The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band is a community band headquartered in the northern Twin Cities suburb of Shoreview, Minnesota.  Its mission is to provide an opportunity for musicians over the age of 16 to gather for the purpose of having fun making music together, developing musical talents, promoting musical and social exchange, and performing at community events. The Band's philosophy is that playing in an instrumental music ensemble should be a rewarding, lifelong experience, and not one that simply ends after graduation from school.

Originally dubbed the "Shoreview Symphonic Band", they formed as a small group of twelve in 1994, for the purpose of providing entertainment at that summer's "Slice of Shoreview" celebration. From these modest beginnings, the Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band has grown to over 80 members, with ages ranging from the teens to the eighties. The band "family" includes several real families, including mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and children. True to the "Variety" in its name, the group plays a varied repertoire, including classical transcriptions, jazz, marches, pop music, show tunes and the traditional concert band repertoire.

We rehearse each Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Shoreview Community Center, Victoria Street at Highway 96, Shoreview. We do not rehearse or perform during August.

The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band maintains an active concert schedule. The year is highlighted by two formal concerts, performed at Bethel University's Benson Great Hall in the Spring and in December. The Band also performs in a number of north suburban community celebrations, including events in White Bear Lake, Roseville and Shoreview. The Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band is under the direction of music director Merle Danielson.

Funding sources for the Shoreview Northern Lights Variety Band include corporate sponsorships, annual membership dues, concert revenue, fund-raisers, donations and assistance from the City of Shoreview. The group has a variety of ongoing needs, particularly in the area of percussion equipment, stage equipment (music stands, stage lighting, etc.), and a music library. The group is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and is governed by an elected Board of Directors.