The Chatfield Brass Band is an active community band with brass, woodwind and percussion musicians from SE Minnesota. They sponsor the “Music in the Park” summer concert series on Thursday evenings in June and July. The concerts feature the Brass Band and guest musicians, food, refreshments and drawings. The band also performs in area parades and concerts during the year. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from September to May.

The Chatfield Music Lending Library
The Chatfield Music Lending Library is the only library of its kind in the world today. Created by Jim Perkins in 1973, the library is dedicated to the preservation of our musical heritage. The library has collected over 50,000 pieces of instrumental music – many of which are no longer in print – and they continue to catalog more of the collection. The library is a member of the Southeast Minnesota Library System and lends music to bands and musicians around the world.

(courtesy City of Chatfield’s website)

Chatfield Brass Band website

Chatfield Music Lending Library and Archive website

(1926-2019)

Inducted 2008

John Arsers grew up in Chatfield, Minnesota and his father was the High School and City Band Director. He started playing the clarinet in the third grade and by fifth grade he was playing in the high school band. Professional jobs started in high school with area concerts and dance bands. After WWII, John played with The Lynn Kerns Band, The Guy DeLeo Orchestra, and polka bands The Six Fat Dutchmen, The Babe Wagner Band and Fezz Fritsche and The Goosetown Band. Arsers traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada as a member of The Henry Busse Orchestra. After 20 years working for an airline in Las Vegas, he retired and returned to New Ulm and resumed playing with many area bands, including The Schell’s Hobo Band, The Original German Band, The Klaus Trio, and The Lafayette City Band.