Arts Learning Grant
Arts Learning Grant
The Lake Superior Low Brass Ensemble (LSLBE) for highschool level musicians
Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community; Kris Nelson: artist, teacher; Roxann Berglund: musician; Bill Payne: Professor of Theater at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Sam Zimmerman: visual artist, teacher; Liz Engelman: dramaturg, founder and director of Tofte Lake Center; Jessica Peterson: essayist, playwright, co-founder of Yellow Tree Theater; Erin Cain: University of Minnesota-Duluth Student Liaison
Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Kris Nelson: artist, teacher; Jennifer Jubenville: Manager, the Bookstore at Fitger's; Lisa Buckman: General Manager, Mesabi Symphony Orchestra
ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage
I am trying to improve the brass playing of the region. I am hoping to grow the brass community and encourage lifelong music making. And I am trying to help energize the band programs struggling to recover from the pandemic. The measurable outcomes are (1) increased interest in the program demonstrated by rising numbers of participants, and (2) noticeable improvement in the participants as assessed by an expert. The work is successful if I help even one student get better at their instrument. If even one student decides to stay in band. When we started in November of 2021, I went to a number of schools to push the program, there were initially 20 interested students. When we started in person, 12 people committed to the group. I am hoping to spread the word about the group and get more hype for the beginning of the 2022-2023 season. I know there is interest. I will be able to know, as an expert in my field, whether or not the musicians are improving technically on their instruments. But, I will also get input from the band directors of the students to see if they notice any marked improvements.