The Farmington High School Bands are proud and humbled to announce that the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Erin Holmes, has been selected to perform at the prestigious Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA) Midwinter Clinic in February 2021. This is the highest honor a school music group in Minnesota can receive and the first time in the history of Farmington schools that a concert band has been selected to perform at MMEA. Please join us with pride by viewing the Wind Ensemble’s performance, you can watch the Premiere on Thursday, February 11 at 3:45pm https://youtu.be/UrKPb1wxIwI  

The Midwinter Clinic is the state’s largest gathering of music educators and features nationally-recognized headliners, a wide variety of performances and informances, sessions from area clinicians, an Exhibit Hall, networking opportunities, and more.

In this unprecedented year, the FHS Wind Ensemble will be the only high school band to perform in this prestigious honor. The concert ensembles are the nucleus of the FHS program and we pride ourselves on a focus of community-building. As such, we want to acknowledge our music colleagues of ISD 192 that provide the drive for us to achieve goals, provide a foundation of skills, and give students a passion for music. The dedication of 5th grade band directors Darren Asleson and Tana Christenson; middle school directors Rachel Gordon Mercer, Noah Grothe, Joe Lasko, and Tara Michlitsch; high school directors Bradley Mariska and Elliot Douma; and former colleagues Matt Clark, Jan Ellingson, and Natalie Olsen have made this honor possible.

We are extremely grateful for the support of the parents/guardians of the Wind Ensemble, the Farmington Tiger Band Boosters, and the families of students in all of our ensembles. Thank you for your dedication, service, and support to your students and this program.

We are committed and excited to create an experience that these students - and the entire Farmington community - will never forget. The title of our program is “Unrest.” 2020 - and 2021 thus far - has proven to be a challenging environment not only for learners and musicians - but for our nation as a whole. Through music, our program will honestly reflect the unique challenges of a world placed at a standstill as the result of a pandemic, while also addressing the open wounds of our country’s continued struggle with equity and justice. In a world overcome with agitation, “Unrest” will also serve to heal: to be a manifesto for comfort, hope, and peace in an uncertain world. Our program aims to bring people together around music - and a common social cause.

Finally, we’d like to recognize the Class of 2020 for their spirit, leadership, hard work, and dedication. Because of all of you we have gone to the next level and #BeatFarmington once again.

The FHS Band program also includes four curricular jazz bands and offer extra curricular marching band, and opportunities for non-ensemble based music classes like Rock Band and a new Hamilton course coming this fall.

For more information about Farmington High School Bands, visit www.FarmingtonTigerBands.org or search for “Farmington High School Bands” on Facebook.

To view the Wind Ensemble’s performance, you can watch the Premiere on Thursday, February 11 at 3:45pm https://youtu.be/UrKPb1wxIwI  

An encore performance will premiere at 7pm on the FHS Band YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/FarmingtonBand and be available to watch anytime …..