Vintage Band Festival Agency Fund
Vintage Band Festival Agency Fund
These are unrestricted funds to ensure the long-term sustainability of Vintage Band Festival, whose mission is to celebrate the history of wind and brass band music by presenting live performances in various settings throughout the community of Northfield, Minnesota.
What is Vintage Band Festival?
Vintage Band Festival (VBF) is designed to celebrate the beautiful downtown of Northfield, Minnesota as an outdoor music performance venue, and as an attractive destination for music and history lovers, both local and from afar. VBF strives to:
- Create a high-quality and memorable music listening experience
- Cultivate the historical theme of our city through emphasis on music, dress, dance, and ambience
- Use the city as an outdoor performance venue, including parks, retirement centers, and churches, as well as Bridge Square
- Engage the cooperation of interested local organizations, institutions, and businesses in an effort to accomplish a great cultural event, reaching audiences of all ages and backgrounds with a wide variety of performances
- Become a destination for nationally and internationally known wind bands, in addition to regional and state-wide groups
“I have loved music since I was very young. My mother played piano and my father taught himself to play recorder. My introduction to musical performance was receiving the second-hand trombone I began playing in fifth grade. That began a lifelong avocation that has opened many opportunities and experiences to me. My wife and I met while playing in a community band (although she plays the French horn). We have participated in many bands, orchestras, and other musical groups, as well as attending performances in Minnesota and around the world.
Sharing the joy of music is the biggest reason why I enthusiastically support the Vintage Band Festival. From the beginning of VBF, when Paul Niemisto began planning for the first Festival in 2005, I worked as a volunteer, international band host, performer, organizer, and financial backer. Northfield has been blessed by a wonderful variety of bands that performed at VBF. These bands have been historic and contemporary, large and small, local and distant, professional and amateur.
Vintage Band Festival does not charge admission to any public performances, but there are substantial expenses involved with a festival of this scope. I feel my most significant contribution to the success of VBF is my financial support. Although some donations come from foundations and the Minnesota State Arts Board, the most important funds come from individual donors such as me. I will be writing another check to VBF soon, and I hope that all of you reading this and attending the Festival will express your support and enjoyment by doing the same.”
Background & History
Background and History
Vintage Band Music Festival was founded in Northfield in July 2006. The motivation for this festival stemmed from a desire among Northfield arts-supporters to utilize the many outdoor performance spaces suitable for significant events. VBF was an idea developed by Artistic Director Paul Niemisto, inspired by his previous experience with festivals such as The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, The Lieksa International Brass Week, and the Great American Brass Band Festival. Another motivator for the 2006 Festival came from the International Society for the Promotion and Research of Wind Music, (International Gesellschaft zur Erforschung und Förderung der Blasmusik), and the Historic Brass Society holding their joint academic conference concurrent with the VBF event. The idea of a major music festival and a major international music conference taking place in Northfield began to develop in 2002, and the resulting synergy produced a successful outcome for both events. The academic conference, while not essential to the VBF Festival, did lend an importance that was significant for the inaugural event. The Historic Brass Society returns for each multi-day Vintage Band Festival (http://www.historicbrass.org/). The model and subsequent plans for the first VBF 2006 created success exceeding expectations. 50 musical performances were presented in 2006. Additional festivals have taken place in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Vintage Band Festival now has an international reputation and has a treasured place in the culture of Northfield.
“I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to Paul Niemisto, for his dedication and personal commitment to create and organize the 2013 Vintage Band Festival. I am a fife and piccolo player with the Frontier Brigade Band based in Colleyville, Texas, and your Vintage Band Festival offered me an experience I can never forget. The little town of Northfield was a welcomed slice of Americana. I felt pulled back into a more relaxed, peaceful time where people enjoy the outdoors, socialize with neighbors, and honor the arts. To be surrounded by such incredible talent was an awesome experience. I have a stronger appreciation for all the time and hard work these bands have sacrificed to keep a piece of our history alive.
Mr. Niemisto has touched the lives of so many with a dream of bringing music into the lives of Americans today. I cannot think of a legacy more worthwhile, and which affects so many. Unfortunately, so many American values today are frugal and inconsequential. Most people do not see the worth of history or music, but the Vintage Band Festival gave them an experience and the opportunity to develop a sense of gratitude to our history and an appreciation for the music of that time. What a precious gift!
I am thankful to you and the welcoming town of Northfield for allowing me the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform before such a gracious crowd. We were pleasantly surprised by the enthusiastic and warm spectators at each and every venue.
I hope the state of Minnesota and the town of Northfield recognizes the worth of this Vintage Band Festival and embraces the history and tradition of music for our children’s children.
Above all the festival exposes the fact that any age can play and enjoy music, from the youngest baby sitting and swaying to the music to the 80-year old trumpet player performing. Once again I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to Paul Niemisto and the town of Northfield for hosting such a unique musical event that helps to preserve our heritage.”