celebrating the Human Spirit, will feature Mahr’s Symphony No. 1, which received its world premiere in 2016. A widely sought guest conductor and nationally recognized and award-winning composer, Mahr has more than 85 works to his credit.

“When given the privilege to create a major work, an artist is challenged to consider making a substantive expression,” said Mahr. “I’m interested in writing music that might pull the listener into the performance as an active participant.”

The concert is free for all students and $10 for adults. A discount is available for groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased at stolaf.edu/tickets.

The St. Olaf Band  has toured nationally since 1904 and internationally since 1906, when they performed a four-week, 30-concert tour of Norway, making them the first American collegiate band to tour Europe. The band has subsequently toured several times in Norway, Great Britain, Japan, central Europe, and most recently in Australia and New Zealand in 2018.

Stay up-to-date by following the St. Olaf Band on Facebook and Instagram. Visit the St. Olaf Band website for more information on the band.