FARGO, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard’s 188th Army Band will begin the new year rocking schools across southeastern North Dakota. From Jan. 7-9, three ensembles from the band will perform in 15 schools. The biennial “Music in Schools" Tour features popular music, lights and fog machines while incorporating student interaction.
Sgt. Christopher Hanson, operations noncommissioned officer for the 188th Army Band, and Sgt. 1st Class Don Nagle, tour coordinator, carefully plan the tour as bands move from one town to another, setting up, performing, tearing down and moving on.
The three performance groups on the tour include Three Time Rule and Blues in Green, both variety bands, and Clarion of Freedom, a ceremonial band.
While students are the focus of the tour, schools in LaMoure, Lisbon and Wahpeton will open the shows to the public.
The tour schedule includes:
• 9:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7: Clarion of Freedom performs at Montpelier High School, Montpelier, N.D.
• 12:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7: Blues in Green performs at Wahpeton High School, Wahpeton, N.D.
• 12:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7: Three Time Rule performs at Valley City High School, Valley City, N.D.
• 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7: Clarion of Freedom performs at Litchville-Marion High School, Marion, N.D.
• 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8: Three Time Rule performs at Maple Valley High School, Buffalo, N.D.
• 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8: Blues in Green performs at Wyndmere High School, Wyndmere, N.D.
• 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8: Clarion of Freedom performs at Jamestown High School, Jamestown, N.D.
• 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8: Blues in Green performs at Milnor High School, Milnor, N.D.
• 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8: Three Time Rule performs at Lisbon High School, Lisbon, N.D.
• 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9: Three Time Rule performs at Enderlin High School, Enderlin, N.D.
• 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9: Blues in Green performs at Hankinson High School, Hankinson, N.D.
• 10:10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9: Clarion of Freedom performs at Oakes High School, Oakes, N.D.
• 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9: Blues in Green performs at Lidgerwood High School, Lidgerwood, N.D.
• 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9: Three Time Rule performs at Sheyenne 9th Grade Center, West Fargo, N.D.
• 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9: Clarion of Freedom performs at LaMoure High School, LaMoure, N.D.
The mission of the 188th Army Band is to provide music throughout the full spectrum of military operations and to instill in soldiers the will to fight and win, to foster the support of citizens, to promote national interests at home and abroad, and to entertain audiences. A tour during the summer of 2012 marked the band’s 125th anniversary of service in the state.