An Albert Lea native and band teacher has overseen growth in the school’s marching band program.

Suzanne Mauer, band director at Albert Lea High School since 2011, has helped the marching band expand from a drumline and a color guard to an actual band with about 80 members.

The full marching band was re-established in 2012 after not being in place since 2007, and will perform on the field at Albert Lea High School’s Homecoming football game Friday versus Tri-City United.

Mauer broached the idea after becoming the band director.

“I kind of threw it out there asking ‘what if we did just a little short season, but we had a full band,’ and there was a lot of interest,” she said, noting the amount of members in marching band has about doubled since its inception.

“Marching band is a very big favorite for a lot of kids, and there is just something about a marching band.” Mauer said. “Everyone loves a marching band, and it is by far the largest crowds we ever play for.”

The band has expanded events it plays for to parades in Albert Lea, Austin and Blooming Prairie and at Valleyfair.

The marching band lets students play for an audience larger than the usual concert, Mauer said.

“It’s not often that you have thousands of people cheering for you when you are doing something, so it’s exciting,” she said.

Mauer spoke highly of marching band members.

“They are really good about helping each other,” she said. “I have really strong upperclassmen leaders and drum majors and section leaders.”

Mauer has been a teacher at the district since 2003. Prior to becoming band director, she taught elementary general music for eight years at Lakeview Elementary School.

She said she loves to work with students.

“I really enjoy working with the kids,” Mauer said. “I always say I work with the best kids at the high school, and they really want to be here and they are excited. It’s joyful to work with them the vast majority of the time.”

Mauer graduated with from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa — where she performed in band and choir — and soon returned to Albert Lea.

“It was really cool to come back and take over my home program that I went through,” she said. “I think that gives me an interesting perspective on it too because I have such a history with the program.”