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Brandon, South Dakota, located seven miles east of Sioux Falls, SD, is the home of Brandon Valley High School, which serves the communities of Brandon and Valley Springs. Brandon Valley High School provides a comprehensive band program that serves over 170 students. The main performing ensembles include a symphonic band, two concert bands, two jazz bands, two pep bands, and a 171 member marching band, known as the "Marching Lynx". |
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The Brandon Valley High School Symphonic Band and Red and Black Concert Bands present three concerts each year, performing the best of grade 3, 4, 5 and 6 concert band literature. For the past 14 consecutive years, the Symphonic Band has received superior ratings at the South Dakota Region/State music contest and has been invited to perform for the South Dakota Bandmaster’s Conference on three separate occasions. Both jazz bands regularly perform and compete in South Dakota and Minnesota and have earned numerous awards at festivals held at the University of South Dakota, Huron University, and Augustana College. The Marching Lynx have a rich history of performance excellence in the upper mid-west. During the past 23 years over 300 awards and trophies have been earned in competitions in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. The band has also traveled extensively with performances in the Portland Rose Festival Parade in Portland, Oregon (1985), the Contest of Champions in Orlando, Florida (1987), the Bicentennial Anniversary of Washington, D.C. (1991), the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California (1995), Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City (1998), and the Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship and Parade in Phoenix, Arizona (2002). Additional trips have included performances in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Kansas City, Missouri; Chicago, Illinois; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lynx have also performed at a Minnesota Vikings football game and for former President Bill Clinton. The Lynx made a return trip to the Hollywood Christmas Parade in November 2006 and also competed in the "Bands at the Bowl" competition at the Hollywood Bowl, where they were awarded first place and received caption awards for General Effect and Music Performance. |
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Brandon Valley High School Band Staff Kevin Kessler
Mr. Kessler is active as a judge and holds summer workshops for marching band drum majors. For the past 11 summers he has been on staff at the All State Music Camp in Brookings, 8 as head counselor. He holds membership in the NEA, SDEA, BVEA, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu, and the South Dakota Bandmasters. He serves on the Region II music educator’s board of directors. Kevin and his wife Heidi, an accomplished flutist, and their daughter Karianne make their home in rural Valley Springs. Jesse Miller
Mr. Miller will direct the Red Concert Band and Jazz II as well as serving as assistant director for the Marching Lynx. He will also teach 8th Grade band at Brandon Valley Middle School. In his free time, Mr. Miller enjoys golfing, running, cooking, outdoor activities, and sports. Laura Baker
Mrs. Baker currently conducts the sixth and seventh grade bands and the seventh and eighth grade Jazz Ensembles at Brandon Valley Middle School. She is also the Assistant Director of the Brandon Valley Marching Lynx. In addition to her conducting duties, she teaches one section of sixth grade General Music. Laura is a member of Music Educators National Conference, South Dakota Music Educator's Association, and South Dakota Bandmasters Association. Laura and her husband Daniel live in Brandon. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
2010 Marching Lynx Staff: Director - Kevin Kessler Assistant Directors - Laura Baker, Jesse Miller Visual Coordinator - Mike Hart Percussion Coordinator - Mike Uken Colorguard Coordinator - Sarah Olson Visual Staff - Lizzy Reid, Andrew Schneider, Ellie Lundin Percussion Staff - Andy Jensen, Ben Ronning, Steve Versaevel, Bob Wagner Drill Writer - Kevin Carlson Wind Composer - Jeremy Hegg Percussion Writer - Paul Rennick Colorguard Choreographer - Emily Savage Commanders - Cole Hensley, Josh Jasper, Mellissa Johnston, Alaina Rollag Colorguard Captains - Courtney Carlson, Mariah Greenhoff Percussion Section Leaders - Emily Baldwin, Paul Menefee Thanks for taking the time to visit the Brandon Valley Band website! |
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Jesse Miller is in his first year with the Brandon Valley High School Band. A 1999 graduate of Madison High School, Mr. Miller came to the Brandon Valley School District from Luverne, MN, where he directed the High School and fifth grade bands from 2007 to 2010. He has also taught at Princeton, MN (2006-2007) and Sioux Valley (2004-2006) in Volga, SD. Mr. Miller received his teaching degree from the South Dakota State University in 2004. 
Originally from Nevis, MN, Laura Baker is in her third year of directing bands at Brandon Valley. She graduated from Augustana College in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and taught in Minnesota for one year before coming to Brandon. 
