Emerson High School - Emersonian Yearbook (Gary, IN)

Page 24 text:

cJlet there L ' e muMc — This year the Emerson Bands concluded their twenty- sixth year of concerts. The band first came into existence in 1919, and was made up of only six young fellows who wanted to play music and who were enthusiastic enough to organize themselves. Small, yes, but willing and important. The next year Mr. Warren came to Emerson and the newly organized band expanded to thirteen members. Room 307, still a music room, was the meeting place of the small but zealous group, which met at noon hours and after school. In 1925, five years later, the band had acquired enough ability, and had expanded enough that they com¬ peted in a State Contest. Emerson won that contest and has won four others in the years that followed. The Emerson Orchestra, an outgrowth of violin class¬ es held by Mr. M. E. Snyder, was born in 1914, five years before the band. Mr. Snyder, who at the present time is supervisor of Music in the Gary schools, experimented with classes which were held after school hours. At one time those classes consisted of over one hundred violins. In years following it enlarged, more instruments were acquired, and regular hours were given to the expanding department From these things and others too numerous to men¬ tion grew the bands and orchestra we have in our school today. Front row. Mary Doumis, Helen Platis, Bessie Vasil, Elizabeth Frame, Anne Coros, Alice Piasccki, Jeannette Zale Second row. Sheila Hilton, Helen George, Joan Plenus, Velma Melton

Page 23 text:

Under the directing hand of Miss Sayers, the Glee Club sang its way through a sucessful year of social acti¬ vities. A theater party to Chicago marked the beginning of the year’s events. Oklahoma!” was enjoyed so much by the girls that they decided to do a cut version of the pop¬ ular musical show for Spice and Variety.” Starring Mar¬ garet Berta and Boris Apostaloff, the act proved to be a big success and one of the hits of Spice.” Next on the social calendar was the broadcasting of Christmas carols from the Hotel Gary. One of the numbers the girls sang was the beautiful old carol Silent Night, Holy Night.” The Christmas Pageant is a traditional event in which the girls took active part. In May, the girls again blended their voices in song in a program given for the P. T. A. meeting. The Spring Concert, an annual present¬ ation, was the most looked forward to event of the year. Some of their numbers were The Steppes” The Lute Song,” and Preiuntale a las estrellas” which was sung in Spanish, much to the delight of the spectators. Last, but not least on the year’s calendar, was the per¬ formance given at the Commencement excercises.

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BAND OFFICERS Left, seated: Betty Hamilton Standings Betty Kccver, Barbara Rynearson, Arthur Roy, Bob Dawson, Rudy Mohr, Bob Burger, Helen Fidler, Mary Angelos ORCHESTRA OFFICERS Right, left to right: Robert Shcslcr, Anita, Di Re, Oscar Alterwicz, Louisa Di Re, Shelia Hilton, Kathryn Gibson, Kami The Bands and Orchestra are under the direction of Mr. H. S. Warren, Mr. Sanford Watts, and Mrs. Wilson. In response to their batons, students have shown increasing ability and interest in their instruments. Mr. Warren, head of the department, came to Emer¬ son from the State School of Science, Wahpeton, North Dakota, and has been here since 1920. Since that time, through much effort and patience he has built the band to what it is today. We welcome to Emerson this year Mr. Watts, a native of Virginia. Upon his graduation from the Sherwood Music School, Chicago, he entered Northwestern Univer¬ sity where he received his Master’s Degree in music. He likes teaching at Emerson, and is impressed especially with the enthusiasm and interest that the students show in the department. Since she is an Emersonian, we are particlarly happy to have Mrs. Wilson help in our music department. This is her seventh year of teaching; she taught her first year in Ireland, Indiana, and then four years in Elkhart, Indiana. From Elkhart she came to Emerson. We cannot fully express our appreciation to these sponsors for their patient instruction. If their leadership is continued in the future, we may be confident of an excellent music department. Page Twenly-one