Photo by Neil Corsatea WGH '71

Before Mollenkopf Stadium was built -- early 1940s WGH marching band with Charles Corlett, director.

Above:  Mr. Fleming (in white band director's uniform) had the majorettes plan eye-catching dances with props.  Patricia Loveless WGH '60 was Head Majorette.

Above:  The WGH 190-61 Band, the first with new Assistant Director Clinton Foster, who joined Director Robert Fleming that year.  The concert band earned a Level "One" superior rating at the state competition.

Above: In addition to halftime performances, the WGH 1961-62 band was the first to perform during a nationally televised Cleveland Browns game.  The concert band earned a second Level "One" superior rating.

Spring 1962 Memorial Day Parade -- The 1961-62 WGH Marching Band at Court House Square marching toward Market Street, with the original Packard home in background which was the Elks Club at the time.  Photo courtesy of Rick Bartunkek WGH '64  See more personal photos of the 1961-62 band on the drop-down menu.

Above:  The WGH 1962-63 band debuted its first Drum Major, Greg Lowry during halftime  performances. The concert band earned its third-straight Level "One" superior rating.  Head Majorette Linda Newton.

Above: On the afternoon of the big game between the Panthers and arch-rivals Massillon Tigers, Friday, October 26, 1962, Mollenkopf Stadium field was covered under a six-inch blanket of freshly fallen snow.  With the Massillon game that night, and especially since Warren was undefeated, the team faced forfeiting the game. In addition, Mr. Fleming and Mr. Foster had planned a spectacular marching band halftime show that also faced cancellation.  But the Harding students did not let that happen. Since a snow plow could rip up the field, that idea was out.  So, they came up with a plan. Photo courtesy of Rick Bartunek WGH '64.

Above:  A DAUNTING TASK. According to Rick Bartunek, who was a junior at Harding that day, a call went out over the school PA system for student volunteers to report to the field to help clear the snow,  so that the team could play and the band could perform.  Above, the first students arrive in coats and gloves to begin rolling the snow into large snowballs and placing them against the stadium wall.  Note the many snowballs above.  

Above: "Oh, no! Not the Band Shell too!"  Despite its roof, the interior of the newly-constructed shell was covered in deep snow as well!  Two students take a break before commencing the tiring task of clearing off all those seats and stairs.

Above:  Not only were the Massillon Tigers and Harding Panthers arch-rivals in football, they were also arch rivals with the bands.  Massillon had a great band, but the Fleming-Foster team was determined to show them what the Panther Band could do, with a remarkable and memorable halftime performance that night.

Above:  According to Rick Bartunek:  "The Panther Band had worked long and hard perfecting a blockbuster halftime show of stunning drill work and powerhouse tunes, culminating in a magnificent majorette dance-medley, based on the jazzy Broadway music of Richard Rodgers’ 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.' Complete with a row of lighted New York-style street lamps, a gleaming pair of timpani centered at the 50, and our talented, beautifully-costumed dance line, this epic feature number – very similar to 'West Side Story' with its changing tempos and styles – brought the house down!"

Above:  According to Rick Bartunek:  "The Panther Band had worked long and hard perfecting a blockbuster halftime show of stunning drill work and powerhouse tunes, culminating in a magnificent majorette dance-medley, based on the jazzy Broadway music of Richard Rodgers’ 'Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.' Complete with a row of lighted New York-style street lamps, a gleaming pair of timpani centered at the 50, and our talented, beautifully-costumed dance line, this epic feature number – very similar to 'West Side Story' with its changing tempos and styles – brought the house down!"

Above:  TAKE A BOW!  The band concludes to a standing ovation, thanks to the unrelenting effort earlier that day of the Harding student body, staff, and citizens of Warren.  Plus, the Panthers won the game!  

Spring 1963 Memorial Day Parade -- The 1962-63 WGH Marching Band marches east down East Market Street in downtown Warren. Photo courtesy of Rick Bartunkek WGH '64  See more personal photos of the 1962-63 band on the drop-down menu.

Above: During the fall 1963 season, the WGH 1963-64 band performed at a nationally televised Pittsburgh Steelers game, and in February 1964 performed a concert at Kent State University where they were honored with "Ohio Band of the Year."  The concert band earned its fourth-straight Level "One" superior rating.  Drum Major is Greg Lowry, Head Majorette Leslie Armstrong.

Debuting their sharp black, white and red uniforms, the WGH Marching Band performs precision drills at the First Annual "Band Night" in August 1963.   

NEW UNIFORMS -- 1963-64 WGH Majorettes:  front row from left:  Bonnie Knight, Sandi Parti, Head Majorette Leslie Armstrong, Nancy Turner, Par Bilchak.  Back row:  Colleen Lowry, Marie Santucci, Jeanne Conti,  Betsy Paddon, Mary Lou Adams. 

