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Guest conductors, LHS grad and director, enhance music experience for Luverne students

Lead Summary
,
By
Mavis Fodness

Guest clinicians with local ties will provide an all-state experience to Luverne High School’s band and choir students next week.
The public can hear the results during the 45th annual Instrumental and Choral Clinic and Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14, in the high school gym. Admission is free.
Former Luverne choir teacher Bruce Phelps and LHS graduate Dr. Kevin Kessler will provide the all-state experiences.
“I believe it is important for all my students to have the opportunity to work with renowned conductors just as if they were in an honor choir or all-state experience,” said LHS choral teacher Seana Graber. “Not every one of the band and choir students has those experiences, so I really appreciate the Music Boosters hosting this event.”
The event began in 1975.
 Phelps began his career in choral instruction in Luverne in 1970.
The Alexandria, Minnesota, native taught at LHS for two years before spending a year in Wayzata, only to return to Luverne in 1973. He left for Anoka in 1976, retiring from the position in 2004.
Over the years, Phelps was named to the hall of fames with Minnesota Music Educators Association and Minnesota State High School League.
He’s returned three times to Luverne as a guest clinician. Next week will be his fourth.
Phelps wants to pass on to the 115 Luverne concert choir and ninth-tenth grade girls’ choir students the passion and joy music has brought to his life.
“I want them to feel the power music has to calm the storms of life, express the beauty of life, and provide a way of expressing themselves,” he said.
Dr. Kessler, LHS Class of 1993, chose his career in music due to due to his own school experiences with music professionals including Phelps.
“Music education is not just about music. I learned how to focus on tasks, become a better steward of my time, be detail oriented, and I came to expect more of myself,” he said. “I always felt valued as a member of musical ensembles — I never ‘sat on the bench’ in band and choir.”
Kessler is the director of bands at South Dakota State University in Brookings including the Pride of Dakotas Marching Band.
As a guest clinician, Kessler wants the 62 concert band students to come away from the rehearsal hours and the final concert with a clinician remembering one thing: “The hard work is worth it.”
Graber and band instructor James Jarvie chose the music performed at the clinic and have been rehearsing the music prior to the clinicians’ arrival on March 13.
“When the clinician comes in, they get to be solely the resident artist and can focus on making the music come to life,” Graber said. “It opens the students’ eyes to other possibilities and usually brings out the very best in their performances.”
Graber and Jarvie will direct the choirs and band at the March 17 Large Group Contest in Pipestone, building on what was learned from the clinicians.
“I see this as a growing opportunity not only for the students, but for myself as a director,” Jarvie said.

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