Ascension Lutheran Church will host the St. Olaf Band, called "one of America's preeminent bands" by The New Yorker, in concert at 7:30 p.m. Fri., Feb. 6 in the church sanctuary, 1600 E. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks.

The St. Olaf Band, among the nation's top collegiate concert bands, is the oldest music organization at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.

In 1906, the band performed a 30-concert tour to Norway, making it the first American collegiate band to make a European concert tour. The band has also toured in Great Britain, central Europe and throughout the United States.

The band performed for King Harald and Queen Sonja from Norway during their visit to St. Olaf College and gave a joint concert performance with His Majesty's King's Guard Band in October 1995.

Timothy Mahr, band director and professor of music at St. Olaf, is a nationally recognized composer of more than 60 works, including "The Soaring Hawk," which earned the ABA/Ostwald Award. He has guest conducted a number of professional and awardwinning ensembles, including the U.S. Air Force Band and the U.S. Army Field Band.

The public is invited to the concert.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets will be available at the door.

For more information and tickets, go to www.stolaftickets.com.