The show goes on: Meet the men, women of the Municipal Band

By Jill Callison, for Pigeon605

When members of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band gathered earlier this summer for the season’s first rehearsal, there was joy, there was laughter, there was a tear or two, and there was an overwhelming sense of relief.

That’s because the band, which first performed for the public in 1919, had to deal with the uncertainty not only of the pandemic, which canceled the 2020 season, but also doubt about its likelihood of survival.

For a century, the band had received funding from the city of Sioux Falls. After Mayor Paul TenHaken stripped that from a proposed budget, however, it ultimately received City Council support for another year if a task force was created to find a long-term solution. That resulted in a partnership between the band and the Washington Pavilion.

“We are part of the Pavilion family,” band director Chris Hill said. “We have full support from them. I have access to their marketing, I have access to their support staff and access to the Mary Sommervold Great Hall.”

Hill wasn’t always sure the band would survive, he said. Now, the band is “thriving, not just surviving.”

Clarinetist Stacy Surat also had her doubts that she would be back on stage, sharing her creative side with hundreds of audience members.

“These are people I’ve played music with for 20, 21 years,” she said. “You develop a close connection or relationship with them. I was worried about not seeing them again or as often.”

Jonathan Niederheiser, one of three municipal band members who holds a doctorate in music, said he knew he could count on a groundswell of public support.

“We have an audience that is so broad and across the demographics in town,” he said. “(The news) was kind of shocking at first, but I think I trusted that support would be there in the community.”

Emily Swan has played with the band since she was a teenager. She refused to consider a summer — or a city — without the Municipal Band. “It’s so fundamental,” she said.

“I knew in my heart there was no way the city could function without a municipal band. Without it, the city just loses its soul.”

Fifty-two musicians play at each concert with substitutes bringing the total number involved to about 90.

Hill describes Sioux Falls Municipal Band as “a professional band made up of people who don’t actually play their instruments full time.” Those who aren’t involved in music education have included nurses, pastors, a zookeeper and college students.

“It’s beautiful to see the intergenerational aspect of the band,” he said. “They love music, and they love our audience. The audience is really what makes our band tick.”

Here’s a closer look at three members of the Sioux Falls Municipal Band.

Jonathan Niederheiser

Jonathan Niederheiser, director of instrumental music at the University of Sioux Falls. This is his 15th season with the band.

Instrument: French horn. It’s an instrument that produces a big, bold, heroic tune, Niederheiser said. Sometimes it’s played in support of other instruments, other times it produces a lyrical, melodic sound.

Why he joined: “It’s an opportunity to make music that isn’t kind of my job, not full-time teaching. Also, it’s just a really great ensemble. When I first moved to Sioux Falls and Chris invited me to be part of the band, I went to hear it first and thought, oh, what a jewel. It’s just a fantastic band. It’s fun to make music at that level with those folks.”

Favorite venue: “Terrace Park is always super fun. That’s great place. I do like doing all the retirement homes. It’s fun bringing music to people. That’s one of the fun things about the band. You get to go all over town.”

Favorite theme: “The first concert I actually saw was the circus concert. I was amazed at the virtuosity. Circus music is stuff you don’t often hear played, and it is fun to bring back that era.”

Stacy Surat

Stacy Surat, vice president at MetaBank managing the financial intelligence unit. She moved to Sioux Falls in 1999 and joined a year or two later.

Instrument: Clarinet. She has played it since fifth grade. Her other instrument? Her voice. Before the pandemic, Surat regularly led singalongs for Good Samaritan Village residents.

Why she joined: “Musical performance has always been an integral part of my life. After high school, I got a music scholarship to a private college in Iowa. But I knew it had to be a hobby versus playing in a symphony. I play for the enjoyment of the audience. We don’t just play for ourselves. We’re trying to provide a great experience. If the audience is desiring to hear certain things we’re not playing, we’re always interested in what they want to hear. Or if they like what we play.”

Favorite venue: “I do love Terrace Park, and that’s where we play every Sunday night. It’s set up with the band shell at the bottom and terraces at each level. People bring blankets, chairs, their dogs, bowls of popcorn, so they’re comfortable, and it has great acoustics. It’s the prettiest place to play with the water behind us at Covell Lake. But I love bringing a concert to people that can’t come to the park. That’s one of the reasons we highlighted to the city that we wanted the band to continue. It’s true there’s a lot of other things going on. This is the only thing I know that can bring a concert to the people.”

Favorite theme: “Every concert offers new music.”

Emily Swan

Emily Swan, wedding photographer and freelance musician who plays with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra. She joined the band as a 13-year-old living in Luverne, Minnesota. Her parents now live in the Twin Cities but came back for the Sioux Falls Municipal Band’s first performances of the season.

Why she joined: “I play in the Municipal Band not just because of the high level of musicianship but the great people in the band. Obviously, it’s really wonderful to be able to provide music to people, but it also touches me as a person. I took one season off in 21 years. Summer is the Municipal Band.”

Favorite venue: “The Good Sam on Minnesota Avenue on Second Street. They are amazing hosts, and it’s an amazing audience that gets out to support us on their ground. Every single year, they have pie, and they let us partake in pie and ice cream too. So it’s a fun evening of music and treats too.”

Favorite theme: “The circus concert on July 25. There’s a story Chris likes to tell. When I first joined the band, I was 13 years old. The oldest member at that point I believe he was 90. It’s kind of a tongue-in-cheek joke: Every circus concert my name is brought up. It’s a story I get to relive every year.”

The schedule for the rest of Sioux Falls Municipal Band’s summer is as follows:

• Timeless, 7:30 p.m. July 20, Good Samaritan Society – Sioux Falls Center
• They Gave All, 3 p.m. July 25, South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance
• Paul Hoy Circus Concert, 8 p.m. July 25, Terrace Park band shell
• Statues, 7:30 p.m. July 27, Paladino Hohm Sculpture Garden at the Washington Pavilion
• Super Sinatra, 3 p.m. Aug. 1, Grand Living at Lake Lorraine
• Sousa Favorites, 8 p.m. Aug. 1, Terrace Park band shell
• Taking Flight, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3, Dow Rummel Village
• Rodgers & Hammerstein, 3 p.m. Aug. 8, Trail Ridge Senior Living Community
• Grand Finale, 8 p.m. Aug. 8, Terrace Park band shell