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Mentor set course for band leaders
Published 12:00 p.m., January 16, 2009
Dr. Russ Pesola
When Fergus Falls band directors Jim Iverson and Scott Kummrow took their students to Washington, D.C., they were following in the footsteps of a man who taught them both.
Iverson and Kummrow are alumni of Concordia College in Moorhead, where Dr. Russ Pesola spent 29 years as a band director and instructor. Pesola was a graduate student at the University of Minnesota in 1963 when he marched in Lyndon Johnson’s inaugural parade with the school’s marching band.
Now, over 45 years later, two of Pesola’s graduates will lead their own students in the inaugural event.
Jim Iverson was in the middle of his college career when Pesola joined Concordia in 1975. Pesola would become Iverson’s student teaching advisor.
“He’s always been a very serious and a very capable musician,” Pesola said of his former student, “and I’m just so impressed with (how) he’s developed the Fergus Falls band program.”
Years later, Kummrow decided to pursue music education at Concordia as well. Kummrow was one of Iverson’s students at the high school and traveled with the band to Washington, D.C., in 1998 to perform at the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Kummrow, a trombone player, was among the last students Pesola taught before retirement. Now the two occasionally perform together in Prairie Winds Brass, an ensemble out of Fargo-Moorhead.
“(Scott’s) a very fine player and he was always such an effervescent personality,” Pesola said.
Kummrow says he was late for a rehearsal with the brass group the day Fergus directors announced the inaugural trip to students. When Kummrow explained why he was late (he’d shared the news the with the school board), Pesola gave him words of advice — “Buy long underwear, the good stuff” — as well as congratulations.
Pesola, who’s conducted Fergus students and judged them in ensemble contests, has had a part in the band’s success, Kummrow said.
“They really don’t get much better than him,” he said.
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The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on January 16, 2009 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HOW MANY ARTICLES ABOUT THE FF BAND DO WE NEED ALREADY?! We are all proud of the bandmembers for being a part of this event, and it will be something they will remember for the rest of their lives. But some of us PAY for our subscriptions for the DJ still and it would be nice to have a different headline now and then other than FF band information.
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on January 16, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sumwun: Like maybe a man with a crocodile? Because I can see how that is more newsworthy than the HS Marching Band... </sarcasm>
Posted by babs (anonymous) on January 16, 2009 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep on with the stories about the band. I love every one of them. I think the fact they were chosen is fantastic. What an honor, and what a story to tell their children. And isn't this better than all the crime that could be reported on the front page? Parents who have had children in the band enjoy hearing about other kids who are working hard to represent their school and community and are sorry their kids didn't have that opportunity.
Posted by ladybellringerm (anonymous) on January 20, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do believe you're neglecting a hometown mentor for Jim Iverson, Denise Wies and Scott Kumrow. Mr. Lee Leverson hired both Jim and Denise and was Scott's first band teacher in Fergus Falls.
I'm so proud that the FFHS Marching Band has been so honored. They carry our thoughts and prayers.
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