Band. In 1903, when the village donated $100 for its playing during the Fourth of July celebration, the band showed its gratitude by changing its name again, to the Hibbing City Band. Under this name, and under the leadership of Taipale, the band took part in several events, winning the second prize in the Ishpeming, Michigan Festival in August 1903, in which eight bands participated, second prize in Hibbing in 1904, the first prize in Ely in 1905, and again first prize in Ironwood, Michigan in 1906. Later still, as the Hibbing Concert Band, it became the official Hibbing band and was included in the town budget. As for directors, Taipale was succeeded by William Ahola, after whom came a Swedish Finn, Helmer Frankson.

Meanwhile, Tapio went on with a band of its own, with Mattson succeeded as director by Oscar Castren, William Ahola, and Hemming Hautala. The last named, incidentally, received a salary of $10 per month (in 1916) for his services. In the 1930s, Hautala started an independent band in Hibbing, primarily to give local Finns an opportunity to play together for recreation and to foster musical activity among the younger generation. However, to have a band at all, it was soon necessary to invite non-Finns to participate also, and eventually the band contained players from eight different national backgrounds, including the Indian. When the Virginia Finnish Chorus was planning to take part in the Chicago World's Fair, Hautala's band gave several concerts to raise money for the expenses the chorus faced. The band also played at Finnish festivals in Duluth, New York Mills and Ely. Up to the end of 1937 they had also given 50 outdoor band concerts and had appeared in numerous parades.

Also sponsored by Tapio, during the World War I period, was a chorus of about 20 voices, the Sirkat, directed by Ivar Ahonen. Other members of Tapio and also of the workers society were later active in other groups and choruses, in the Hibbing Tuesday Musicals, etc. Lillian Toivola (Ferris), who was popular as a vocalist, was chairman of the Musicale, 1941-43, and another Finn, Edith Koivisto, held the same position in 1951-52. A chorus which Edith Koivisto directed sang regularly on programs over the Hibbing radio from 1938 on; this chorus came to an end in 1946. Armida Koivisto was a concert pianist and later taught music on the college level.

Other Tapio auxiliaries included a public speaking group, a sewing circle, a temporary dramatics program and at least plans for a lending library. Also, there was a sickness and death

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