Plymouth Concert Band Rehearsal. Photos: Plymouth Concert Band
The oboe and English horn player and music librarian looks back on her time spent in the community organization.
For nearly three decades, the Plymouth Concert Band has offered musicians of all ages and backgrounds the chance to come together to create something “greater than the sum of its parts,” says Terri Svec, the band’s outgoing music librarian, who retired from her roles with the band this spring in preparation for a move to South Carolina.
Svec has played oboe and English horn with the Plymouth Concert Band since its early days, and she helps out on various other instruments as needed, drawing on versatility born from her 32-year career as Buffalo Community Middle School’s band director. (“The fact that my father was a high school band director provided early exposure,” Svec says.)
“The band is a family that you choose with the common goal of working together,” Svec says. “People from all walks of life and all ages sharing the joy of making music together is not easily described.”
The band, a nonprofit, audition-based ensemble, performs four or five free public concerts every year, featuring a range of music from well-known classical pieces to more contemporary compositions. “We’re planning an outreach concert with the Robbinsdale Armstrong High School band program shortly after our finale concert this spring,” says Jesse Ng, band member and marketing and communications chair. “This is an opportunity to go out into the community and collaborate with young musicians.”
Ng says community ensembles are a great way for adults to keep playing the instruments they love, even after high school and college, in a relatively low-pressure environment. Community members are always invited to sit in on a rehearsal before they audition to find out if it feels like a good fit.
Leaving a Legacy
Svec’s contributions to the band, including her role as music librarian since 2015, are deeply felt, Ng says. “Her dedication and service are integral to the fabric of the band’s rich history. It’s already difficult to imagine convening for the next season without her.” As music librarian, Svec was in charge of sorting and organizing the band’s physical music copies and folders, ensuring each player had the correct part at the beginning of every rehearsal and concert and keeping the now-vast library complete, with no missing parts.
Photo: Terri Svec
Being part of the ensemble has really been its own reward, Svec says. “Because I taught beginning and developing band students, I needed a musical outlet that allowed me to perform more advanced music, scratching a musical itch,” she says. Over her tenure, the ensemble has grown in size, diversity and repertoire, with more instruments enriching the sound.
Even as she prepares to depart Plymouth, Svec is determined to continue her involvement in a “musical family.” “I know the ensemble will continue to grow as I take my leave to start a new adventure in South Carolina,” Svec says. “I’ve already got a community band lined up there.”
Upcoming Dates
Plymouth Concert Band performances are open to the public and free, with donations welcomed. Performances generally start at 4 p.m. and are held at Wayzata High School, 4955 Peony Lane N.
- Fall Concert: October 26, 2025
- Holiday Concert: December 14, 2025
- Winter Concert: March 15, 2026
- Spring Concert: May 3, 2026
Visit plymouthconcertband.org for information on auditioning and a schedule of upcoming performances.
Facebook: Plymouth Concert Band
