MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — The Mitchell Municipal Band didn’t just weather the retirement of its longtime director, it has thrived.
First formed in 1952, the group has never had more members than it does right now. This year, there are eight trombonists and six alto saxophonists, two of the deepest instrument groups. At Wednesday’s opening concert at Hitchcock Park, the group could barely fit onto the Saterlie band stand, a stage that is only 20 years old.
A rotating cast of music directors have stepped up to fill the massive shoes of Joe Pekas, who had become the face of the organization. Pekas left in 2021 after 55 years at the helm of the band. Board Member Mike Sejnoha says the band counts among its members several band directors from surrounding towns; Mt. Vernon, Parkston, and more. They each bring in a set of players with them and the network unspools from there. Sejnoha notes there are members from as far as Sioux Falls and Yankton in this year’s group.
The season traditionally starts on Memorial Day with the ceremony held at the cemetery. The group will then spend the next week gelling before getting underway with the weekly shows. The board sets the themes for each show in January, with the director taking the ball from there and running with it. Players rehearse on Tuesday, which is when they learn what pieces will make up the next day’s show. Then on Wednesday, they play for keeps in front of an audience.
Directors recognize the skill level of the players, factor that in, and traditionally try to find a set list that grades out between a 2.5 and 3 level of difficulty. The scale runs from one through five. Shows are laid out in the tried-and-true formula of a rousing opener, a popular show tune that most will know, something slower, more melodic, and the concluding piece brings the tempo back up to send the crowd home on a high note. Concerts last about 50 minutes.
Sejnoha discussed how the band handles shows outside its traditional summer season. The directors and board members make up what is known as the extracurricular “dance band.” They’ll strike up a tune at special events like Corn Palace Week or at Christmas time. Sejnoha says one of his favorite gigs was welcoming back an honor flight full of World War II veterans from Washington, D.C. at the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.
The next summer concert for the Mitchell Municipal Band is Wednesday, June 17th. Get ready for a road trip. The title is “Destinations.”
