On Saturday Nov. 23, the Concert Board brought the St. Olaf community a small but mighty concert. The Tiny Desk Concert, reminiscent of the small-scale concert model coined by National Public Radio (NPR), was not only a joy to watch, but also a beautiful way for campus bands to show off their skills to the community. Three bands performed that night: Wintry Elementary, Folkish, and Her Man, along with opening pianist Zach Zelinski ’25.
The hour-long concert was a lively event that filled the whole Jungle. From the beautiful melodies and harmonies that were created to the audience interaction, the whole event felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As someone who was able to help put the event together, it was lovely to see so many people come out and support the student bands and musicians. I truly think I watched the flourishing of many bands, and I don’t think I’m alone when I say I wanted to hear more. I immediately wanted to stream the musicians on my phone and do whatever I could to support them. This event was not only a way for the bands to show off their talents, but also a way for the St. Olaf students to show their support. They definitely did that, based on the audience interactions that showed their interest in the energy of the space.
There were not only friends of the bands there to listen, but also others who gave the concert a chance. For me, the part that stood out to me was it felt like I was watching the early beginnings of these musicians. Like, one day they will be famous, and I’ll be able to say I saw them in The Jungle at St. Olaf. I always hear my parents say things like that, but I never fully grasp that we, right now, are at that age where we can see the future talent being created. That’s why I was so proud of St. Olaf students for showing up for this event. If we continue to do this, it will ensure that the music of the future stays strong. Thank you to everyone who went to the event, and please look out for future Concert Board events! These events are only able to happen due to the dedication of the Pause techs, the Concert Board, and Pause execs.
