ABOVE: The Fairmont City Band performs a march during their pre-performance rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Sylvania Park Bandshell in Fairmont. The next concert will be at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, at the Sylvania Park Bandshell with several more performances to follow.

FAIRMONT — Have a seat before the Sylvania Park Bandshell and listen to Tuesday tunes with the ambiance of the local outdoors. Ever since its founding in 1873, the Fairmont City Band has brought music to the community and will once again perform its concert series at 8 p.m. on upcoming Tuesday evenings at the Sylvania Park Bandshell in Fairmont.

Fairmont City Band Director Bev Tenney has led the musicians for 24 years, but has been involved with the band for 35 years as an alto saxophone player. Tenney previously directed fifth and sixth-grade band groups and retired from classroom music in 2015. Now and for years to come, Tenney is happy to lead the strong group of instrumentalists.

“You can see people together, sharing music,” Tenney said. “And, sitting in the park, at Sylvania, is so nice. It really is a fun group.”

The performances include a diverse repertoire of songs from classical compositions, musicals, pop, patriotic, showtunes and in the words of Tenney, “a little bit of everything.” Tenney explained that song selections are sought out in a library and selected by the band’s board. Once summer arrives, the approximately 4o to 50-person band rehearses and plays their rendition for the community.

“We’re bringing the music together, and it’s most rewarding. It’s also very relaxing,” Tenney stated.

The musician count tends to grow and fluctuate each year, gathering musicians from Martin County cities and beyond, such as Windom, Mankato, the Iowa area and other distant cities. Tenney noted that while the musical group strengthens, the number of audience members on the park benches also climbs after each performance.

Tenney, as director, hopes that the experience of playing in the Fairmont City Band is good for all members and that each musician feels they have greatly contributed to the concert series. In addition, Tenney strives to keep the tradition strong, as it has been for more than 150 years.

The Fairmont City Band is always looking for passionate musicians. Tenney concurred that despite the large number of musicians, there’s a strong familial connection among the band from each rehearsal to each performance.

“Come to the concert and see what it’s all about,” Tenney encouraged. “Some people think ‘Oh, I couldn’t play’ but it tends to come back to you eventually once you take out the instrument.”

Rehearsals will be held at 6 p.m. (two hours prior to the performance) on June 17, June 24, July 4 and July 8 at the Sylvania Park Bandshell in Fairmont. There are no auditions, tryouts or solos. All instrumentalists 10th grade and older are welcome to participate. For more information and to join the team of volunteer musicians, contact Director Tenney at (507) 235-3479 or Nancy Gunther at (507) 236-6523.