Classical Music Podcasts (These are very interesting)

 This aired on Minnesota Public Radio and is very interesting

From their webpage:

''Decomposed breaks down the stories that have shaped classical music, from secrets and scandals to acts of sheer genius. Hear these stories accompanied by the symphonies, operas and other masterpieces they inspired. Hosted by Jade Simmons, a classical concert pianist and storyteller, the first season of Decomposed takes on gender expectations, Cold War propaganda and the danger of putting your personal life on the stage."

Podcasts: click here

Northeast Community Band 2020 Year End Update!

 While we are not able to meet in person to rehearse, the Northeast Community Band continues to keep in practice by meeting each week for a 90 minute Zoom Conference Rehearsal. 

A this current writing, all concerts for the 2020-2021 season have either been canceled or postponed to a future date - to be determined. 

We will update this blog and the webpage as we know more information.

Covid-19 Update as of August 30, 2020

Our Performance season is on hold and all previously scheduled concerts have been canceled.

The band will continue to rehearse starting Sept 17, 2020, however we will do so remotely (via video conferencing). We will work on music that we already have in our folders and others  may be added via email.

 

Season Suspended until September 2020

04-09-2020
Our 2019/2020 season has been suspended until September, 2020. Watch this page for details.

CoronaVirus aka COVID-19 update

It has been decided to cancel tonight's rehearsal, and we'll continue to keep you updated as to our future schedule. Don't quit practicing though....

Minneapolis Public Schools/Community Ed will be making announcements later today about their plans as well. Knowing that information will help us determine our future schedule. This is new territory and appreciate your understanding as we navigate these waters.

Mara - Flute Section

Mara is one of our newest band members of North East Community Band, having just joined this past spring. She enjoys playing flute alongside other flautists and piccolo players. She has played flute for 14years now (and played piccolo for 6 of those years as well).

In her non-band life, Mara works as a Registered Nurse (RN) at both a community clinic and a hospital in South Minneapolis. She loves her jobs and the difference she makes in her patients’ lives. 

Outside of work she also enjoys cooking, baking, running, hiking, camping, and biking... most recently she has signed up for her first triathalon and hopes to successfully train for and complete that this coming summer. 

Her favorite music movie is August Rush. If she could play any other instrument in the band besides the flute and piccolo, she’d want to play the bass clarinet. Her dream job if she could pick anything other than nursing would be to record movie music and be a part of famous scores in well-known movies (really anything by John Williams or Hans Zimmer).

March 28, 2019 Concert details

Our First Concert of the 2018-2019 season

Meet the Band: Dave (Saxophone)

Dave has been with the band since 2003 and plays the alto saxophone; he is also a board member and our part-time music librarian

He recently graduated from college with a Degree in Teaching  social studies teacher.

He thinks guitar "is really cool" if he could play any other instrument; and his fun fact---he loves and raises ttortoises!!!

He likes our band because, "NECB is a welcoming group and provides a low-stress environment in which to make music with other people and be challenged to grow as a musician. It's fun, has some great people in it, and is close to home! (It's also the only band I've ever played in, so it's not like I have much to compare it to... :) )".

Meet the Band: Jenny (Flutes)

Jenny -has been with the band since 2016 and plays Flute.

In her regular life she teaches early childhood music, gives private flute and piano instruction, and sees clients for music therapy.

In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out/food/arts/being outside with her husband Jordan (Trumpet), tutoring Somali women in English, reading fiction, helping at church, spending time with friends and family, and playing with their "awesome" cat Milo.

She is a "jam canning newbie" and hopes to do more--they have cherries, rhubarb, and Concord grapes in their yard, and trying to cultivate raspberries and strawberries.

She loves teaching music and helping people; and if she could play any other instrument, it would be percussion. With NECB band, she enjoys "playing great music with my husband and other fun people in the neighborhood!"

Meet the Band: Anna (Clarinet)

 Anna - plays Clarinet, and is coming up on a year in the band as she joined in January 2017. In her non-band life she is a reading tutor in a local first-grade classroom, and lives with 27 potted plants. Definite green thumb!

