History of the Band Program

This was a collection of students put together primarily under the leadership of fellow students. It was of a kind that had been gathered for many years. The 1929 Observer Annual (from which this picture was taken) states, "The band was reorganized this year for the purpose of giving instruction to its members and of keeping up the spirit of the school at all athletic meets."

In 1931, Wallace Franks was hired as an Instrumental Music instructor for the school. He recalls, "How well I remember the fall of 1931, when I announced (over the P.A. system) that Wooster High School was to have a marching and concert band comprised of boys and girls from grades seven through twelve. The uniforms would be white duck trousers or white skirt, black bow tie with a white shirt and, of course, black shoes and socks. Some fifty aspiring musicians answered the call, and for the first football game the Wooster High School Band marched, and made an 'M' for Millersburg and a 'W' for Wooster."

This was the beginning of band in the school day at Wooster High School. Unlike the past, the band rehearsed during school hours and met for credit. Indeed, the face of music education in Wooster was beginning to change. Wallace Franks, "WHS' First Band Director", taught here for another nineteen years. His directorship lead the band through many successful concerts and contests. Wooster's instrumental music program became a model for other programs around the state.

Wallace Franks Retires

The tradition of excellence was well established by Franks as he retired in the spring of 1950. The band was consistently receiving high honors in district and state contests, and soloists under his instruction were excelling both locally and nationally.

The 1950 General Annual payed tribute to the music teacher, "To all who know him and have reason to associate with him, 'Wally' is one of the finest men who could be known. As a music director, Mr. Franks is one of the best and best-known in the state of Ohio."

Wallace Franks laid a firm foundation for a solid instrumental music program at Wooster High School. After his retirement there came several directors who spent a relativelty short period of time in the position. However, each upheld a high standard for music learning at WHS.

Richard Shilling  took the reins from 1950 to 1952. From 1952 to 1954 George Knickles continued the fine tradition of musicianship and excellent performance of the Wooster High School Band. In 1954 Walter Kehrs joined the staff and was, like the previous two directors, only the school's band director for two years. His tenure at WHS ended in 1956. 

A new era for the Wooster High School Band began with the arrival of Jack Emig  as director in 1956. Emig expanded the program into the elementaries with flutophones in 4th grade and beginning band instruments in 5th grade. Director at WHS for eight years, Emig helped hundreds of students in Wooster to enjoy and produce music through participation in band.

By 1957, under Emig's direction, the 110 member Wooster High School Marching Band sported brand-new blue and gold uniforms (as pictured above in the new gymnasium). Emig utilized his training at Ohio State University to usher in a new era of "precision marching". The band began venturing to distant performance venues and received much aclaim. An invitation to perform in New York City in the 1959 Lions' Club International Convention Parade was accepted within months of a halftime performance at a Cleveland Browns football game. 

Program Continues To Grow

Bill Shepherd - 1964 to 1969 

In 1964 Bill Shepherd became the new Band Director at Wooster High School. During his tenure the schedule for band class moved from three days of in-school rehearsal to five days a week.

In addition to the change in schedule, Shepherd was faced with growing numbers of instrumental music students. In response to this, he instituted a process of dividing the Marching Band after football season into two separate groups for concert performances. Thus was the beginning of the Concert Band and the Symphonic Band; the two ensembles have been in existence ever since.

Looking Back

For the Alumni reunion in 1993, Shepherd recalled, "It has been a long time since my years at Wooster, but I still measure communities and bands against those times. I remember 'my band students' as the finest I've ever worked with. We were in the process of building a band program based on the work of several fine directors. The recordings of the band still sound terrific and stand as a tribute to the quality of the band. Wooster and the Wooster Band hold a dear spot in my heart like no other place."

Lloyd Ringley, an Eastman Music School and Vandercook graduate, was hired in 1967 and became the director of the newly formed Concert Band. Shephard conducted the Symphonic Band. With this new system in place, the bands continued to excel at State Contests and received superior ratings for their performances.

In October of 1969, Bill Shepherd accepted a position at Findlay College. Ringley finished the year as director of the Marching and Symphonic Bands while Ed Schattsneider, already on staff with duties at the Junior High, directed the Concert Band.

With the departure of Bill Shepherd, yet another import decade for the Wooster Bands was about to begin. Great experiences were awaiting band students of the 70s ...

Pageantry was the word for the Wooster High School Marching Band in the 70's. Elaborate field shows exhibited lighting effects - including the ever-popular "toe lights", costumes, banners, dancing routines, and more.

If the walls of the band room at the old Wooster High School could only talk, we would have heard story after story of talented young musicians, motivated, committed to achieving their very best. With the construction of the new Wooster High School in 1994, the old building was converted to Cornerstone Elementary. The band room was demolished. However, the memories of time spent together making wonderful music will never be torn down… 

The Wooster High School Symphonic Band made many noteworthy appearances under the direction of Mr. Bayless in the 70s. This included performances at OMEA conferences, a performance at the Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic, and also a trip to Europe.

When Bob Bayless left at the end of the decade, Lloyd Ringley took charge and handed the reins over to the talented young Assistant Director, Jim Byo. 

Jim Byo

(Byo currently serves on the Music Education faculty at Louisiana State University.)

Under the leadership of Jim Byo, the band program at Wooster High School continued with it’s fine tradition of musical excellence. In 1985 he left the program in the hands of Mark Scatterday who lead the band program for two years. William Bauer came after Scatterday's departure and lead the program to the end of the decade.

With the new decade came another new face. 

Dan Adams joined the staff in 1990 to lead the Wooster High School band program

Some of the highlights of the new era include...

The 90’s brought several new and exciting things to the band program:

• 1992 - The Wooster High School Bands began a series of tours performing in Boston, Chicago, Washington DC, New York, Orlando, and Toronto. The tours were highlighted by performances at such venues as Disney World, Comiskey Park, Shea Stadium, Citi Field, and Fenway Park.

• 1993 - We said "goodbye" to an old friend - the old school on the corner of Bowman and Quinby, and "hello" to a new one. The 1993 alumni gathering was the first of four memorable reunion events. It was our way of looking back on all the wonderful memories that the old Wooster High had given us.

• 1994 - We moved into the new Wooster High School on the North end of town.

• 1995 - WCS Music Staff performs first of 25 years of annual Faculty Recitals.

• 1996 - The growth of the program precipitated the need for a third band at the High School. Freshman Band was added.

• 1996 - With the new band also came a new staff position. Kelly Mollnow joined Doug Bennett and Dan Adams on the staff.

• 1997 - Mr. and Mrs. Adams took students on the first of eight performing tours through Europe.

• 1998 & 2002 - Wooster High Symphonic Band performed at the OMEA State Music Education Conference.

• 2003 - Wooster High School was named as a Grammy Signature School for having one of the top 50 music programs in the country.

• Unforgettable trips continue, including performances at famous venues like Fenway Park in Boston.

• 2009 - Wooster High School Marching Band performs at Ohio State Marching Band Skull Session.

• 2012 - 8th Grade Band began meeting at WHS as part of the WCS restructuring plan.

• Wooster High School Symphonic Band continues to receive Superior (1) ratings in class AA at State OMEA Adjudicated Event.