Marysville High School Band - 75 Years
(Written in 2004, author unknown)
Marysville High School Band has been one of the high points of the school for the past 75 years. It originated in 1929 by L. B. Reed and by the next year, it became part of the school system. The band grew from about 20 in 1930 to over 200 today. Since the beginning, there have been numerous directors including L. B. Reed, Donald Euverard, Grace Hemmer, Woodford Zimmerman, Nevin Lantry, David Keller, Howard Martin, Marilyn (Niebarger) Quist, Bob Day, Bob Sements, Colleen Kent, and the current director Bill Thissen. As the band grew in size, several additional Middle School directors and assistants have helped including, Joe Galvin, Robb Hildreth, Brian Ash who currently teach the bands. Several students have gone on to participate in college bands, professional music, and have become music directors themselves.
During the 1950's and 60's, the band room was located next to the gym in the present-day Engineer's Office at the Union County Annex building. The Marching Band would line up and march down Sixth Street to Edgewood Elementary and use the practice field located just north of the school. For the football games, the band would congregate at Edgewood and march down Grove Street to the football field (now Lewis Park). In 1968 the new High School was located across from the Fairgrounds (now the Middle School). The practice field was located to the north on top the hill, exactly where the present football stadium sets. After the new High School was built, the band room moved behind the stage auditorium, then to its present location on the south edge of the building which currently houses the middle school choir. In 1963 the band welcomed several new members as a result of the consolidation of the Northwestern (Raymond) School. The band moved into the staff-designed band room in August of 2000. The band recorded four LP's, one in 1963, 1964, 1965 and again in 1969 and a cassette in 1988. This year the band has produced a 75th Anniversary Edition CD containing music selections of the Concert and Jazz bands from 2004 spring concert and music from the current marching band.
The band has represented Marysville in many parades, competitions, and out-of-state locations throughout the years. In 1929, the band uniform was a simple white shirt and tie. 1931 brought in the blue cape lined with red, and blue caps trimmed in red. In 1941 new double-breasted blue coats, pants, and hats all trimmed with red were purchased. They had the added touch of a hat plume. The 1963 band boasted as being the best in the Mid-Eight League and was invited to march in the International Lions Club Convention in Miami Florida. Through donations and fund-raisers, new uniforms were purchased. The Lions Club was so impressed with the Band; they invited them to the 1964 International Convention in Toronto, Canada. 1971 took the band to Washington DC marching in the Cherry Blossom Parade. There was a change in uniform design about 1980 which featured a change in the jacket color to Red. The current uniforms were purchased in 1989. A white 1/2 cross belt and buckle were added in 1998. In 2004 the band added white pants to the uniform for use at marching band contests.
There were other activities throughout the years including competitions in Troy and Dayton, Band Days at the University of Cincinnati
and Miami University, River Days in Portsmouth, Marion Popcorn Festival, and the Circleville Pumpkin Show. Within the last few years the band accomplished Grand Champion at the Toronto Music Fest; Toronto Canada and Grand Champion at the North American Music Fest; Myrtle Beach. The band has earned Superior ratings at Dixie Classic National Band Contests in Virginia Beach, Va, and Cincinnati, OH. They were selected as one of only 60 bands from over 5000 applicants to be a featured band in the Spectra Magic Parade which marched down the Main Street in Disney's Magic Kingdom. The band has also performed College Football Bowl games. The 1997 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla and most recently at the 2004 BCS National Championship Sugar Bowl game in New Orleans, La. Thanks you for being part of the 75th anniversary celebration. It is amazing how instrumental music has touched the hearts of so many.