La Grande Bande Awarded PLRAC Grant for its 2019 – 2020 Season

Individual, corporate contributors still needed

GAYLORD, MN, September 2, 2019 – La Grande Bande (LGB) is happy to announce that it has been awarded a Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council (PLRAC) grant for its upcoming 2019 – 2020 season. The PLRAC grant is the second La Grande Bande has received in support of its 2019 – 2020 season. The first grant was awarded by the Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation (Rochester, MN).

“We are incredibly honored to have received a second PLRAC grant in a matter of five months,” noted Music & Artistic Director, Michael Thomas Asmus. “We’re humbled by the support that we have seen from the Prairie Lakes board, and we are eager for the season to begin.”

Like many organizations, La Grande Bande cannot count on the support of Foundations and Granting organizations alone. Over half of its season budget is dependent upon individual and corporate contributors. “The budget is really large for the 2019 – 2020 Season,” Asmus noted. “It’s actually well over $30,000.00 for the entire season, a 75-percent increase from our Sibley East Education Project (SEEP) in May.”

The reasons for the large budget? A huge amount of programming. In comparison with its SEEP, La Grande Bande has expanded its season concert offerings by 80-percent, it’s masterclass programming by 50-percent, and its one-of-a-kind open rehearsal sessions by 75-percent. LGB is also launching its first outreach concert which will take place at Oak Terrace, Gaylord on September 20, a few hours before the season opening concert.

“We are trying to make as much of our programing free to the public as we can,” said Asmus. “We ask for a small fee for educational project participants, which is used to cover about 25-percent of our expenses for that program. If requested, will waive the fee. Our aim is to make that program completely, 100-percent free for the 2020 – 2021 season.”

La Grande Bande’s open rehearsals, which typically begin at 3:00 pm at the performance venue, are free and open to the public. As described in LGB’s season proposal,

Open rehearsal sessions provide an opportunity to hear the concert’s music for those who cannot afford a ticket. Providing access to high-quality art, and helping others learn about and appreciate music, is an important part of La Grande Bande’s educational mission. Open rehearsals create an atmosphere of dialogue between ensemble members and members of the community. We encourage those in attendance to speak with us before and after rehearsal, and during rehearsal breaks.

Open rehearsals create an atmosphere of dialogue between ensemble members and members of the community. We encourage those in attendance to speak with us before and after rehearsal, and during rehearsal breaks.

The full season concert and open rehearsal schedule is available at their website www.lagrandebande.org/season1920. You may also pick up a season brochure at various locations throughout Arlington, Gaylord, and Winthrop.

The season opens on Friday, September 20 at 7:00 pm with “Concert I: La musique de la chambre” at First Lutheran Church in Winthrop. The open rehearsal session runs from 3:00 – 5:00. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lagrandebande.org/tickets.

**This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund**Share

La Grande Bande Announces its 2019 – 2020 Concert Season

The Season begins on September 20

GAYLORD, MN, August 13, 2019 – Today La Grande Bande (LGB) announces its debut 2019-2020 season; the first in the organization’s history. Led by LGB’s Music & Artist Director Michael Thomas Asmus, and an exceptional roster of dynamic and energetic artists, the 2019 – 2020 season offers five performances at four venues in central Sibley County.

“After the great success of our Sibley East Educational Project (SEEP) and our “A Baroque Banquet” concert, we knew we had a great thing going,” Music & Artistic Director Michael Thomas Asmus said. “There is so much more music and learning that we can offer the local community and local schools. We really wanted to continue on the same path that we established during our SEEP in May.”

Season Overview

The season will offer a wide variety of Baroque music, ranging from intimate solo performances to large-scale works for 20 musicians. We have two performances in non-traditional venues: the Sibley County Court House Rotunda and the Arlington Haus Restaurant’s “Arlington Haus Too.” Each concert program is designed to provide a little something for everyone, with Baroque music performed on period instruments at each concert’s core.

Throughout its season, LGB will present music by 12 composers, sung in three languages (German, Italian, and Latin), and in 13 different ensemble combinations. Audience members will be able to hear baroque flute, baroque oboes, baroque bassoon, in addition to period strings, harpsichord, and theorbo.

Season Highlights

• Performances featuring baroque flute, baroque oboes, and baroque bassoon
• An intimate solo harpsichord recital in the Sibley County Court House rotunda (limited seating)
• A casual concert which relaxes traditional “performance etiquette” for a get-together in a local restaurant
• Four masterclass sessions for local high school students
• Four open rehearsal sessions
• An outreach concert at Oak Terrace in Gaylord

Educational & Outreach Programming

La Grande Bande will continue to offer its unique blend of open rehearsals and masterclass sessions for the upcoming 2019 – 2020 season. We are delighted to announce the expansion of our masterclass sessions to GFW High School. We will offer Sibley East’s and GFW’s high school students with two masterclass sessions.

Open rehearsals will take place for four of five season concerts. A full listing open rehearsal dates can be found on our website at www.lagrandebande.org/season1920.

We are also happy to announce our first outreach concert at Oak Terrace in Gaylord. This concert will provide residents with the opportunity to hear some of the music from our first concert, La musique de la chambre.Share