Derry Borough High School - Derrian Yearbook (Derry, PA)

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The Girls' Chorus The entertainment in King Arthur's Court was furnished by a jester, and by 4 traveling musicians and songsters. Corresponding to this group is the Girls' Chorus, which furnishes a large part of the vocal entertainment for Derry Borough High School. They also travel to participate in many activities. The Girls' Chorus is a popular organization of Derry High School. It is an independent activity, having its own officers, laws, and code. This year, when the usual election was held, Marion Kolb was chosen president, and Anna Ruth Trogler as secretary and treasurer. Miss Mary Martha Diehl, Supervisor of Music in Derry Borough Schools, is director, and Ruth Posner, the appointed pianist. The Girls' Chorus is noticeably increased this year, as many freshmen have joined the organization. It is a great encouragement both to their director and to the girls to see such enthusiasm. This year, when the County Music Festival was held at Mt. Pleasant, many of our girls took part in the assembled chorus, which included students from high schools all over the county. Several times the Derry Chorus has been invited to take part in this activity, but this is the first year they have been able to accept. Having decided to take part in this program, they immediately began rehearsing and plan- ning for the event. Their remarkable performance was appreciatively received by the large crowd attending. Several years ago the Girls' Chorus from Derry Borough gave a program over the Greensburg radio station: this was appreciated so much by the townspeople that, after receiving many requests, the chorus repeated the program this year on a bigger scale. The Girls' Chorus participated in numerous activities this term. One day early in November the strains of that lovely old carol, Cantique de Noel, announced to the student body that the Girls' Chorus was preparing for their annual Carol Service at the Methodist Episcopal -Church. In their last Christmas program the thought of the music centered mainly around the birth of the Christ child, but this year they tried to convey the whole Christmas story in the form of a Cantata. Shortly after this the chorus gave a distinguished performance at the Seniors' Christmas pro- gram. This was a candlelight serv- ice, during which the chorus start- ed in the upper halls of the school and marched into the auditorium as they sang carols. After assem- bling on the stage, they sang sev- eral favorite carols. The last performance to be given by the girls will be at the annual Baccalaureate Service. There will , ,-- -v -- - A , Q - - , v, . ' L , , , x , . be a large number of the girls is .rl XS , A V-,V Q I l t A fj Gi W V L , graduating this year who will be -f .si 4. ff 3. A ,LL3 ,asf ... ff. A . far . fm rfb missed, but those who remain will endeavor to carry on as nobly in the future as they have in the past. GIRLS' CHORUS FTD!!! Ilvwr NHHCY MCKOWSH. Marilyn Ginson. Dorothy Shick. Beryl M. Long, Rozella Barron, Victoria Pallottini, Ruth Shomo. Catherine Sloan, Vella Dean Newell. Evelyn Chamberlain, Ruth Posner, Ruth Forsha, Rita Sweeney, Phyllis Heacox, Edna L. Yealy l Second Row: Gladys Black, Mary M. Hughes, Anna Sweeney, Edith Shomo, Mary Oliver, Phyllis Butler, l Mildred Burik. Mary L. Ober, Peggy Dimond, Ruth King. Mary J. Van Wey, Andres 1 Heacux, Nettie Patterson, Jane Yealy, Erma Roddy. Jean Snoddy, Helen Gontz. Miss Diehl ' Back Row: Eleanor Allison, Anna L. Fenneman, Helen Corey, Isabel Lyons, Loretta Kolb, Eleanor Crummy, Anna R. Trogler, Marion Kolb, Edna Shirey, Elsie Henderson, Lois Nawman. Anna M. Kokos. Lala Henderson, Betty Walters, Inez Tripoli, Theora Moore, Jean Smith, Eleanor McGinnis, Virginia Werner FIFTY-ONE

