The "Star of the North" Concert Band is a non-profit, charitable organization of over fifty musicians from the Minneapolis and St. Paul communities in Minnesota. The group was organized in 1994 to contribute to Minnesota's musical tradition by providing an opportunity for local accomplished musicians to share their talents, develop their abilities, and make contacts with other performing musicians locally, nationally, and internationally.

"Star of the North" is the translation of the state of Minnesota's official motto and nickname, "L' Étoile du Nord", the French phrase which appears on the state seal and documents. Henry H. Sibley (1811-91) first state governor, included the motto as an update to the original 1849 Minnesota Territory seal when Minnesota became the 32nd state in 1858. At that time, Minnesota was the most northern state in the US and still is today within the contiguous 48 states.
The motto was intended to represent the North Star (Polaris) as a beacon of lofty idealism for the new government in the expanding United States along with the pragmatic spirit, determination, and courage of the French-speaking explorers, voyageurs, and "coureurs de bois" who played an important part in the early history of the land which became Minnesota. More information about history and geology is on the Minnesota page.

The band performs a wide variety of music, including symphonic band arrangements, marches, classical works, dixieland, big band, musical theatre, original compositions, and instrumental with vocal solos.

Local performances have included concert sites at Como Park, Town Square, and Landmark Center in St. Paul; Lake Harriet in Minneapolis; Mall of America in Bloomington; Edinborough Park and Centennial Lakes in Edina; Central Park in Roseville; Ojibway Park in Woodbury; the Maplewood Community Center; and Pioneer Park in Stillwater.

The band rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley under the direction of Wayne Feller and associate conductor Sandra Merry.
 

In addition to performing locally, many members have toured nationally and internationally. Since 1994, "Star of the North" has made six international tours including the countries of Australia, New Zealand, Wales, England, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Thailand, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

On June 20 2007, "Star of the North" departed for Germany, Austria, and Italy to act as goodwill ambassadors through music. The tour included visits to the cities of Munich, Kitzbühel, Salzburg, Lienz, Venice, Eppan (Appiano), Ulm, Rothenburg, and the towns of Illerrieden and Heroldstatt, Germany. Most of our concerts were joint concerts with local bands followed by receptions and dinners.

In 2005, the band traveled to Thailand. The tour included visits to the cities of Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Ayutthaya. Our concerts were mostly in schools, sometimes as joint concerts with the local band.

In 2003, the band toured Iceland and Norway. The tour included visits to the cities of Reykiavik, Oslo, Trondheim, Geiranger, Laerdal, and Bergen. In Trondheim, Norway, we participated in the St. Olaf's Days Music Festival.

In 2000 the band went to Greece. Places visited included the cities of Athens and Delphi, as well as the islands of Crete and Rhodes. In Chania, Crete, we performed with a local choir and were then hosted to an evening of dinning, singing, and dancing.  2000 tour details, pictures.

In 1997 the band traveled to Great Britain - from Swansea, Wales to Bournmouth, England for their international "Music Makers Festival", and on to Solihull, England where we performed with their local community band and stayed with members in their homes. The tour ended in London.  1997 tour details, pictures.

In 1995 the band toured New Zealand and Australia. As the U.S. representative in the Pacific Rim International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia, we received the festival's "Silver Award" for our performance at the Sydney Opera House.

Our thanks to Gordy Backlund, band board member and our "resident tour planner" for his great efforts on our behalf!

Thanks also to our local "fans" and valued audience members.....YOU! Thank you for all of your support!