Holly Kastl

How long have you been playing and when did you start? (School, age, etc.)
What other groups (if any) have you played in over the years or are you currently playing in? Please include military.
Northern Winds is the only group I have played in since I was in Rosemount High School over 30 years ago. :0) I’ve been playing for church now and then over the years, but that is it! So glad I found this community band!! Love it!

Have you played continuously, or did your instrument gather dust in the closet for several years? What brought you back?
I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to play for church off and on, but I really missed being among a group of fun musicians. Nothing can replace the feeling of being involved in a band.

What do you like about playing in Northern Winds?
I love Northern Winds. Our director Joe Speakman really makes our rehearsals and our concerts fun. He is funny, easy-going and understands the personal conflicts that come up from time to time that may prevent attendance. He believes that we all do our best and he supports us in any way that he can. I love all of the other band members too!! GREAT PEOPLE!! Also important to me is the fact that my homeschooled children have been welcomed into this band like family. Northern Winds has embraced the opportunity to be their high school band. :o) This is a great group of people to play with!

Anything else you would like to include: Current employment, school, (music degree), retirement, family—whatever you would like known about you!!
I’m a stay-at-home, home-schooling mother of four! One has graduated from high school now, so three to go. I played flute and piccolo all the way through high school and loved every minute of it. When I was little, my dad used to march around the house pretending to play the piccolo obligato part to “Stars and Stripes Forever”. I knew that I would need to be the lead flute player in the Senior High band in order to be able to do this for him. I wrote a letter to the High School band director in 5th grade telling him that I was hoping to be this piccolo person and asked him for the music to “Stars and Stripes Forever”. Mr. Smith, the Rosemount High School Band director, mailed the music to me along with a note: “Good luck Miss Vitoff!” It all worked out as planned and I played the piccolo solo in front of our band for my dad at our 12th grade graduating concert. Life is good. :0) I missed those days for about 30 years, so am catching up on all the fun now with the Northern Winds Community Band… side by side with my kids.