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Orchestra TT 4 EE l ORCHESTRA Seated: Holmes Yealy, Stuart Mack, Pete Bercia. Tony Bucci, John Minni, Dalton Bryson, John Kuntz. Vella Dean Newell. Eileen Allison, Hiram Cook, Elsie Henderson, Jane Yealy, Salvatore Rucci Standing: Edna L. Yealy, Eleanor M. Crummy, Mary Martha Diehl One of the most important organizations of Derry High School is its orchestra. Under the capable direction of Miss Mary Martha Diehl, the music supervisor. this organization has developed from a junior orchestra, to which most of the present members belonged. It is now composed mainly of sophomores, who began playing publicly while still in seventh grade. The orchestra plays for the regular Friday assembly programsg and during the football season, when pep meetings were very popular, they excelled in fur- nishing rousing marches and in accompanying school pep songs. Shortly after the second semester examinations were over, the orchestra gave a unique assembly program which proved not only entertaining but educational as well. This pro- gram was in the form of a recital. The school has depended upon the orchestra for entertainment at the junior and senior class plays for the past several years, and as usual they responded nobly to the call. While the orchestra is not a large organization, it has fine ambitions and the best possible background to inspire each member to do his best. This year, when the Girls' Chorus gave their annual Christmas program at the Methodist Episcopal Church, the orchestra, as an added feature, gave an ap- propriate prelude to the program. Another appearance was at the seniors' Christ- mas program. The orchestra members work hard during the year preparing numbers for the many entertainments in which they are to participate. That is the reason why they are always willing and prepared to assist when called upon to play for special occasions. Every Thursday, after the bell for activity period has rung, students from nearly every home room begin to hurry toward the auditorium. Here, from three-forty-five until four-thirty, echoes of musical strains 'resounrl through the halls. All are very intent upon doing their part toward the supreme mastery of each number. Then, without warning, silence reigns until another week. when the same procedure is followed. This year, when the seniors graduate, the orchestra will lose three faithful members-Hiram Cook, drummer, and John Minni, clarinet player, who have been with the orchestra since entering Derry High Schoolg and Eleanor Crummy, pianist for the past two years. As they move on, the remaining members of the orchestra wish them success. Although others wi'l take their places, their efforts will be remembered and will serve as an inspiration for improving our orchestra. FIFTY

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The Boys' Chorus 4 I I l l l BOYS CHORUS Front Row: Raymond Zannette, Andrew Magretti. Jack Wissinger, Paul Mowry, Frank Schmucker, James Stilller, Samuel Wareham, Jack Cline Middle Row: Stuart Mack, James Wherry. Chalmer Shaffer. Miss Diehl, John Kuntz, Hugh Akins, Frank Fator Back Row: Euge Glasser, Jack Allison, Joseph Cullings, James Humphreys, Holmes Yealy, Ernest Gasbarro Henry Toner. Robert Gontz. George Toth THE BOYS' CHORUS A constantlyfgrowing organization of Derry High School is the Boys' Chorus. The chorus was started several years ago, and has continually grown larger until today it is one of the most popular of the school clubs. It, like all other musical activities of our school, is under the direction of Miss Mary Martha Diehl. The Boys' Chorus has not been as active this year as previously, due to several unsettled difficultiesg and it was late in the first semester before it was reorganized and before actual practice began. However, they have several admirable performances to their credit as a record for this year. When the Girls' Chorus gave their program over the Greensburg radio station, the Boys' Chorus gave several numbers on the same program. This was a novel feature in comparison with the girls' last program and drew much attention to the chorus. The boys practiced diligently every Tuesday during Activity Period throughout the school term. Therefore, at the end of the school year they have a group of which the institution is justly proud. Toward the end of the second semester, conditions made it necessary for a new organization to be formed. This was a combination of the Girls' Chorus and Boys' Chorus or, in other words, a mixed chorus. At the end of the school year, although the number of the boys' appearances was not a large one, the performances they did give made up in quality for the scarcity of quantity. FIFTY-TWO