Carroll Summer Band Festival invites local students to connect musically

Despite not being in school during the summer, a group of students are still staying active with musical skills — and they’re ready to share their talents.

Tonight, the Carroll Summer Band Festival will return for its second year at Carroll High School Auditorium, beginning at 7 p.m., where 6th-12th grade students will perform a variety of music for the audience. The concert is free to attend, with free will donations also accepted.

Preparing within one week, the students rehearsed from Monday, July 1, to Friday, July 5 before their concert.

Wayne Lu, the band instructor for Carroll High School, sparked the idea of the Carroll Summer Band Festival, officially introducing it to the community last year.

This year, Lu said, he’s invited other band programs to come and play alongside the Carroll Tigers, expressing hope the Carroll Summer Band Festival will grow in the years to come. During the week, Kuemper Catholic students and Kuemper Catholic Band Director Marie Walsh Becker have joined the group.

Looking back at last year, Lu said, the students had a great time. Particularly, Lu said, the younger kids were excited to have a chance to play with the older students.

“That was a lot of fun, and it’s a great learning experience,” Lu said. “They all get to play together and they all get to learn together in a week. It’s relatively low stress because the music is not super hard, and it’s just a way for the kids to keep playing in the summer and just stay active musically.”

Knowing many of the students are staying busy with their summer jobs and sports, Lu said the festival is an opportunity for students to work together musically.

“We had a great crowd at the concert last year, also, and they really enjoyed the concert, and all the parents felt like, ‘Oh, this is a great way for our kids to stay active,’” Lu said.

Additionally, Lu invited a fellow music educator and longtime friend to help lead the students. Benjamin Faugstad, an associate professor in music at Bethany Lutheran College, will also be the guest conductor for the Carroll Summer Band Festival.

Although Faugstad’s family lives in Mankato, Minnesota, he decided to travel south for the Carroll Summer Band Festival. Besides conducting, Faugstad also invited his two daughters to perform in the festival, playing bass clarinet and percussion respectively.

“I know Wayne pours his heart into the music, not just as a musician himself, but as somebody who’s conducting and leading a group of musicians,” Faugstad said.

Faugstad pointed out that Lu not only leads the students, but will also directly perform alongside them.

“I think that’s something really important for the students to see, is that their teacher is not hesitant to also jump in and play along with them,” Faugstad said. “And I think that’s critical to always have that close connection by also being a performer too.”

Wanting the festival to become a strong tradition, Lu said, he’s happy to have Faugstad by his side this year.

“His main focus when he’s a band director is the same focus I have, and that is, ‘How do we get more kids to love this?’” Lu said. “I can’t think of a better person to help me with that than Ben.”

Based on what he’s seen so far from the students, Faugstad expressed confidence in the quality of the concert.

“It’s an honor to be here,” Faugstad said. “[Monday’s] rehearsal was a great start to the week and I know the capstone performance, that Friday night concert, is going to be fantastic.”

Beyond musical skills, Faugstad said great relationships also help a great concert come to life.

“It’s not just that they’re strong musicians, but also they’re just a good bunch of people to work with,” Faugstad said. “And that’s important in a quality performance, that it’s not just talking about the music, but also that you’re just building relationships within that short week and friendships. I can see it’s already a wonderful thing for my daughters, we just feel very welcomed and appreciated.”