Band memories from high school

On Facebook at Mike's wall for MMHS classmates, I asked about band memories and who continued with their music and got some good ones from our era. I'm adding them here, or they will be lost. The memories went all the way back to Beth Amsrud (d. 1997 at 89), who was sort of a circuit music teacher, covering many small districts.

Mike wrote: “I played the clarinet right next to Eddie Gruen. Frannie Kitzmiller was squeaking right behind me. We both squeaked our way into retirement. I was late to a basketball game where the band was playing and Beth Amsrud told me not to come back. Don't think I was too disappointed.” 

Jon wrote: "I played the drums as most of you will remember. I started taking lessons in Rockford when I was in 4th grade. I believe I got to start playing in the High School band later in 5th grade. I believe Sylvia and I were the first ones in our class to play in The Kable Band. After high school I pretty much quit playing.  I won contest awards I believe four times in solo drums and then we did a quartet I believe once or twice. It was so long ago I do not remember all of the details. I am sure Sylvia won as well as several others that went to contest. One of the fun things we did was to put together the top people in each section of the band and combine it with the same from all bands in the conference. We practiced all afternoon along with top individuals from the HS choirs. We then did a performance that evening for the parents. That was a really fun day for me. I still love music." [I think Jon is referring to the Blackhawk Music Festival.]

Sylvia wrote: "Jon Martin and I played in the Kable Band under J.J. Richards in 1954. He received a check at the end of the season for $13.15. Me...I only got $8.85. (I think I had another job, or was at Camp some weeks.). It was a privilege to play for Richards. He was a well-known conductor, next to Sousa. Richards performed and conducted in the Ringling Circus Band.

My first band experience was with "No-nonsense" Beth Amsrud. Was thrilled to play in the high school band with Nancy Thomas Brinker, Joy Edwards, and Mike Miller. On to Manchester College band. Great flute section and flute friends there. Back to MM to Kable band, then onto Maryland. Played in Rockville Community Band. Many retired outstanding service band members. Great band. Played. Evening concert outside the Kennedy Center in DC.

Back to MM and Kable Band. Also, fun playing in Pit orchestra for Pag performances. And for the last 6 years, I've traveled to Sarasota, FL, to play with the Windjammers. (A group that plays circus music.) So thanks to all conductors, "encouragers", etc. It's been a fun ride...you just never know where music will take you. (Tell your kids that! They won't be sorry.) Thanks again to both Reckmeyers and other conductors.  I wouldn't have changed one minute.

Other class members in the Kable band according to old payroll records (which Sylvia has) were Salley Olsen, Darlene Holverson, Dwayne Zipse, and Nelson Potter.

According to a 1955 program I have, other class members in the high school band were Lynne F., Nancy L., Sharon R., Sara Y. and Priscilla D.

 I (Norma) played trombone with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Reckmeyer in high school. I had started the bassoon in elementary school and hated it, picked up my brother's trombone one day and never gave it back. It's not an instrument you take to a party, and I think I sold it around 1967 when we moved to Columbus. My husband bought me one for my 50th birthday as well as hiring a trombonist to come to the house and play for me. But it was too late . . .　

I looked up Mrs. Amsrud’s obituary, and she died in 1997 at 89. "Beth began her career in 1929 teaching band in the following schools: Chadwick, Thomson, Cordova, Elizabeth, Orangeville, Mount Morris, Byron, Oregon, and Forreston, where she started teaching full time in 1951. She retired in 1964 after 37 years." I had her in Forreston because she also did the school wide musicals that included the elementary kids. It's amazing she could remember not only what town she was in, but our names. It's in my memory she also had the little one room rural schools and folded them in when we had large events.

Music activities from 1955

Sylvia T. won a first at District Music Contest along with Mary Ellen K. and Jon M., and then went on to play at the University of Illinois at the State Music Festival in Urbana (I don't have the outcomes for the others). In this Index photo she is going over her music with Wayne Johnson. She still plays in the town band and is the organist for the Church of the Brethren. Band members also played for school assemblies, marched in the Homecoming parade, played for football and basketball games and with the choral groups participated in the Blackhawk Music Festival.