Her dream profession would be a dog whisperer, and she thinks playing the trombone looks pretty fun and would be something she'd like to try given the chance.

Meet the Band: John (Tuba)

 John  plays Tuba and has been with us since 2007.  He enjoys our "casual atmosphere with the opportunity to continue playing music with a group."  When he's not in the band, he works at the U of MN Libraries and loves to travel.

In fact, he'd be a travel writer if he could, as well as learn to play the bassoon. And speaking of playing other instruments, John has played electric bass and upright bass for some songs with us over the years.

In fact, back in the day, he played bass guitar with a couple of local rocks bands. Rock on!  

Meet the Band: Joseph (Saxophone)

 Joseph - plays the tenor sax and joined us last year as "its a low key way to keep playing sax that doesn't interfere much with school". He studying to be a Mathematician at the U of MN.

When he's not studying (emphasis on the dying), he is playing ukulele or frolfing or biking".

http://www.frolf.com/

He's "curious about brass instruments" and would choose trumpet if he could play something different.

 Fun fact--Leroy Anderson is his favorite when it comes to Christmas songs.  So he is actually thrilled when we play Sleigh Ride every year.. a classic!

Meet the Band: Michael (Euphonium/Baritone)

Michael- is in his second year with us as a Euphonium player. If he could play any other instrument it would be Tuba, "if he could afford one."

When not in band,  he's works cashier and stock at a grocery store, plays computer games, enjoys biking, and plays in a drum corps.

He likes the location of the band and the fact that he can then keep playing during the winter.

Interesting note: his high school band director lent him his euphonium from the "closet of forgotten instruments.  He agreed to give it back on his deathbed". Hope his high school band director is immortal.

Meet the Band: Kyle (Trumpets)

Kyle Park - plays Trumpet and has been with us since 2010.  When he's not in the band, he enjoys home brewing beer and playing with his dog (a Golden doodle named Archie).

If he could choose a dream profession it would be a baseball player, and would love to play blues guitar if he could play any other instrument.  His wife is also a member of the band.

Meet the Band: Ralph (Trumpets)

Ralph Sowden - plays Trumpet is our band Treasurer. He has been with the band since day one back in 1998, and is an avid motorcycle rider!  He enjoys long motorcycle Vacations with his wife who is also a member of our band.  He is a Veteran of the US Navy!

Meet the Band: Amy (Flutes)

 Amy - plays Flute, has been with us since 2010, and is currently band President.  She enjoys the community and fun atmosphere of the band. If she could play another instrument, she'd like to give the cello or oboe a try.

Interestingly, this is not her first time under the musical direction of our director Tim...back in 96' at the U of M, he was staff on the U Marching Band, and she a little ol' freshman flutist making her way through spat camp.

Meet the Band: Alex (Clarinet)

Alex  joined us back in 2015, plays Clarinet, and is an At-Large Board Member, and sometimes one of our sub conductors. He likes the wide variety of music we play, and in his spare time you may find him reading, running, and playing Chess or Computer Games. If he could, he'd play French Horn, and be an Astronaut provided he could learn not to get motion sick!

Alex is one of several Band Members from Michigan!

Meet the Band: Georgette (Saxophone)

Georgette - plays Alto Saxophone and is yet another new member who found us through a list of area community bands. She is retired from teaching, so she "enjoys doing whatever I want and don't keep track".   She also enjoys time with her grandchildren (2 who live down the street from Edison and 3 in beautiful Montana). She also tap dances (not in public), and would like to learn to play the drums. Otherwise, she is "a serious Vikings fanatic.''

Meet the Band: Loryn (Saxophones)

Loryn - plays Alto Saxophone and is another new member who found us through our website. She enjoys readings, painting and hanging out with family and friends, would like to learn the Trumpet, and be a Sports Newscaster - Specifically for the NBA . In her daytime life, she works at Minnesota Public Radio and loves it!