Memorial Concert Taking Place Sunday for Edina Grad

Almost two years ago, on Sept. 11, 2009, 19-year-old graduate Ian Selleck died of a drug overdose. In an instant, he left behind parents Steve and Star Selleck, siblings Jessica and Nicholas, and a large network of family and friends.  

“Losing Ian was like losing a force of life,” said Star Selleck, his mother. “Ian would walk in and things would be electric.”

A memorial concert is planned for Sunday to honor the life and memory of Ian and to celebrate one of his greatest passions: music. 

Saying she doesn’t want any other parent to go through what she has gone through in losing her son, Star plans to take a moment during the memorial concert to remind all in attendance to carefully evaluate the choices they make in life and consider the possible consequences. 

“He made one stupid mistake,” Star said. 

The larger focus of the concert, however, will be on celebrating and coming together as a community. Ian was an enthusiastic musician, athlete and friend to many. And he loved music festivals—so this one’s for him. 

Two local bands, Hollow Heart and the Moses Oakland Quartet (which is usually a quintet, but one member will be away), will perform at the concert. Ian had the opportunity to play with the Moses Oakland Quintet during open mic nights at Famous Dave’s in Minneapolis, and he played with Hollow Heart as well. Hollow Heart now has a song titled “IanSong.”  

Ian’s older sister Jessica, a 2005 graduate of EHS, is the central organizer of the event. Her aim has been to create a comfortable atmosphere for all ages, where musicians and performers can express themselves the way Ian liked to. 

“I think he’d be really excited about this,” Jessica said.

The concert will be held at the Normandale Lake Bandshell in Bloomington, where Ian’s memorial bench sits at the top of the hill—a symbol of his presence, of Ian watching the show with his family and friends. And that's exactly what his friend Ely Hutchinson says he would be doing. 

“If it’s fun and there’s food and there’s decent music, he’d be there,” Hutchinson said. 

Hutchinson also jammed with Ian from time to time and will play a short set at the memorial concert, including songs the two used to play together. 

A donation of $10 is suggested and there will also be a silent auction of donated art. Ian had aspired to attending McNally Smith College of Music. For that reason, one of two funds created from the money collected at the memorial concert will provide a small scholarship to McNally Smith, which the Selleck family will organize in conjunction with the school. The other fund will go to the Twin Cities Youth Jazz Camp. 

The Selleck family hopes to make the memorial concert an annual event as a way of keeping Ian’s memory alive.

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