Prestigious college band visits campus

The St. Olaf Band from Northfield, Minn. conducted by Timothy Mahr, performed in the McAfee Center on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The concerts were free for students, though tickets were $10 for adults and seniors.

The St. Olaf Band performed five pieces, including one movement from composer David Maslanka’s piece “Symphony No. 9” and featuring St. Olaf Band member’s new composition “Windmills.”

St. Olaf College is recognized as one of the finest college concert bands in the country. A private liberal arts school, the college has a world-renowned music program with talented private music ensembles.
The band is led by Mahr, who also teaches music at St. Olaf College.

Music director Michael Boitz had previously invited the college to perform at Saratoga, but was unable to work out a schedule.

“It’s a big deal for our school,” Boitz said. “The Midwest and the East Coast have phenomenal liberal arts colleges, and here in the West Coast, we tend not to be aware about those things.”

The band has a long, prestigious tradition of touring both nationally and internationally, with a history that ranges back to 1904. The band has travelled to countries as far as Norway and performed for King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, and has performed at many European venues.

“You could just tell they were a professional band,” senior Vivian Liao said. “Their sound just filled up the theater.”