One hundred years is a long time, especially to keep any sort of program together. That doesn’t seem like a problem for the Albert Lea High School Band program.
The Albert Lea High School Band program was started by a man named Lee Prentice in 1912. Prentice started the program with a $100 allowance given to him by the Albert Lea school board. Prentice used the money to buy instruments that many of the students didn’t have, such as a bass drum and a baritone.
Prentice started the program with 35 boys who didn’t know how to play instruments at all. Now the band program totals over 130 in the Tiger, Symphonic, and Concert bands. Starting from scratch the first Albert Lea band concert was in the spring of 1913. It has been said that the first female to join the program wasn’t until 1925. Prentice died in 1918 in France serving the United States Army in World War I.
Not only is it the 100th anniversary of the program. The program was also acknowledged as the oldest high school music program in the state by the Minnesota Historical Society.
Current band director Suzanne Mauer hopes the program will last even longer. “It’s exciting to be part of such a long tradition.” Mauer said. Mauer was a 1998 graduate of Albert Lea High School and also participated in the band program while she was attending. Mauer also mentioned how there is a lot of history that goes along with the band program even past what she knows as her time as a student.
The students in the Albert Lea band program continue to show commitment outside the classroom while being involved in the extra curricular programs including jazz band and drumline.
Jacob Kunkel a junior at the high school has been involved in band since he began 6th grade “Things have changed a lot over the years.” said Kunkel. Kunkel is participating in the Lancers Drum Corp in Mankato along with Isaac Ware, a sophomore at ALHS. This shows the dedication of the band students at ALHS.
The final band concert of the year will take place on May 7th in the Albert Lea High School Auditorium.