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Our music program dates back to 1915, which is very old for public school music programs. In fact, our orchestra program is as old as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and they're one of the top 20 oldest orchestras in the country! Read on below to find out how, and by whom, our music program was started!
The first yearbook was published in 1913, which was decades after the first school was created, so it's quite hard to determine anything for sure from before that date, but we know the music teacher in 1913 through 1915 was a man named Earl Llewellyn Baker (pictured right). We don't know for sure what he taught because in the yearbook it's simply listed as "music." It was probably something similar to a general music class that we still offer in middle school.
In 1915, a new teacher come to Moline for music, her name was Elizabeth Peterson. She started the first orchestra and two choirs, a men's and a women's choir. She taught and built those programs until 1918. She's pictured on the right, with a photo (below) of the very first Moline High School orchestra!
MHS's first orchestra, formed in 1915!
In 1918, Elizabeth Peterson left, and a new music teacher was hired. Her name was Marie Heinemann, and she taught from 1918-1922. Marie Heinemann started the first Band for Moline schools! It started as an extra-curricular band that only played for sporting events. Ms. Heinemann and a photo of the first band is below!
By 1928, the band, orchestra, and vocal program at Moline High School had been established for some time, and a couple of teachers had come and gone. A new band and orchestra director came in 1928, named E. Lee Barnett, and he started something new for Moline, a marching band! Pictured below is a photo of Mr. Barnett, and Moline High School's first marching band from 1928!
The music program continued to grow throughout the 20th century with teachers coming and going, each adding their own flair to the program. Today, our program continues to grow with almost 70 in the orchestra program, over 140 in the band program, and almost 200 in the choir program. Each of our ensembles performs throughout the school year in the community for private and public events, as well as putting on concerts throughout the year, and competing at regional contests and competitions. We have three concert bands, two orchestras, two jazz bands, a marching band, pep band, a chamber orchestra, and four choirs, plus a chamber choir. All of which started in 1915 with Mrs. Peterson starting the first Moline High School Orchestra and Choir.
If you'd like to find out more about the history of the Moline Music program, please email Zack Morton at zmorton@molineschools.org
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