Band Alumni Impress Crowd and then Celebrate
The powerful sound of the Blue Devil alumni marching band could be heard far off in the distance, before it even became visible during last Saturday’s Huntington High School homecoming day parade. The music was so impressive that many found it hard to believe the group had only rehearsed twice before performing.
The graduates returned to their alma mater for the 75th anniversary of the Blue Devil band, an event organizers spent months planning. The alums rehearsed Friday night and again Saturday morning before marching in the mid-day parade and then joining the current band for a joint performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a huge crowd at the afternoon football game.
More than 100 band alumni attended a Saturday evening reunion dinner at the Elks Club. “Former staff members and alumni exchanged stories and memories and reflected on how much participating in the program meant to them,” said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. The group posed for photos and expressed appreciation to Tanya Gesek, Bea Clemons and former band director Linda Shoemaker for their efforts in planning the reunion.
Ms. Shoemaker received a standing ovation at the dinner in recognition of her long service and the impact she made in the band member’s lives. The former band director was moved by the weekend’s events and told her former students how proud she was to “see what wonderful adults” they had developed into. “She loved every minute of watching them rehearse and perform this weekend and said it was one of the happiest days of her life,” Mrs. Fretz said.
The reunion dinner and the weekend’s events attracted former staff members and left a mark on the current ones, who walked away with “many important lessons,” Mrs. Fretz said. The alums returned from all over the country and even as far away as London and Alaska. The Saturday night banquet was a time to reminisce.
“Alumni explained that the experience of being in the band meant so much to them because in the program they learned about how important it was to put 150 percent into everything that you do,” Mrs. Fretz said. “They were made to feel that their contributions were essential and their effort or lack of effort impacted everyone else in the group. They learned to contribute to the success of the group - working on a single goal. Many said that these lessons helped to make them the leaders and parents and successful adults that they are today.”
Huntington honored Frank Lizzo, a top drummer in the Class of 1947 and the school’s original twirler, Class of 1943 member Susan Verne Callahan. The pair was crowned band anniversary king and queen. Mr. Lizzo marched and played in the parade while Ms. Callahan rode in a classic white convertible Eldorado. Both were cheered when introduced to the large homecoming day crowd.
Many band alumni members said it was the thrill of performing again as a group that helped draw them to the weekend’s events. “They said that they were waiting with great enthusiasm for the chance to perform as a Blue Devil again,” Mrs. Fretz said.
Some of the grads discussed the possibility of creating a formal alumni band organization and planning reunion activities every five years. Still others expressed interest in returning next spring for a planned concert band weekend, which is set for June 4-5. Alumni are expected to take the stage for a performance.
“It was such a positive experience,” Mrs. Fretz said about the reunion. “They are interested in creating more alumni music activities in the future.”
All graphics, photographs, and text appearing on the Huntington Public Schools home page and subsequent official web pages are protected by copyright. Redistribution or commercial use is prohibited without express written permission. Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office