Welcome to the Eden Prairie

Community Band

sponsored by

the City of Eden Prairie


WE ARE HERE TO ENTERTAIN YOU . . .

About Us

The Eden Prairie Community Band is an adult community band of over sixty musicians, organized in 1973 and currently under the direction of Tom Muehlbauer. Our purpose is to entertain the people of Eden Prairie and surrounding communities, while providing the traditional community band experience for adult musicians to play together for their mutual enjoyment and musical growth


In addition to our concert band, our members participate in ensemble groups that include:


  • Jazz on the Prairie Big Band
  • The Prairie Ramblers - traditional New Orleans style jazz band
  • The Prairie Brass - quintet (two trumpets, french horn, trombone and tuba)
  • The Praire Winds - Woodwind Trio and Jazz Ensemble


Our band and ensemble groups are eager to perform for all your concert and holiday celebration needs. For booking inquiries, please call or email Alex Church at (952) 949-8305 at the City of Eden Prairie.


Upcoming Performances

Concert Band


Monday, February 5th, 2024, 8:00-9:00 p.m.

District Band Festival EP High School Auditorium


Thursday, February 29th, 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Minnesota Masonic Home, Bloomington
(Private event for residents, as well as friends and family)


Saturday, March 9th, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Central Middle School - Performance Arts Center, Eden Prairire


Thursday, May 23rd, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Pax Christi Catholic Church, Eden Prairie


Monday, May 27th, 11:00 a.m.

Memorial Day Ceremony, Purgatory Creek Park, Eden Prairie


Sunday, June 20th, 6:00- 7:00 p.m.

The Lodges, Eden Prairie

Tuesday, July 2nd, 6:30-8:45 p.m.

"Veterans Salute", Staring Lake Amphitheater, Eden Prairie

(Combined Concert Band and Pr Ramblers)

Wednesday, July 18th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Staring Lake Amphitheater in Eden Prairie


Saturday, July 20th, (Time TBA)

Downtown Park, Hopkins Raspberry Festival

Jazz on the Prairie Big Band


Tuesday, January 30th, 7:00 p.m.

Eden Prairie High School (Eden Prairie School District Jazz Fest)


Sunday, June 9th, Noon-7:00 p.m.

Staring Lake Amphitheater

Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie

(JotP 6:00-7:00 p.m.)


Wednesday, June 12th, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Firemen’s Park, Chaska

Monday, July 15th, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Centennial Lakes Park, Edina


Sunday,
June 23rd 1:30-3:00,
MN Landscape
Arboretum, Chaska


Monday,
July 15th 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Centennial Lakes Park, Edina


Thursday, August 1st, 2024, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Memorial Park, New Prague ("Music at the Broz/Czech Out New Prague")

Thursday,
August 8th, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Staring Lake
Amphitheatre, Eden Prairie



Prairie Winds


Tuesday, February 20th, 2024, 11:00-11:40 a.m.
PROP Food Empty Bowls
St Andrew’s Church, Eden Prairie


Sunday, April 27th, 1:30 -2:15 pm

Trouvaille Memory Care, Excelsior


Thursday, June 27, 2:00-3:00 p.m

Eden Prairie Senior Center Garden Party


The Prairie Ramblers Traditional Jazz Band


Tuesday, February 20nd, 2024, 5:00-5:45 p.m.
Prop Food Empty Bowls
St Andrew’s Church, Eden Prairie


Friday, May 24th, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Creekside Community Center, Bloomington


Tuesday, July 2nd, 6:30-8:45 p.m. Veterans SaluteStaring Lake Amphitheater

(Combined with Concert Band )


Thursday, July 4th, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

MN Landscape Arboretum, Chaska


The Prairie Brass


Tuesday, February 20th, 12:30-1:15 p.m.

PROP Empty Bowls, St Andrews Church, Eden Prairie


Thursday, July 25th, 6:00-7:30 p.m.

MN Landscape Arboretum, Chaska


To stay updated on our upcoming concerts, please follow our Facebook or Instagram accounts. More concerts are to come, so please follow those accounts and visit the website to stay up to day!


Weather Information: In case of inclement weather for outdoor concerts, check the Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Weather and Information Line at (952) 949-8449. Press option 5 for Arts and Special Events to hear if an event has been cancelled or moved indoors.


Join Our Band

Please contact us if you are interested in joining our musical group. We are currently looking for Bassoon players.


Our rehearsals are Thursdays from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Eden Prairie Central Middle School Cafeteria located at 8025 School Road, Eden Prairie.


The band is open to adult musicians from Eden Prairie and surrounding communities. All instrumentalists are welcome. If you are interested, please email us.

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Our Back Stage Story

The Eden Prairie Community Band was founded with 23 players in 1973 by Mr. Emmet (Em) Stark. The objective of the “All Comers Band,” as the group was first called, was to serve as a creative outlet for high school students and adult members of the community. The band was a summer program through August 1981 before becoming a year-round band in 1982.


In 1996, the band was chosen to represent the United States as part of the musical celebration of Austria’s millennium. The trip included performances in several Austrian cities as well as in Budapest, Hungary. In 1998, the band returned to Europe with an extensive tour of Italy and Switzerland.


Marilyn Rateike became the director of the Eden Prairie Community Band upon Mr. Stark’s retirement in 1999. In 2002, the band traveled to China when they were invited by the Chinese American Cultural Bridge Center to participate in a cultural exchange program. The band toured and played in Ireland and Scotland in 2005.


Thomas Maeck took over for Marilyn in 2006. In 2008, the EPCB toured and performed in Greece under his leadership. During his tenure, the band was proud to be a part of a newly commissioned work for band entitled “Streets of Honor” by Daniel Kallmen.


Tom Muehlbauer enthusiastically stepped into the director role in 2016.


Band members also have the opportunity to perform in ensemble groups, including Jazz on the Prairie and The Prairie Ramblers. Mr. Stark originally created the Jazz on the Prairie ensemble before Jerry Cerchia became the director upon Mr. Stark’s retirement. Don Bates took over in 2002 and the jazz band now meets weekly and performs several concerts in Eden Prairie and surrounding communities each year. The group even hosts several area Jazz bands at its annual Minnesota Festival of Jazz on the Prairie at the Staring Lake Amphitheatre. 


The band also provides community services. Members of the community band comprise the pit orchestra for the musicals staged by the Eden Prairie Players Community Theater every summer. Every December, the band performs at its annual Share the Warmth concert, where audience members are encouraged to donate food to the local food shelf and warm clothing to PROP FOOD and PROP Shop.


Our band and our ensembles also practice lifelong learning by partnering with local school districts. Adult and student musicians perform side-by-side in annual festivals to inspire students to continue in their musical endeavors. 

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