Ashton High School - Spotlight Yearbook (Ashton, IL)

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lil ' J I ' rxgfl YQN VQMMUNI YY 'IM L 1 url Asmom :Lumens ' T .I QHi xhx v ' ' EQNAQJLQLMQ -1 N5ilEEp i u K' I cTP-1 t f fl'?f:1 ' '23 QQ. VH .url D QFIOOL -415' QV .Z-L rv' fffrl as-f fz' if F fh I Some 3rd Period Dear Dave, You've probably heard by now what splendid work the vocal department has been doing at school this year. The girls and boys Glee Clubs have been com- bined to form a large Mixed Chorus of fifty-five voices. This group has rehearsed faithfully each Wednesday morning under the direction of Mr. O'May and accompanied at the piano by Gwendolyn Schaller. There were no contests this year because of the national emergency, but the group has made sev eral public appearances which were well received. On November 27, they presented nThe Harvestn, a colorful Thanksgiving Cantata, in the Mills and Petrie Memorial Building. They again appeared Feb- ruary 6, at Teachers' Institute in Dixon, and at the Lutheran Church on Sunday evening, February 15, being accompanied on the pipe organ by Donna Maude Sunday. During the year an F. F. A. chorus was formed which sang at their annual banquet. - It has been the aim of Mr. O'May to maintain a music department which would give vocal and ins- trumental instruction to all, and thereby stimulate interest in the music department. Keeping 'em Singing, Mixed Chorus

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f as '-X A.1-from comrfxuwlrf will ml QQ 1-new SCHQQL stef fill' 'fm -new ASHTON, ILLINOIS :MEET 1A- tg? ram-ch 14, 1942 Dear John, U How goes everything, John? Although I imagine you are tired of hearing that old bugle morning after morning, I'm going to nblow my hornn now. I should say the horn of the instrumental groups at A.C.H.S. They and their director Mr. O'May really deserve to have someone brag about them. Of course, the first thing you will think about along the in- strumental line is the orchestra, so I'll tell you about that first. We have about thirty in our orchestra this year and a good assortment of the various instruments. The orchestra along with the Mixed Chorus had the privilege of presenting a program at Teachers Institute in Dixon on February sixth. And if I do say so myself, we did a very good job of it. We also played for a half hour before the Junior Play. The or- chestra always plays for the various Senior activities such as their play and com encement, but they won't be able to 'this year. When you take the seniors out you have quite a hole and especially in the string section. Don't we think we're something? Then of course there is the Pep Band. We have quite a band this year and next year it will undoubtedly take the place of the orchestra because of the lack of string instru- ments for next year. The band has practiced faithfully every week and has played at several of the basket ball games this year. The main object of the band this year is to build a good foundation for a bigger and better band next year. More power to Mr. O'May and his organizations next year. ' Tuncfully yours, A. cl H. S. Musicians

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ff ,fn - Aer! VON cor,xMUNHY M ania swf WU' me ASH TON, ILLINOIS V5tQEggTGj' l i.4EEF . u n a 4 1 53. Ts -B' February 28, 1942 Dear Edgar, We just got back from the District Solo Contest at Genesee and are all very excited. In spite of the fact that we had to leave in the middle of the night, Cthis new timell we are all still full of pep and ready for anything. Who wouldn't be bringing home the honors the way we are? Not so many went out for solo work this year because the shortened school year makes several of the contests take place after school is out, but what students did represent A.C.H.S. really made us proud of them. We're sorry we can- not tell you the results oftthe Sectional and State con- tests now but you'1l probably hear about them later. At the District contest today, all of our soloists won first place. We had six high school contestants and one grade school contestant. Those representing A.C.H.S. were: Orla Kersten, Clarinetg Paul Jennings, Drumg - Stanwood Griffith, bassoong George Yenerich, Cornetg and Betty Wilhelm, Baton Twirling. The one representative of the grade school was Miriam O'May a seventh grader who won first place honors with her piano solo. Esther Boyd and Miriam 0'May will be entering on vio- lin in the Sectional Contest in April. They didn't have to compete in the District Contest because there were no string contestants at all. We wish them good luck in their first contest in April. As ever, The A.C.H.S. Contestants