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Dr. Mark Lammers, whose community stage band became the Roseville Big Band, is a Research Professor at Gustavus Adolphus College. Mark posed with the Roseville Big Band's current director, Glen Newton, at the band's February 21, 2012, volunteer appreciation dinner. |
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| Former Role in Roseville Big Band: |
Founding Director |
| Member during: |
1964 through 1970 |
| Occupation: |
School Band Director and Research Professor |
In 1964, Mark Lammers started the Roseville Municipal Band and the stage band that eventually became the Roseville Community Band and the Roseville Big Band.
Named the Outstanding Music Graduate of Mankato State College (now University of Minnesota at Mankato) in 1953, Mark began teaching junior high school band and mathematics in Roseville in 1954. He also started the stage band program at Ramsey, which was one of the first—and possibly THE first—in the state.
He moved to Fairview Junior High School when that was built and started a stage band there but continued with the Ramsey High School stage band until he moved to Kellogg High School in 1963, with one year overlap with the stage band. At Kellogg, he organized three stage bands—sophomore, junior, and senior groups.
Mark was an original member of the Dick Roberts Orchestra, which included Norm Herzog, who succeeded Mark as the Fairview band director and Bob Hallquist, who taught with him at Ramsey High School.
In 1969, Mark taught all the brass instruments at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. The following year he gave up directing the Roseville Municipal Band and the stage band to accept a full-time position at Gustavus.
Mark's positions at Gustavus included Director of Brass Ensembles, Low Brass Instructor, Chair of the Department of Music (1977-83), Professor of Music, and Ethel and Edgar F. Johnson Professor (the first endowed chair at Gustavus). He taught courses in low brass, brass ensembles, American music, Nordic music, music theory, jazz ensembles, music education, percussion ensemble, and music appreciation. He is now Research Professor in Music (the second person to have a Research Professorship at Gustavus).
In 1976-1977, he took a leave of absence from Gustavus to serve as Acting Director of Bands at University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, in place of Dr. Frank Bencriscutto, who was on leave. He also held the same position at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Winter 2000.
His assignments while at the University of Minnesota included Acting Director of Bands, Conductor of the University Wind Ensemble, Conductor of the University Symphonic Band, and Conductor of the 12:00 Jazz Ensemble.
In 1983 he earned a Doctor of Philosophy from University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
In 1991, Mark started the Bend in the River Big Band, comprised primarily of former Gustavus students. Bob Hallquist now leads that band.
That same year, he won the Minnesota Jazz Educator of the Year Award.
While living in Minnesota, Mark was one of the leaders of the Minneapolis Trombone Choir.
Mark's international reputation is based in part on the sabbatical leave research he did in five Nordic countries in 1989 and 1990. His book, NORDIC INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, published in May, 1991, by NOMUS, is the standard reference on the topic.
In addition, he conducted in Europe in 1961, 1976, 1982, and 1988-1990; in 1984 and 1986, he was a lecturer and guest conductor in Sweden; and in both 1994 and 1995 he was a conductor and lecturer at the International Band Festival in Rovno, Ukraine.
While living in Tucson, Mark played in the Arizona Symphonic Winds; Civic Orchestra of Tucson; Brass, Ltd., a brass quartet; and the Skyline Brass Quintet.
Now back in Minnesota, Mark continues as an active researcher and performer.