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Genesis Jazz Orchestra Free Concert at Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie in Eden Prairie
The Genesis Jazz Orchestra (GJO) will play in the free Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Staring Lake Park Amphitheater, located at 14800 Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie. The festival, which will run from 12:00 Noon to 7:00 p.m., will feature seven local big bands and will run in conjunction with the Eden Prairie Noon Rotary's Rib Fest. The concerts are free and attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. For more information, check the following websites:
https://www.edenprairie.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/13564/17 ;
https://www.epnoonrotary.org/Page/rib-fest .
The GJO, a 17-piece ensemble of the Rosemount Community Band, was established in 2018 by members from the southeast metro area. Over half of its members have degrees in music, some play professionally and many are current or retired music educators, including Steve Olsen, John Zschunke, David Mendenhall, Conrad Miska and Bill Henry, all retired band directors from Independent School District 196 - Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan.
In addition to performing in the Rosemount community, GJO plays at school jazz concerts and festivals, at Jazz Central Studios in Minneapolis and at city band shells and parks. Notable performances include playing the opening concert for the Minnesota Orchestra at the Hilde Performance Center in Plymouth, a concert with Broadway star vocalist Laura Osnes, a show at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul and a performance for the Minnesota Music Educators Association Mid-Winter Conference in Minneapolis. The ensemble was also featured on the "Twin Cities Weekend" radio program of KBEM-FM (88.5 FM) Minneapolis, Minnesota's Jazz Station.
GJO's Band Leader is Dave Hagedorn, a retired Artist in Residence at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he taught percussion, jazz studies, world music, and led the award-winning St. Olaf Jazz I ensemble.
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3071524-0
