January 16, 2025

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January 16, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

TOP STORY

Lakeside Big Band played at the Prior Lake VFW on Jan. 14, 2025. Laurie Hartmann / PL News Compass

PL resident strikes a new tune

Ron Siven's lifelong passion has been music. In 2023, he decided it may be the perfect time to become the leader of his own band.

The Prior Lake resident, his wife and son were all members of the Prior Lake Windjammers community band that delighted audiences throughout the area for close to 60 years. Siven also had a strong interest in big band sounds that were popular in the mid-1900s, and shared with other musicians his interest in forming a new group with a different music focus. Word spread, and former bandmates from high school and college expressed a desire to join. "Lakeside Big Band" was launched and rehearsals started shortly thereafter to resurrect big hits from the swing era.

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"The Lakeside Big Band was formed with the idea of bringing joy to our audience while creating a fun and rewarding experience for musicians," Siven said. "We aim to play music that not only resonates with us but also challenges us to grow as performers."

While the band first started with a few musicians short of a full ensemble, it still proved to be a strong foundation on which to build their membership that now numbers 15. Section leaders include Siven on saxophone, Rob Kocher on trumpet, Joe Dols on trombone and the rhythm section headed by Rob Sutrick. Siven says the group is truly a community effort that includes family, friends, coworkers and even children of friends. It's an eclectic group of all ages that extends from retirees, college students pursuing music degrees, younger cohorts who only perform during the summer months and others who live outside of the immediate Prior Lake area. Flexibility, Siven said, is the key to maintaining a vibrant and dynamic group that remains passionate about music.

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NEWS

PLNC names new editor

Robb Jeffries, a veteran editor previously with the Prior Lake American, has been selected as the first editor of the Prior Lake News Compass.

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SCHOOLS

Bye bye, Blaze

Both varsity basketball teams did Prior Lake proud on Friday, with the boys besting Burnsville 75-61 and the girls netting a 46-point blowout over their rivals to the east.

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