2016 Lake Wobegon Brass Band

Lake Webegon Brass Band Sunday, October 9 4 PM $20/$18 If you enjoy the Ludington Guard Band in the Summer, you will certainly take pleasure in the Lake Wobegon Brass Band in the Fall. This remarkable group takes the Mabel Tainter stage on Sunday afternoon, October 9 at 4 pm. The Lake Wobegon® Brass Band is a traditional British Brass Band ensemble originated by three founding members at the Anoka Coffee Shop on a Saturday morning in early 1992. Two of them had attended the 1991 North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) National Contest in Iowa and returned inspired to turn their dream of a Brass Band into reality. Charles Olson was asked to become conductor and music director. Music was borrowed from the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band in Red Wing, MN. Potential band members were contacted, and the first rehearsal was held on February 29, 1992, at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Monthly rehearsals followed during the spring, and in June the band hosted a Yamaha-NABBA Brass Band Workshop. Dr. Paul Droste, President of NABBA and conductor of the Grand Champion Brass Band of Columbus, was guest conductor and clinician. In the interim, hometown hero Garrison Keillor was contacted regarding the band assuming the name of his "hometown." He responded, "I'm happy to give my permission. The only condition is that you will let me know when the band is formed...and that at some mutually convenient time, you'll play at a picnic for me. Good Luck."