New Band Uniforms, February 1954

And didn't we feel special! Lynne scanned this from the Mt. Morris Index which reported, "Attired in their new uniforms for first appearance at half time during the Mt. Morris/Polo basketball game." A special fund was used to buy these uniforms with help from the PTA. Our director was Wayne Johnson, a graduate of Murray State College with a M.M. from Indiana University who also directed the choral groups, did arranging, and played trumpet in a local orchestra.

That year there were 50 band members--wouldn't that be about a fourth of the school body? We played at half time during the home football games and the half during the home basket ball games, the homecoming parade, the various special musical programs, school assemblies and the opening of the summer concert season at the bandshell on the campus. We also participated as a band and as individuals in band contests with other schools, and the Blackhawk Music Festival. Did we ever give a passing thought to the wonderful opportunities provided to us by our community and parents?

The trombones are completely out of view over on the left, but our class of '57 was well represented in that section--Steve B., Dwayne Z., Myron B., Sara Y., and Norma C. are there with a little help from senior Noel Mc. and sophomores Bob B. and Jim I.

Help me out if I misidentify the musician or instrument: Sylvia T., flute; clarinet--Neal J., Sharon R., Lynne F., Diane B., Francine K.; Priscilla D, French horn (shiny blonde hair in the photo); Nancy L., saxophone; Jon M., drums; trumpet--Salley O., and Darlene H. also Tom W. and Deb P. (I'm guessing here). I think it was either our junior or senior year that Nelson P. took up the bass, joined the band and entered musical contests. In our final year there were 8 seniors who played in a pep band--if you remember who--add it in the comments.

Assembly, March 18, 1955

My husband's on a cleaning kick again. We already have the cleanest garage and office in the county, but he found mildew on some of the books! So I pull off my sophomore Latin textbook. (Yes, I "archive" a lot of things I'll never use again.) I open it up and find a completely incomprehensible translation of something from Mr. Kinsley's Latin class (I got a B on this paper and it was a gift), but also this cute program from a school assembly in March 1955, our sophomore year.





Neal J. wrote the program notes, and Ken P. (class of '58) did the drawing, which seems to be an Irishman playing a clarinet, but there's a barely detectible "M" on his shirt under the banner. Doesn't this sound just like the Neal we all remember and who left us before graduation to go on to college because he was so much brainier than the rest of us (except Nelson) and bored with high school?

T.V. Suite: Our Television Suite is a satire on the types of programs heard on television. It runs the gamut not only from western to a Glenn Millerish band but also in special effects. Our "Hillbilly Belles" are Norma C., Gayle O. (class of '55), and Joyce K. (class of '56).

I have no recollection of this so I don't remember what the Belles were doing--did I play the trombone? Sing? Dance? Anyone remember? My parents didn't yet own a TV in 1955, so I must have been clueless what it was about.

Other items on the program were Thunder Song by Finlayson; Scotch Folk Suite by Davis (Neal reminds the students not to applaud until after the last movement); Sincerely by Fuqua Reed; Santa Fe Trail by Whitney a collection of folk songs; Lookie, Lookie, Wolf Boy by Walters; Little Suite for Band by Erickson; Tweedlee Dee by Scott; and Time out for a jam session by Handlon which Neal described as "mayhem." Mr. Johnson was a savvy guy--he knew to include those pop tunes to keep us all interested. He was one of my favorites.

From our class: Flutes--Sylvia T.; Clarinets--Sharon R., Neal J., Dianne B., Francine K.; Alto Clarinet--Lynne F.; alto sax--Nancy L.; Cornets--Salley O., Darlene H.; Horns--Priscilla D.; Trombones--Norma C., Sara Y., Steve B., Myron B., Dwayne Z.; percussion--Jon M. Obviously, the class of 57 ruled the trombone section!