Celebration to Include Upcoming Concert ‘A Prairie of Voices’
A celebration of the Augustana Band’s 125th anniversary will take place at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, Nov. 11. The concert at the Washington Pavilion entitled “A Prairie of Voices,” will feature the All City Middle School Honor Band, as well as a commissioned piece by Dr. James M. David, an internationally-recognized composer.
“I really feel strongly about the liberal arts philosophy — it’s one of the things that drew me to Augustana, and so, I thought there’s no better way to show it than in the work,” said Dr. Christopher Unger, associate professor of music and director of instrumental studies at Augustana. “Dr. David actually based the (commissioned) piece on one of Patrick Hicks’ poems ‘Upon Seeing the Saint John’s Bible.’ Dr. David took four characteristic lines from the poem to be a source of inspiration for the piece. At the concert on the 11th, Hicks will read the poem and then we’ll play the piece so we can see how they come together.”
While the band will premiere the piece at the concert, there’s a generous couple who helped make it possible: Richard ‘60 and Ann Flisrand of Austin, Minnesota — both lifelong music educators.
“Hearing a recording of a previous band composition by Dr. David, I find that his music speaks to me in an especially meaningful way. I am excited to hear the musical sounds of a new composition, which will become part of the band literature of this time. I’m humbled that Ann and I are able to be a part of the creation of ‘A Prairie of Voices.’ I can’t wait to hear it,” said Richard Flisrand, who will travel back to his alma mater with his wife and other alumni for the concert.
125 Years of History
From a student-led organization to now being a part of Augustana’s School of Music, the Augustana Band has come a long way in 125 years.
“The Augustana Band has roots dating back to 1896. It started off basically as a student club, some students getting together to put a band together. It was very successful early in that they were successful in putting on concerts,” Unger said.
According to the dissertation of Dr. Greg Handel ‘91, The Augustana College Department of Music, 1921-1973: A History, in 1900, the band was one of the few school activities in which students were able to participate. At that time, the band had 21 members and embarked on its first tour in southeastern South Dakota and Minnesota.
The band grew in number when the Lutheran Normal School and Augustana College merged in 1918. Over the next 10 years, the band provided both concert music, as well as music at athletics events.
A new era began when a symphonic band — exclusively a concert group — was created by the music department under then Director Richard J. Guderyahn. The symphonic band, which became known as the Augustana Band, made its debut during Viking Days in October 1931.
“The rockstar orchestra conductor basically took the reins at the faculty level to make it more of an official college class,” noted Unger.
According to Handel’s dissertation, Guderyahn conducted the band until 1956 — the same year the Augustana Band would go on its first concert tour. That’s when Dr. Leland A. Lillehaug ‘51 came into the picture as Augustana’s professor of music and second director of bands.
“He was a change-maker,” said Unger. “He had a philosophy, an idea of what a band program could be, and made it a comprehensive band program.”
Lillehaug is credited with creating and developing the Viking Marching Band and Augustana Band Festival — still held annually each year. In its 64th year, the festival will take place at 6:30 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 13, in the Washington Pavilion’s Mary W. Sommervold Hall.
Lillehaug, who served as director of bands until 1977 and a faculty member until 1991, left a lasting impact on those around him, including Richard Flisrand — the reason the couple continues to give to Augustana to this day.
“I remember the day I auditioned for the Augustana Band in 1956. Dr. Lillehaug made comments that inspired me to do my best. His leadership in band and classes was meaningful and supportive,” said Richard. “After college graduation, no other person had a larger impact in my life than Dr. Lillehaug. I’m forever grateful for his dedication and friendship.”
When Lillehaug retired in 1977, according to Handel, Gary Tanouye became the third tenured conductor of the Augustana Band followed by interim directors Drs. Paul Schuerle, David Mitchell and Lillehaug once more.
In the fall of 1989, Bruce T. Ammann was hired as the band’s fourth tenured conductor. Under his leadership, the Augustana Band performed at many of the nation’s finest concert halls, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He also led the band on its first international tour in January of 1999 to Asia; others followed in 2003 and 2007 to China, and in 2011 to Egypt, during the start of the Egyptian Revolution.
“We have a really strong reputation for consistency and quality throughout the region, outside the region, especially those schools that are affiliated with the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). They really understand that Augustana’s music program, choir program, band program are incredibly strong,” said Unger. “The fact that the group has been able to play at a national convention for CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association) really speaks volumes to the quality of the ensemble — it’s really difficult to reach that bar. You’re playing beside some of the strongest ensembles in the country. So, the fact that Dr. Ammann was able to do that — that is a feather in the cap and absolutely incredible.”
Ammann retired as director following a sabbatical in 2013. During that time, Dr. Paul Schilf led the Augustana Band, a position he held until Augustana appointed its fifth tenured conductor.
The Augustana Band Today
Unger, who holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the University of British Columbia, as well as a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music, came to Augustana in 2015.
“I just feel really honored to be in the position I am in. After taking some time to understand the history, I sit here with big shoes to fill and I’m loving every minute,” said Unger.
When Unger arrived at AU, he said the work that Ammann did and Schilf continued, demonstrated a good traditional band program with really strong roots and great fundamentals.
In conjunction with the School of Music, Unger’s goal is to build on the traditions of the past, such as getting out in the community, showcasing the quality of AU’s ensembles and training excellent teachers, while adding new layers of education for its students. These layers include new course offerings and a multimedia entrepreneurship program with the Midco Media Center at the core.
“We are poised to harness technology and have our students record for us professional quality recordings that we could release to the world,” noted Unger.
To wrap up its 125th Anniversary, the Augustana Band plans to release an album in the spring. But, let’s not forget where the celebration started. It began in the fall with the resurrection of something Lillehaug created: the Viking Marching Band. Its official debut took place on Sept. 4, after a nearly 50-year hiatus.
“I think that’s a really nice nod to our history and to our present because of the absolute importance of marching bands in our musical culture here in the Midwest. I’m really excited to have it back,” said Unger. “We’re really looking to what Leland Lillehaug did with our band program and looking to do that with our School of Music — making a comprehensive school.”
Giving something to both students and alumni to embrace as they look back on the past and look toward the future.
“The Augustana Band helped me develop musically and prepared me for a career in music education, which was the central part of my professional life. I am thankful for those who sustained the band before I arrived at Augustana and I wish to be a part of the continuing success of such an exciting and vital program,” said Richard Flisrand.