I look forward to concerts because all of the choirs come together as one big family. I especially love the Pop and Broadway Concert because it is the last concert of the year with the combined choirs.”

Ethan Binkley, choir member

Park High Band and Choir will soon host several free concerts for resident enjoyment at Park High this May.
Starting Monday, May 5, the Park High band program stands ready to delight attendees with a free band concert at 7 p.m. in the Park High Auditorium. The concert will feature the Park High School (PHS) Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, otherwise from the daytime classes at Park High.
Building tempo as the month progresses, the Park High Jazz Band will perform Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m., also in the Auditorium. The concert will feature PHS Wolfpack Jazz, Cottage Grove Middle School (CGMS) Cougar Jazz, and Oltman Middle School (OMS) Raider Jazz. All programs are extracurricular bands that meet outside the school day for love of music—not class credit—just because they love jazz! The May 8 concert at Park High will also feature local Jazz freelance artist Brian Handeland as guest soloist on a couple pieces. Handeland spent two rehearsals working with the PHS Jazz Band to help prepare them for the concert.
That’s not all, however, as the Park High concert schedule includes a choir concert Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m., also in the Park High Auditorium. The May 12 choir concert will include all four PHS daytime choirs as well as several extracurricular and before school choir groups with Broadway, Movie and Pop tunes – sure to be fun and familiar to kids of all ages.
Arriving Thursday, May 15, there will be an orchestra concert at Park High. The concert will take place at 7 p.m. in the auditorium and will feature all three daytime orchestra classes as well as several extracurricular/before school orchestra groups.
Closing out the spring concert schedule with a grand finale, Park High will host a combined band, choir, and orchestra concert at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 19 in the school auditorium.
As for the near past, Park High student musicians and vocalists competed earlier this year at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All Conference Music Festival on Feb. 2 at Irondale High School, where each of the many individual music groups at Park High was well represented in the honors ensembles.
“Each program was strongly represented in each of the honors ensembles comprised of the best musicians from the 10 conference schools,” Park High band director Thomas Storm said of the Feb. 2 Music Festival at Irondale.
Also taking place in February, the Park High Wind Ensemble competed Feb. 20 at the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Band Festival at Simley High School, where they performed two pieces for a panel of three judges who awarded the group a consensus Superior Rating, the highest honor available.
Band and Choir students shared their enthusiasm for music as they look forward to upcoming May concerts.
“I love being in choir because I get to be myself without worry of judgement,” Donovan Tobias said. “It's a rare thing to have for me, so it's something I cherish every single day.”
For Ethan Binkley, it’s about family.
“I look forward to concerts because all of the choirs come together as one big family,” Binkley said. “I especially love the Pop and Broadway Concert because it is the last concert of the year with the combined choirs.”
Helen Born is excited about pop, musical, and show tunes.
“I'm excited to sing these well-known pop, musical, and show tunes,” she said. “I believe Pop and Broadway is the concert that gets the new incoming freshmen most excited about joining choir.”
Senior Tenor Sax Gavin Stauffer got specific in terms of preferred musical numbers.
“‘Czardas’ is a classic solo piece featured in many movies throughout the years, including a comedically sung version by Danny Kaye in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,’” he said. “We’ve made it a trio and feature a bit of comedy of our own. Don’t miss it!”
Dora Nguyen enjoyed the challenge of learning “Arabesque” for the upcoming show.
“I enjoyed the challenge learning the flute solo for ‘Arabesque,’ a piece written by famous band composer and educator Samuel Hazo,” she said. “He taps into his Lebanese and Arabic heritage for this unique and powerful song – there’s a lot of drumming and it gets loud!”
Senior Justin Filmore is pumped for the May concert schedule at Park High.
“I am a senior and the last of six siblings to be with Mr. Storm in the Park Band,” he said. “It’s the end of an era, but it’s a great concert to go out on a bang with!”
Senior Lily Smith shared her love of orchestra as the May concerts approach.
“I love orchestra!” Smith said. “And Ms. Czepa brings so much energy and enthusiasm to rehearsals. She picks great music that is challenging but also a lot of fun.”
Band director Storm closed out with a review of important details.
“All concerts are at 7 p.m. in the PHS Auditorium,” Storm said. “Everyone is welcome to attend. Admission is free!”
Once again, here’s the full upcoming concert schedule at Park High!

Monday, May 5
Band Concert at 7 p.m. in Park High Auditorium. PHS Wind Ensemble and Concert Band

Thursday, May 8
Jazz Band Concert at 7 p.m. in Park High Auditorium. Concert features PHS Wolfpack Jazz, CGMS Cougar Jazz, and OMS Raider Jazz The concert will feature local Jazz freelance artist Brian Handeland guest soloist on a couple pieces.

Monday, May 12
Choir Concert at 7 p.m. in Park High Auditorium. All 4 PHS Daytime choirs as well as several extracurricular/before school choir groups featuring Broadway, Movie and Pop tunes – sure to be fun and familiar to kids of all ages.

Thursday, May 15
Orchestra Concert at 7 p.m. in Park High Auditorium. Concert will feature all three daytime orchestra classes as well as several extracurricular/before school orchestra groups.

Monday, May 19
Combined Band/Choir/Orchestra Concert at 7 p.m. in Park High Auditorium. Concert will feature small ensembles, duets and soloists from each of the programs.