Andrew Eric Nelson is director of bands and music department chairperson at Milaca High School.
He is a 1988 graduate of Litchfield High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and the 1987 MMEA All-State Band. He was a high school recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award, as well as the National School Choral Award and the United States Marines Semper Fidelis Bandman award.
Nelson received his Bachelor of Science degree summa cum laude from St. Cloud State University in 1993 and his master’s degree in education from St. Mary’s University in 2004.
Active in music education, he is a member of the Minnesota Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and a past president of the Central Minnesota Band Directors Association.
In 2007, Nelson was awarded Milaca Community Member of the Year and in 2014 he was a semi-finalist for the Education Minnesota Teacher of the Year.
In 2019, Nelson was awarded the Minnesota VFW SMART/MAHER National Citizenship Education Teacher Award of the year for his work with the Milaca Public Schools Veterans Day Concert.
In 2022, Nelson was chosen as one of SBO+’s 50 Directors Who Make A Difference.
Nelson has twice conducted bands at the MMEA Mid-Winter Clinic (Red Wing 2002, Milaca 2006) and in 1998 his Marching Band at Blaine High School performed a halftime show for the Minnesota Vikings.
In addition to his instructional duties at Milaca High School, Nelson serves as an active adjudicator with the Minnesota State High School League and the Tri-State Band Judging Association.
Nelson lives in Foreston with his wife Christine and daughters Natalie and Nicole.
Lowell Larson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Bemidji State University in 1979. He taught instrumental music in grades 5-12 in Royalton for seven years. He then moved to Annandale Public Schools in 1986 to teach classroom music, 6th, 7th and 8th grade middle school bands, jazz band and marching band at both the middle and high school levels. While at Annandale, he received his Master’s Degree in Music Education from St. Cloud State University in 1989. He retired in 2013 after 27 years of teaching at Annandale.
Lowell’s role in the St. Cloud Municipal Band has varied from playing euphonium and trombone, co-directing for 10 years, and serving as associate conductor since the fall of 2009. He has the privilege of conducting the band on its 2014 tour of Germany, Austria and Italy.
He lives near St. Cloud with his wife and has three adult children with nine grandchildren.