60+ Central Minnesota School of Rock Kids Prepare to Rock Your Face Off

For the 8^th year in a row, Central Minnesota kids with a musical spirit will join together in a band. Make that; several bands. The Central Minnesota School of Rock is underway this week and 60+ kids are hauling guitars, drums and keyboards to what, in most cases, is their very first gig.

Each year The Wirth Center for the Performing Arts teams with Sartell-St.Stephen Community Education to immerse kids in the experience of being in a band; from picking members, naming the band and compromising on song selection, to photo shoots, rehearsals and performances. The two-week program culminates with a huge concert on August 9^th, where each band covers two songs, on stage, in front of a crowd. Over the next two weeks, the kids and their instructors are rehearsing at St. Katherine Drexel School in St. Cloud to prepare for the concert. Last year 650+ family, friends, and music lovers packed the house.

This year, School of Rock boasts 23 guitarists, 14 vocalists, 10 drummers, 10 bass players, 6 keyboardists, and new this year; 4 horn players. The kids, in 6^th – 12^th grades, have a varied amount of musical experience. But experience isn’t a major factor when an amazing team of talented instructors are on hand, as nine musical mentors listen, guide and hone the skills of young rocker hopefuls.

The instructors list is a who’s who of Central Minnesota musicians; Promoter/Producing/Music moguls Tommy and Jeff Vee, Bassist and producer Jeff Engholm, Slip Twister/Fabulous Armadillo’s frontman Paul (Stretch) Deithelm, Blimp/Stearn’s County Pachanga Society’s guitarist Mark (Hazzy) Hasbrouck, Rockhouse Production’s Producer/Engineer Thomas Cabot, and the multi-talented globe-hopping professional musician Mitch Johnson. Two new instructors have been added this year; Keyboardist Tom Bard, one-half of The Bill & Tom Show, frequent guest in The Fabulous Armadillos and Nashville songwriter Ashley Brown, who plays a mean fiddle and is a well-respected local music instructor. A pair of former School of Rockers have graduated to instructor as well; Tyler Kelm and Jordan Maiers will assist as junior instructors and they’ll be working together to form one band.

The concert is Thursday, August 9^th at the Sauk Rapids Rice High School Performing Arts Center and is open to the public. Advance sale tickets are $6.00 and are available at Rocktown Music and Ham’s Music. Tickets will be $7.00 at the door on the night of the show.  Check out our next generation of rock in Central Minnesota!