The Eden Prairie Community Band celebrated 50 years of music on Sunday at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre.
Eden Prairie residents and former band members enjoyed music from throughout the band’s 50-year history, as well as the piece “West of Eden Prairie” composed by member Clinton Clark.
“Community isn’t just in our name,” said Jonah Thune, band president. “We have members ranging from teenage to nonagenarians, and those 90-year-olds show no sign of slowing down.”
Former Eden Prairie Community Band directors Emmet “Em” Stark, Marilyn Rateike and Thomas Maeck were in attendance. The current band director is Tom Muehlbauer.
“I’ve always told people that the best seat in the house is where Tom (Muehlbauer) stands right on that podium because you not only get to hear that music but also feel it, and it’s just a beautiful thing,” Rateike said.”
Katie Geske and Cheryl Sykora performed at the Cummins-Phipps-Grill House before the concert. Geske has been with the Eden Prairie Community Band since 1994, and Sykora joined in 2021. 
The first Eden Prairie Community Band director, Emmet “Em” Stark, was in attendance. He served as the band director from 1973 to 1999. 
Percussionist Clinton Clark composed “West of Eden Prairie,” performed by the Eden Prairie Community Band. The piece paints five musical pictures, starting with an early morning sunrise before heading west on a wagon train. 
Band director Tom Muehlbauer encourages audience participation during Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock” chorus. 
Charlie Rockler leads kids around the Staring Lake Amphitheatre. He was a member of the Eden Prairie Community Band from 1979 to 2014. 
Former Eden Prairie Community Band directors Marilyn Rateike, Em Stark, and Thomas Maeck watch Sunday’s concert. 
The Jazz on the Prairie Big Band performs “Watermelon Man” by Herbie Hancock. 
