La Grande Bande

La Grande Bande strives to present innovative, unique and inspiring musical programs right in the heart of southern-Minnesota farm country. With performances called “warm and sensitive” by the Star Tribune, we seek to reintroduce classical music to our communities using the instruments and techniques premiere audiences might have heard. LGB is composed of musicians from across the United States and from around the world who are specialists in the field of Early Music—music written between c. 1600-1800—and who play on historical instruments and sing in an historical manner.

Our goals are to present “masterworks” alongside lesser-known compositions, illustrating the extensive musical production during the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries; to foster musical growth in the younger generations through directed-educational events, open rehearsal sessions, or masterclasses; to reinvigorate the older generations with outreach concerts, pre-concert talks, open rehearsals, and beyond. We see incredible value in resurrecting the music written by the great masters of our past; it’s a historical, cultural, and musical lesson rolled into one.

Message from La Grande Bande's Founder and Artistic Director

As La Grande Bande's fiscal year comes to a close, we could use your financial support to ensure the remainder of the 23/24 Season can continue as planned. We have a goal to raise $4,000 by December 31st. These funds will help to pay our musicians for rehearsals and performances, for travel expenses, for rental expenses, for the wonderful educational programming we provide to our communities and schools, and general operating expenses for the organization.

In addition to the donation of my time and my instrument for the upcoming concert program French Music for Harpsichord (Nov 17 in Winthrop, Nov 18 in St Paul), I will personally match every donation up to $4000 made to La Grande Bande from now until the end of the calendar year.

Thank you for your support of La Grande Bande and our mission to bring world-class performances and educational events to audiences in Minnesota! I look forward to seeing you at a performance soon.

- Dr. Michael Thomas Asmus