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Genesis Jazz Orchestra Free Spring Concert
The Genesis Jazz Orchestra (GJO) will perform their free Spring Concert on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at The Well, United Methodist Church, located at 14770 Canada Avenue West in Rosemount. The concert is free and open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food and diapers for the Rosemount Community Food Shelf.
The family-friendly concert will feature a fun mix of contemporary and classic big band jazz tunes, including songs by Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Gerry Mulligan, Astor Piazolla, Matt Harris, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker and more.
Other upcoming free GJO performances include: the Minnesota Jazz on the Prairie & Ribfest on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at the Staring Lake Amphitheater, located at 14800 Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie; and the GJO’s Summer Concert on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater in Rosemount's Central Park, located at 2893 145th Street West.
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/3013238-0
