Robert Cook took this newly formed ensemble and pushed it into the forefront of high school bands across Connecticut. In the upcoming years the THS Band participated in the Connecticut Music Educators Association State Band Festivals participated in numerous exchange concerts and hosted the Ithaca College and University of Connecticut Bands. "When I returned to Torrington High School for my senior year in the fall of 1948, I saw that Robert Cook had been hired to start the Torrington High School Band. It was a small group of about twenty-five as I remember-but they produced a fine sound. Sine there was no band program until then, everyone in the new band was taking private lessons and had a commitment to making music". David Bennett - Teacher & Administrator Torrington High School 1957-1992.

Between the years 1948-1951 the band played at Torrington High School Football Games, Basketball games and presented annual end of the year concerts. There was a great excitement about the newly formed band within the school and community. The concerts were standing room only! The band performed new band music of the 1950's Second Suite in F for Military Band by Gustav Holst, popular show tunes The Student Prince Overture, and traditional Sousa marches. After the second band concert in 1949 the Torrington Register Citizen wrote: "The band member showed a marked improvement over last year and Robert Cook, director of music in the Torrington Public Schools, should be praised highly for his outstanding work during the past year in teaching the pupils how to play good music effectively" Torrington Register Citizen May 1949"

During his five years at Torrington High School Robert Cool's dedication to the music department was truly remarkable. He brought in high quality high school and collegiate performing ensembles from across New England, directed the chorus and orchestra, became Director of Music for Torrington and started the THS "Big Red" Band. Robert Cook was a man with a vision that was well respected in the Torrington Public Schools community. Robert Cook resigned from Torrington High School on May 5, 1951 and accepted the Band Director position at Boston University. Robert Cook was a native of Massachusetts and following his graduation from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, he enlisted in the United States Army where he was associated with the amphibian engineers. He toured New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. During that time he had the opportunity to do some band work with such shows as Jack Benny's Kay Kyser's, Little Jack Heller's and others.

On May 13, 1951 Arthur Booth took over as band director at Torrington High School. From 1951-1953 Booth continued to propel the Torrington High School Band into the forefront of music. The band performed at various events throughout Torrington. The annual Pops Concerts were becoming the event of the year with hundreds of people in attendance. Arthur Booth left Torrington in 1953 and continued teaching music and retired in Southeaster Connecticut.

From 1954 until his retirement in 1980 David Wheeler directed the Band, Chorus, Orchestra, Brass Ensembles, Glee Clubs, started a Humanities course, brought in various performing groups and was Chairman of the Music Department.

David Wheeler was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1924. He served three years in the Army as a combat engineer in both the European and Pacific Theaters. In 1950 he graduated from the University of Vermont and received a Master of Arts degree in 1959 from the University of Connecticut.

During his tenure at THS he was awarded the Torrington Probus award, Torrington High School Teacher of the Year in 1963 (the first music teacher to ever receive teacher of the year) and the 1963 THS Yearbook was dedicated in his name.

David Wheeler was very active in the Connecticut Music Educators Association serving a chair of the CMEA All-State Festival and CMEA Northern Region Music Festivals. He also was in charge of the Connecticut State Bicentennial and served on the Connecticut Advisory Commission on Music In 1976 and 1977. He taught at the University of Connecticut, Torrington branch and was a member of the Phi Beta Mu, a national band organization, as well as other local and state music organizations. In his free time was a member of the Litchfield Amateur Astronomy Club and the founder of the Harmonious Brass Ensemble.

During his career at he brought the level of musicianship of the band to a height of which was never seen before and seldom afterwards. His compassion, dedication and love for making music made him an iconic figure in Torrington.

David Wheeler was a man that dedicated himself to music education and to the Torrington Public Schools. Composer Samuel Hazo (b. 1966) wrote "Music teachers devote themselves and their lives to enriching young people through a wonderful art form. Moreover, these educators are aware that even though very few of their students will choose music as a career, all students will need to have dimension that appreciated and understands music so that one day, perhaps far in the future, a seed nurtured in the rehearsal room will blossom into a gratifying part of someones's life". This statement is a true embodiment of what David Wheeler meant to his students.

"He was one of the greatest teachers I ever had. He was a taskmaster who expected one's best all the time. At the same time, he never belittled a kid's mistakes at practice or in concert. A stern glance told anyone that he could do better" - former student of David Wheeler

Upon hearing of David Wheeler's passing on October 25, 2001, a former student wrote, "Of all the teacher I ever had and indeed of all the individuals I've known David Wheeler had a decided influence on me and the manner in which I conduct my life. The sense of discipline and professionalism that he required of us is something rarely seen in schools today. Where did the time go? All the friends and people pass with time but there are those individuals who will always be with us because of the influence they have made on our lives. David Wheeler is one of the those individuals " - Lucien (Zabielski) Douglas

'In 2001 months before his passing he called the school and asked if he could sit in rehearsals. He spent and entire week just listening to what the band was playing. On that Friday he thanked the band for letting him come in and listen. I didn't think much of it then but as the band was leaving the room he just stood there and looked around the room and waited for them all to leave. I believe he was saying goodbye to the place where he brought the love music into the lives of so many" - Wayne Splettstoeszer