Friends of IHCB Award

Allison Russell, formerly of South St. Paul, is a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Minnesota. In the 5th grade she began to play the trombone and continued to play throughout the years, ending with the University of Minnesota Marching Band in 1992. With no existing outlets to continue playing music after graduation, she dedicated her dream, vision, and energy to establishing this community band. Allison’s commitment went beyond her specific titles of president, treasurer, and librarian, extending to her musical contributions as a trombonist and percussionist, and her readiness to take on whatever needed doing. Her personality, warmth, caring, and dedication were a vital key to the band’s early success. In grateful appreciation, the band honors Allison Russell with our FRIEND OF THE INVER HILLS COMMUNITY BAND AWARD.

The B-52 Restaurant in Inver Grove Heights, MN has supported local school groups, athletic teams and area organizations and charities for many years. The IHCB is very grateful to B-52 ownership for allowing the band to benefit from their giveback program the last few years. Their support of music and the Fine Arts is truly appreciated. It gives us great pleasure to present our FRIEND OF THE INVER HILLS COMMUNITY BAND AWARD for 2024 to B-52 Restaurant.

The Inver Hills Community Band would like to recognize Advent United Methodist Church for their support for our Band, and for Fine Arts in the community. For the past 14 years, the IHCB has given an annual Christmas/Holiday concert in the church sanctuary. Through snow and bitter cold weather, parishioners and guests have weathered the elements to attend this joyous concert in the lovely, warm setting of this worship space. We would like to express our gratitude to Rev. Cindy Yanchury and all the Pastors and church staff who over the years have supported this celebration of special music in the Advent season. It gives us great pleasure to present our FRIEND OF THE INVER HILLS COMMUNITY BAND AWARD for 2019 to Advent United Methodist Church.

A true Friend of the Inver Hills Community Band, who has volunteered her time and talents to enlighten our band and summer and holiday audiences with many outstanding vocal solos through the years. A true professional musician whose beautiful voice quality, poise, showmanship, warmth, and kindness have made her a pleasure for all of us to work and perform with. Thank you, Vicki, for being a featured vocal artist with us and for all your support to promote the band with the Miss Minnesota Program and other venues. In grateful appreciation, FRIEND OF THE INVER HILLS COMMUNITY BAND AWARD for 2018.

The Inver Hills Community Band (IHCB) would like to recognize the Inver Hills Community College, located in Inver Grove Heights, for their support for our band and of the Fine Arts. For many years, the band rehearsed in the IHCC Fine Arts building and performed in their auditorium. Working together, the college and the community band have given talented college music students the opportunity to extend their musical skills after their years in high school. IHCC continues to have a good working relationship with the IHCB, using them for their annual college commencement ceremony each spring. The band is very grateful to the college administration and music department staff for their support throughout the years. The band would like to recognize and thank the Inver Hills Community College for all their support by honoring them with our FRIEND OF THE INVER HILLS COMMUNITY BAND AWARD for 2017.

The Band would like to recognize the Church of St. Patrick for their support for our band and Fine Arts in the community. For the past 14 years, the IHCB has given an annual Christmas/Holiday concert in the church using talented singers from the parish. Fr. Bob Hart and his staff have also supported the band in allowing them to give their annual spring band concert and one summer concert in this beautiful church setting. The musicians, parishioners, and community guests have enjoyed the good acoustics and professional setting offered at St. Patrick’s. The band would like to recognize and thank the Church of St. Patrick for all their support by honoring them with our FRIEND OF THE INVER HILLS COMMUNITY BAND AWARD for 2016.

Tim Edmondson was one of the original band members when the Inver Hills Community Band was formed. He was a talented trumpet player and helped the band out also on French horn when needed. Tim created the IHCB web site and for many, many years covered the fee himself to run this important web site. We are very grateful to Tim for his generosity and dedication to helping the band out in those early years.

The St. Patrick’s Singers have been performing with the IHCB for the last 10 years as a featured vocal group. The talents of Karen Faith, Mary Rimstad, Steve Vogel, Larry Krenner, and Bill White have been featured in many special numbers at our annual Christmas concerts at St. Patrick’s Church. All five singers have been active in the music liturgy at the Church of St. Patrick for many years, either as a cantor, soloist, or part of a vocal ensemble. Their volunteerism and dedication to their church community is an example of faith and commitment. The Inver Hills Community Band is very grateful to the St. Patrick’s Singers for their gifts of time and talent, which bring a special touch to our Sounds of Christmas concerts.

Town Square Television, located in Inver Grove Heights, has been filming and broadcasting Inver Hills Community Band concerts for the last ten years. We have been very grateful for their support of the band by making it possible for many citizens to hear and see our Christmas, Winter, Spring and Summer Pops Concerts. Thank you, Town Square Television, for the visibility and promotion of our community band.

Kelly Spavin is a very talented musician and has been a huge supporter of music and of the IHCB for many years. She has hauled tons of audio-visual equipment to film our Christmas, winter, spring and summer concerts. Kelly lobbied hard to get us the Kaposia Days concert series that has helped us financially the last nine years. She also hired the band to perform the 2010 Sounds of SSP patriotic concert that was a summer success. Nobody has a bigger love for music then Kelly, and she is truly a dear friend and supporter of the IHCB.

In 2002, St. Patrick’s music director and choir director, Sr. Rosemary, was willing to take a chance on a young and upcoming community band to perform Christmas Concerts at St. Patrick’s Church in Inver Grove Heights. Her support and promotion of our band over the years was key to a Christmas concert series that has become a very successful annual affair. We are so grateful to Sr. Rosemary and her love of music.

In the short time Elwood has known the band he has been a very strong supporter and promoter of the IHCB. He greatly appreciated the efforts of the band to provide quality concerts to people in the community. Elwood went out of his way many times at his expense to personally talk to the entertainment directors for the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation department and the Edina Parks & Recreation departments. Thanks to his tireless knocking on doors and lobbying for us we were able to perform at the Lake Harriet Band Shell and the Centennial Lakes Band Shell, two of the most beautiful band shells in the upper Midwest. He also has been a very generous financial donor to the band for years.