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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 24 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
Kevin is active as a judge and clinician and co-hosts a summer camp for marching band drum majors. For 17 summers he has been on staff at the All State Music Camp at SDSU in Brookings, 14 of those years as head counselor and 6 as a guest conductor. He holds membership in the South Dakota Bandmasters, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu, and the South Dakota Education Association. He serves on the Region II music educators board of directors. Kevin, his wife Heidi, and 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
Ms. Baker received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Augustana College in 2007 and directed bands at Lac qui Parle Valley in Madison, Minnesota for one year prior to coming to Brandon Valley. She recently completed her first year of coursework toward completing the Master’s Degree program from the American Band College of Ashland, OR. In addition to teaching private lessons outside of school, Laura remains active as a performer with the Dakota Wind Ensemble of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She is a member of Music Educators’ National Conference, South Dakota Bandmaster’s Association, and South Dakota Music Educators’ Association. In October 2010, Laura was honored to receive the Outstanding Young Music Educator award from SDMEA. She was appointed to the SDMEA Board of Directors in November, 2010, where she serves as the membership chairperson. In her free time, Ms. Baker enjoys being outdoors, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends. 2011 Marching Lynx Staff: Director: Kevin Kessler Thanks for taking the time to visit the Brandon Valley Band website! |
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Originally from Nevis, MN, Laura Baker is in her fourth year of directing bands at Brandon Valley. Ms. Baker currently conducts two sixth grade concert bands, one seventh grade band, seventh and eighth grade jazz bands, instructs group lessons and assists with the Brandon Valley Marching Lynx. 
