Residents share how they got involved, what they enjoy about longtime group

 

Photography by Colleen Harrison

 

Nathan Smith

Instrument: trumpet

Years with Albert Lea
Community Band: about three

Musical background: started playing in fifth grade and hadn’t played for about 14 years until he moved to Albert Lea and joined Community Band

Best thing about Community Band:

it gets him back to playing the trumpet again

 

George Wichmann

Instrument: tuba

Years with Albert Lea
Community Band: about 17

Musical background: started playing in eighth grade; a band director asked him to play the tuba, so he did

Best thing about Community Band: “Boston Pops doesn’t have anything to fear from us, but we have a good time making good music”

 

Gail Thurnau

Instrument: glockenspiel

Years with Albert Lea
Community Band: about five

Musical background: has been playing the keyboards since she was 5 and has been a church organist for over 60 years, making the transition to the glockenspiel pretty easy, she said. She played the flute in middle and high school, but found that too hard to get back into

Best thing about Community Band: it’s “another opportunity” to keep playing

 

Brenda Wichmann

Instrument: trombone

Years with Albert Lea
Community Band: about 17

Musical background: started playing in elementary school, knowing she wanted to play a brass instrument

Best thing about Community Band:

it’s fun to play in a group and have the fellowship, and having good directors who are passionate about the music

 

Sara Aeikens

Instrument: clarinet

Years with Albert Lea
Community Band: about 10

Musical background: started playing clarinet in the fourth grade, and worked her way up to first clarinet in junior high school and went to band camp during the summers while in school

Best thing about Community Band:

“It gives me encouragement, because I know I make a difference, and I know people who enjoy coming to the concerts”