Inver Hills Community Band Gears Up For Summer Concerts

The Inver Hills Community Band has been bringing music to the ears of the people of Inver Grove Heights for over 10 years. This summer, the group will continue to share its musical talents through a series of summer pops concerts.

The band was the product of a merger between two separate bands, the Inver Hills Symphonic Band and the Inver Grove Heights Community Band. They came together in 2000 under the direction of Allison Allen. The group has roughly 50 members today.

“It’s funny, we didn’t know about each other until someone was a member of both [bands] and spoke up about it,” said Mike Nelson, an alto saxophone player in the current band.

Nelson has been involved with the band for 28 years. He has a background in music education and acted as conductor from 1998-2002.

“We can augment other community activities by providing a wide variety of music,” Nelson said.

Thomas Morris played trumpet for the band, but stepped up as director in 2002. He recently retired from the South St. Paul school district as a music teacher. Though he spends the majority of the time with the band at the podium conducting, he said he still occasionally plays a trumpet solo.

At first, Morris said, anyone could join the Inver Hills Community Band, but eventually the band instituted official auditions.

“We wanted to make sure we could continue playing at a higher level,” Morris said.

Morris added that the group generally practices three Mondays each month, but the schedule lightens in the summer when they prepare for their summer pops concerts. These concerts include a variety of selections and genres.

“I don’t just do a theme,” he said. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone.”

Helen Olsen, 81, still continues to play her flute in the Inver Hills Community Band. She played for the Inver Hills Symphonic Band starting in 1980, but also played a musical instrument at St. Olaf College, in high school and even through World War II.

“My mission is to show people you don’t have to be young, thin and beautiful to make music,” Olsen said.

Sandy Marx has been a band member since 2000, but began playing her trumpet in 4^th grade.

“We all come from different backgrounds, but we all love music,” Marx said.

Nelson said the members work with and for one another.

“We all really appreciate the musical talents of those around us,” Olsen said. “It’s a bond; it’s a family.”

The summer pops concerts are free, but donations are accepted. The series includes three concerts at . The first is at 7 p.m. on July 17, the second is at 7 p.m. on Aug. 14, while the third is at 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 11. They will also hold a concert at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Centennial Lakes Park in Edina.

“Bring your lounge chair and your ice cream cone,” said Morris. “Sit back, relax, and be entertained!”