Rosemount organizes a community band

Years ago, Jan Nicolai of Rosemount played French horn in a band at St. John's Lutheran Church, performing alongside her mom on flute and her dad who played tuba. Driving to rehearsal, she'd stop and pick up high school-age musicians in the community who couldn't drive.

"My trunk would be filled with trombones and baritones and trumpets," she said. "And in we'd go. I loved it. It was great while it lasted. We just had such a gas putting ourselves together in a band."

When the pastor left for another congregation, the group eventually fizzled. So when Nicolai recently chanced upon a notice in a high school concert program about Rosemount starting a community band, she signed up immediately. Her son, a recent Rosemount graduate who plays percussion, also joined.

"I'm trying to talk my husband into buying a trombone on eBay," she said, "but I don't know if he will.

"I just can't wait for the first rehearsal," she said. "I think when you're a lifelong band member, you're into it. You miss it. I'm just hungry for this to start."

She won't have to wait long. Rosemount Middle School band director John Zschunke has been laying the groundwork, getting ideas from members of other community bands, creating a website and signing up players -- 37 so far. He plans to hold the first meeting for the group in October and to start rehearsals soon after.

Zschunke said he had been considering the idea for several years. "The Rosemount schools have a very successful music organization," he said. "We're very well supported by our community. Maybe we can support them by letting them play, too."

The 31-year-old elementary teacher played clarinet in wind ensembles as a University of St. Thomas student. "Just to have an outlet to play again is just really exciting," she said. "I think it's a really cool idea."

Rosemount High School band director Steve Olsen said he told Zschunke if started a band, he "would definitely play in it." Olsen played in community bands in Eden Prairie, when he lived there, and in Mankato during high school and college.

He remembers playing alongside a 91-year-old snare drummer in the Mankato band. "He was a character and he had a lot of stories to tell," he said, "and that was just really fun."

Keith Reed, president of the board for the Rosemount Area Arts Council, said council members have talked with Zschunke about putting on concerts in the park.

"There's a beautiful bandshell in Central Park that is really under-utilized," he said. "It's a beautiful amphitheater."

"The biggest fear that people have is that they haven't played their instrument in years or decades," Olsen said. He said people may not realize those skills haven't left them.

"They just have to revive them, and they don't realize that until they try. It's just like riding a bicycle."

Nicolai isn't too concerned. "I'm no longer good," she said. "I told Mr. Zschunke I'll play fourth chair... But I love to play, and I'll probably get better."