The Modern Band program at St. Francis High School is inspired by the national movement led by Music Will, which promotes inclusive, student-centered music education rooted in popular music. Under the direction of Ian Stillmunks, Director of Choral Music at SFHS, the group will perform a free concert at the Performing Arts Center on Friday, May 16 beginning at 7 p.m.
The SFHS Modern Band was created to give students a creative outlet to explore varied genres through individual and collaborative performance. The program is open to all students at the high school, and the group requires no audition. Rehearsals are held before and after school three days a week starting in mid March.
“What makes this group so unique is that it’s completely student-led,” Stillmunks said. “There’s no conductor, no traditional sheet music — just students taking the lead, arranging songs, making decisions together, and sounding like pros while doing it.
“The goal is to create a student-driven space where performers can explore the music they love—rock, pop, indie, R&B, hip-hop—through collaboration, creativity, and performance.”
Last year, Modern Band students performed at the Minnesota Modern Band Festival held at Anoka Ramsey Community College, as well as during the final choir concert. This year, students will perform in their own dedicated modern band concert.