Moving towards three and a half decades of performances, the West River Winds opened this years Band Shell concerts. (Karisa Ross photo)

Dustin White

Editor

While music at the Vern Cermak Band Shell has been conducted since 1994, the tradition of performing at the park has a longer history.

In 1982,  John Warren, the director of bands at Mandan High School, along with other area musicians, first began discussing the idea of forming an adult community band. The goal was to perform in a “Concert In The Park” type setting in Mandan. Choosing what was then known as the Burlington Northern Park, currently Dykshoorn Park, the group wanted to host one or more open-air concerts throughout the summer.

With the idea formulating, the initial group found a local ally with the Mandan Public Schools, being granted permission to rehearse in the Mandan High School Band Room, and given access to music, instruments and equipment.



The band was quickly welcomed by the community, and they found encouragement to continue with their endeavor. The next year, the West River Winds was born, with a permanent organization that would help sustain the community band.

Warren would become the first conductor of the band, helping organize the group to allow for public performances in June, with a culminating performance during the Fourth of July celebration in Mandan.

Playing for a full audience, the West River Winds set the summer up right. (Karisa Ross photo)

Initially, the West River Winds began performing near the old Beanery at Dykshoorn park. However, a little more than a decade later, the band would find a new home for their summer performances; the Mandan Band Shell.

In 2001, Warren would step down as the conductor for the West River Winds, and the directorship was passed to Shawn Boehm, the associate director of the Mandan High School Bands.

Continuing with the work Warren had started, Boehm helped the band continue to form their identity, but also grow in size and musical competence.

In 2004, Ernest B. Borr succeed Boehm. No stranger to the community, having been the director of the Mandan School Bands during the 1960s and 70s, he also founded the University of Mary instrumental program.

Borr’s return to the Mandan community set off a substantial growth for the West River Winds. Including members from Mandan and Bismarck, as well as from New Salem, Wilton, Washburn, Wing, Zeeland and Ashley, the group has grown to between 70 to 80 members strong.

Taking the reigns this year, Dr. John Darling has the chance to continue the grown of the West River Winds. An Associate Professor of Music at Bismarck State College, he has had the chance to perform, as well as conduct, throughout the Midwest.

Karisa Ross photos