Above: In addition to regular season halftime performances, the WGH 1964-65 band made four major appearances:  during a highly-lauded nationally televised halftime show at Chicago's Soldier Field during the College All-Stars vs Bears game; in Akron at the Soap Box Derby televised by ABC’s Wide World of Sports;  a Cleveland Browns Home Opener game; and during halftime at the Akron-Zips Homecoming in the Akron Rubber Bowl.  The concert band earned its fifth-straight Level "One" superior rating.  Drum Major is Jack Swinehart, Head Majorette Leslie Armstrong.

Above:  Mr. Fleming, center front, about to conduct the 1964-65 band in the Alma Mater "Red and White" as they stand perfectly still in Block W formation.

Above:  The highly acclaimed 1964-65 WGH Concert Band earned Superior ratings at state competition.

Above:  Dance Band ready to head to a performance.

Above:  The WGH 1965-66 band in addition to community appearances, performed during a Buffalo Bills halftime, and a Cleveland Browns game.  The concert band earned its sixth-straight Level "One" superior rating for the WGH musicians.  Drum Major is Ed Hanna, Head Majorette Kay Iaocozili.

Percussion Line Fall 1965 -- Above from left:  cymbals: David Evans; on marching bass: Bill Thompson and Donald Bryant; on cymbals: Allan Seaman; on snare:  Mickey Coons, Richard Leon, and John Bugzavich.   Photo courtesy of John Bugzavich '66

Above: The first band with Assistant Director John Kobasiar Jr. joining Director Robert Fleming, the WGH 1966-67 band, in addition to regular halftime shows, made three major halftime appearances:  at a nationally televised Cleveland Browns game; an Akron Zips game in the Akron Rubber Bowl; and during a Buffalo Bills game that fall.  The concert band earned its seventh-straight Level "One" superior rating. Drum Major is Pat Ciccarone, Head Majorette is Jill Klipple.

WGH Majorettes 1966-67

 From left: Debbie Stanley, Stephanie Polous, Valarie Vine, Dee Keadle, Head Majorette Jill Klippel, Carol Principi, Nancy Nickle, Colleen Tomlin, Terry Herlinger.   

WGH Majorettes 1969-70     

 From left:  Nancy Schnur, Sue Fittipaldo, Mary Lee Ackerman, Barb Iannucci, Debra Fulmer, Head Majorette Colleen Tomlin, Jan Harris, Randi Palmer, Mary Ellen Ognibene, Betty Shimko.  Photo courtesy of Colleen Tomlin Janis  WGH '70

Sue Fittipaldo, Bab Iannucci, and Colleen Tomlin, who was selected in 8th grade, are the last of the Fleming-seleceted majorettes.

Robert Fleming's 45-year Packard Concert Band Connection to the Earliest Warren G. Harding High School Bands

In 1925 when the new high school opened, the WGH Marching Band was formed under directors Charles Corlett and Carl Scheig.  Two years later, George Garstick joined on trombone (above front row, third from right).  He would graduate WGH '31, attend Curtis Institute of Music, perform principal  trombone in the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Philadelphia Opera, and was on faculty of the Peabody Conservatory of Music.  In 1954, Garstick was asked to return to Warren to create a concert band that would perform at a new music hall under construction at Packard Park.  Garstick agreed and drew musicians from the area to form the Packard Concert Band, which held its first concert at the dedication ceremony of the Packard Music Hall October 1955.  In 1959, Garstick, as Band Manager, Music Consultant, and trombonist, hired a talented young trumpet player -- the new WGH band director, Robert Fleming.  Garstick would feature Fleming in a trumpet trio at Sunday afternoon concerts, invited Fleming's WGH students to perform on the music hall stage, and introduced him to the areas's finest musicians as members of the Packard Band. Dana School of Music faculty member Donald Byo, a bassoonist for the Packard Band since 1957, would be the one to recommend Fleming for the faculty position of Director of Bands at Youngstown State University in 1968.  Garstick and Fleming's friendship would continue until Garstick's passing in 1985.  In 1983, Garstick recommended Fleming as co-conductor of the Packard Band, who went on to direct The Big Band Sound of Packard, The Packard Jazz Quintet and the Packard Dixieland Band.  Fleming retired from the Packard Band in 2004 after 45 years, the longest association with a musical performance organization in his entire career.     

Above:  The Top Notes at the Hilton Hotel, NBC Fall Schedule Gala, 1980s.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.

Above:  The Top Notes at the Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, Mid-1980s.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.

Above:  The Top Notes perform at Squaw Creek CC, 1981.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.

Above:  The Top Notes perform at Hiram College Homecoming, 1990.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.

Above:  Practice at the home of saxophonist Dr. Harold Brodell, in Warren, Ohio early 1970s.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.

Above:  The Top Notes perform at Yankee Lake, mid-1970s.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.

Above:  The Top Notes perform at a July 4th Celebration, 1977.  Photo courtesy of Dr. John Vlad WGH '52.