Litchfield Opera House to Present the Minnesota State Band Concert
The Litchfield Opera House will present the 55-piece Minnesota State Band in concert on Saturday, October 18th – starting at 4 p.m. The event will help to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Litchfield Opera House.
The concert is free and everyone is welcome. It’s sponsored by the Minnesota Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The Litchfield Area Male Chorus and the Rainbow Singers will perform a number with the Minnesota State Band.
The Minnesota State Band was founded 127 years ago and is the only remaining state band in the nation. Keith Liuzzi is the director of the band, which receives Legacy funding to enable its free public performances.
The Litchfield Opera House, built in 1900, is nearing completion of its restoration and renovation project. A grand buffet will immediately follow the concert with proceeds going towards finishing the balcony work at the Litchfield Opera House. Tickets are $10 for adults and
$7.50 for those under 12 years. The buffet is sponsored by the Greater Litchfield Opera House Association, Inc. (GLOHAI).
The restoration and renovation project began over 15 years ago as the historic structure was in severe disrepair and was slated for demolition back in 2007. A group of citizens purchased the building at that time from the City of Litchfield for one silver 1900 dollar with a commitment to spend $100,000 to rehabilitate it.
GLOHAI has worked with the Minnesota State Historical Society and the State Historical Preservation Office throughout the restoration and renovation project to maintain historical integrity. Its own vigorous fundraising has helped the Opera House Association to gain generous
state grants from the Legacy and state Capital Investment funds, along with grants from the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, and local grants from Meeker Energy Electric Trust and from Center Bank.
