When the Minnesota Orchestra needed a French horn player to perform at Carnegie Hall, they called James Engebretson.
Engebretson was the band director at a Twin Cities middle school at the time, and the school's principal reluctantly gave him permission to take off if he kept it quiet from the other teachers. He flew to New York City, played the show and took the red-eye that night so he was back in time for school.
Years later, at Engebretson's retirement party, his son Mikael brought up the time his Dad played Carnegie Hall on the sly. He was surprised that no one seemed to have any idea what he was talking about.
"I realized he never told anybody. He really was a humble man," his son said. "To me it was always one of my favorite stories about him. He was that kind of guy."
An accomplished French horn player who dedicated his life to teaching music to young people, Engebretson died May 6 at his home in Hugo of congestive heart failure. He was 83. His family and friends remember him for his charitable spirit — the type of guy who was always fixing up horns or clarinets for kids who couldn't afford them.
His résumé includes band leader, teacher and composer. He helped start the North Metropolitan Brass Quintet and the Lake Wobegon Brass Band, and he performed with such esteemed groups as the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, International Horn Club and Metropolitan Opera Company.
"He was one of the finest musicians I've ever known," said James Limburg, a college classmate and fellow musician who taught theology at Luther Seminary, and incorporated Engebretson's music into his curriculum.
The son of a piano teacher, Engebretson grew up in Black River Falls, Wis., surrounded by music. He excelled as a musician at an early age and as a seventh-grader played French horn in the high school band. By the time he got to high school, he was directing the choir at his church.