Sun shines on 61st Tri-State Band Festival

• Band

Brian Korthals/Daily Globe Tri-State Band Festival host band the Luverne High School Marching Band marches down the street at the conclusion of Saturday morning’s parade.

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LUVERNE — On sunny Saturday morning, the Worthington High School “Spirit of Worthington” band marched all the way to first place in the Class AAA parade competition at the 61st annual Tri-State Band Festival in Luverne.

Besting perennial rival Brandon Valley High School by a mere six-tenths of a point, the Trojans came out on top for the first time in many years, tallying the highest point total among the 19 bands participating in the parade portion of the annual festival.

“This was a big win for us, but it was really about hard work and effort,” said Jon Loy, WHS band director. “Everybody stepped up and contributed to make this happen, and I’m excited for how well all the area bands did; it really speaks well for our region that we have so much great parade marching.”

Performing to dramatic music from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” for a second year, the WHS band’s color guard also received the highest marks of all parade entries for its artistry and finesse.

“The crowds were really supportive, and I can’t remember a more perfect day for the Tri-State festival,” said Loy, whose band garnered 81 points to Brandon Valley’s 80.4.Brookings High School took third in the Class AAA parade contest with 78.4 points.

The Adrian High School band, under the direction of Danielle Miller, placed first in the Class A1 parade category with their peppy routine to “Greased Lightning,” complete with Adrian’s color guard, as well as drum major Natalie Cook, dressed in poodle skirts and sporting pink-beribboned pony tails.

Second place in the Class A1 parade slot went to the Murray County Central band, which played a Latin-style number, “Cuban Coffee,” under the direction of Elizabeth Ennenga.

Pipestone’s band finished second to Stewartville in Class AA parade competition with director Steve Olson helping his musicians rock out, a la Michael Jackson, to “Thriller.”

Peter Carlson’s Sibley-Ocheyedan Marching Generals claimed the top parade spot in Class A, processing to “March with Class.” The Generals also received the festival’s special K.M. Getman Originators Award, honoring a participating band that demonstrates pride, spirit, enthusiasm, friendliness and unity.

Fourteen bands total, including several that were not involved in the morning’s parade, tackled the afternoon field show competition at Luverne High School.

Enthusiastic spectators lined Luverne’s Main Street for the popular 10 a.m. parade at least an hour earlier, enjoying the perfect weather along with the pageantry and musicianship on display.

“It’s a glorious day for a parade,” said Bob Jirele, a parent of two WHS percussionists who was delighting in the perfect early day.

But it wasn’t just band parents and area music enthusiasts who turned out in droves for the annual musical spectacle; a contingent of 67- and 68-year-olds may have been having the best time of all.

First overheard reminiscing about their own days in high school band, the group happily revealed themselves to be excited members of the Luverne High School (LHS) Class of ’61, in town to celebrate their 50th reunion.

“This is thrilling to combine the Tri-State Band Festival with our 50th reunion—just thrilling,” said Doug McDermott. McDermott, a retired U.S. Navy pilot now of Morris, Ill., was a baritone player who participated in the festival from eighth through 12th grades.

“Richard Johnson was the band director during our high school years, and he was a very talented guy,” McDermott said. “We all respected him greatly.”

With 94 graduates in the LHS Class of ’61, 89 people (including some spouses) were expected for the weekend reunion, including Lorna (Forrest) Hansen. Hansen, now of Burnsville, was a saxophonist; her twin brother, Loren Forrest, still resides in Luverne.

“Our color guard girls wore little pleated skirts and froze to death,” Hansen said with a laugh, noting slight differences between the early 1960s and today. “There were always batons, and we had a drum majorette. But we never danced like that!” she assured as the Pipestone band executed their “Thriller” routine, including a moonwalk segment, a few steps from where she was seated.

Former LHS trombonist Darnelle (Schei) Mammen, a New Ulm resident, was pleased to have an added reason for visiting her Luverne-based mother, Virginia Schei.

“Neil Luebke, another one of our Class of ’61 classmates, couldn’t be here this weekend, but his dad [Ferd Luebke] was one of those who started this festival,” Mammen said.

They also teased classmate Jerilyn Britz, who admitted to having played tenor sax — “sort of,” she said.

“She was better at golf than band,” joked Hansen, reminding that Britz, an LPGA card-holder, won the women’s 1979 USGA tournament.

With the Tri-State Band Judges — a judging association founded by Tom Haugen in 1985, based in Decorah, Iowa, and staffed with marching band specialists — providing comments and critiques for each performing band, many high school musicians will soon be hearing from their directors exactly what those judges thought of their efforts.

But even if a few feet were out of step, or a couple of notes missed their mark, the Tri-State Band Festival’s hordes of spectators will be more likely to remember the thrills and chills the students’ stirring performances inspired.

Offered McDermott, “I’m getting goosebumps all the darn day.”

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