Pontiac Senior High School - Quiver Yearbook (Pontiac, MI)

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The 19 41 Quiver The orchestra includes: Row 1—Dodge Melkonian, Florence Lazarski, Betty Forsythe, Joy Hershberger; Row 2—Keith Dayo, Goldie Dakesian, Raymond Seeterlin, Mary Kevorkian, Jean Mayses, June Rohr, Shirley Crisman, Richard Melvin, Beatrice Crothers, Martha Gay, Phyllis Troyer, Barbara Wood. Row 3—James Heltsley, Walter Measell, Burton Smith, Joseph Thompson, Fred Jackson, Warren Heller, Donald Lloyd, Robert Fisher, Audrey Sauter, Bessie Antos, Richard Graves, Allen Greenlee, Donald Hogue, William McLean, Eleanor Summers, Ralph Wallace, Donna Ralston, Fred Plosky; Row 4—Elizabeth Adams, Elaine Yokum, Donald Hoffman, George Trombley, Joe Waterson, Raymond Price, Frank Jones, Jack Wiser, Mr. Harris, Donovan Shaw, David Carr, Wallace Williams. with its hand and orchestra; only one high school in Michigan has ever won five first divisions in one year. A record, then, of seven first divisions is not only a note¬ worthy achievement, but unprecedented in the history of instrumental music in Michigan. To top this very success¬ ful year and make it a noteworthy one in the history of Michigan bands, the band was awarded the highest honor possible of attainment by a high school band First Division in the Nationals. Now we come to the 1941 Pontiac High School Band. Clad in their snappy orange and black uniforms they are indeed a spectacle for one to gaze upon and admire while performing at our football games and many parades or other social functions. Not only do they liven our spirits with a march, now and then, but they also perform outstanding concerts which music lovers from our city and others attend. In 1940 they had as their soloist for the annual spring concert, Leonard Smith, well known solo cornetist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and Edwin Franco Gold¬ man’s band in New York City. Mr. Smith played beauti¬ fully “The Northern Cross,” by Hubert Clark, and de¬ lighted the audience by playing as his encore, the ever- favorite, “A Kiss in the Dark,” by Victor Herbert. An equally fine concert was planned for 1941 by the band and orchestra. The musical library of this organization is one of the best in this section of the country, and the filing system and disciplinary set-up is the best known in the state. Next comes the orchestra. Many excellent performances are turned out often by this group. The students love the music it plays, for many are old favorites such as: “The Gypsy Baron,” Victor Herbert’s “Red Mill,” and many Strauss waltzes. In the orchestra there are many excellent musicians. For example, Florence Lazarski and Dodge Melkonian. Not only does Florence play first chair violin in the orchestra but also plays fine obo in the band. Dodge also plays violin in the orchestra, but differs from Florence in that he performs on tympani in band. The orchestra, like the band, set an outstanding record last year. At the S. E. M., State, and Saginaw Valley Festiv¬ als, it was placed in none other than First Division. The Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs have been formed for the purpose of giving those students who wish to have it, the opportunity to further their interests in music The members are: Upper picture, Boys’ Glee Club (left to right) Row 1: Mathew Ingham, Robert Longstaff, Robert Hicks, Joe Mansfield, Margery Dawe, Donald Cole, Jack McVay, Clarence Payne, George Phillips. Row 2: Robert Scott, William Garcia, Don LaBarge, Victor McNair, Edmund VenDeusen, Kenneth Boyn¬ ton, Kenneth Warren, Norman Wagner, Richard Mathews, and Mr. Bourzeil. Row 3: William Heitsch, Royce Everett, William Rivers, Thaddeus Jones, Robert Mehlberg, Bob McDougall, James Heltsey, Glenn Rose, Calvin Long, Donald Price, and Paul Jones. Center picture, Girls’ Glee Club, Row 1: Marjorie Cooper, Delores Bane, Eleanor Lenhart, Jean Gould, Lillian Pruitt, Amy Major, Ila Froede, Beverly Op- dyke, Fern Martin. Row 2: Stella Backalukas, Ruth Mary Plake, Frances Day, Pattie Ann Moses, Doris Lloyd, Virginia Law, Beulah Hirsch, Margaret Reed, Jean Shortt, Lois Gibson. Row 3: Betty Hodges, Norma Erickson, Ellen Dooley, Phyllis Leighton, Doris Reed, Helen Murphy, Arvilla Diehl, Dorothy Beulock, Mary Jane Keller, Marjorie Lazenby, Mr. Bourzeil. Lower picture, Row 1: Vivian Mullen, Betty Fyie, Helen Nazarian, Margaret Harths, Shirley West, Betty Fields, Barbara Bennett, Edith Rayner, Mary Cook. Row 2: Kathleen Barnes, Neoma Dennis, Margaret Kevorkian, Mary Louise Buck, Doris Dearing, Berna¬ dette Chircop, Marjorie Baines, Georgia Dimon, Wenona Dewey, Lorraine Fleischacker. Row 3: Willodean Banks, Mary Mandos, Hazel Glenn, Myrna Way, Marjorie Watson, Betty Jane Carlsen, Ruth Humphries, Carolyn Leddick, Edwina Bennett, Mr. Bourzeil. Row 4: Helen Sanders, Doris Moon, Ilene Bredow, Janiece Deason, Joy Jorgenson, Twilah Godfrey, Glenna Mae Williams, Lucille Semands, Mary Johnson, Mabel Ellen Leonard. Ill HI HI Page twenty

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The 1941 Quiver The Pontiac Senior High School Choir, under the direction of Mr. Bourzeil, is the outstanding vocal organization of the school. This year’s membership is the largest ever and includes, left to right, Row 1: Joanne Burnham, Amy Major, Neoma Dennis, Beverly Opdyke, Mary Mandos, Mr. Bourzeil, Mabel Ellen Leonard, Ila Froede, Wenona Dewey, Edwinna Bennett, Lorraine Fleischacker. Row 2: Willodean Banks, Margaret Reed, Ruth Mary Plake, Carolyn Leddick, Helen Sanders, Glenna Mae Williams, Arvilla Diehl, Doris Lloyd, Mary Johnson, Berna¬ dette Chircop, Mary Lou Buck, Virginia Law, Lois Gibson. Row 3: George Phillips, Matthew Ingham, Richard Matthew, Victor McNair, Dorothy Beulock, Ilene Bredow, Doris Reed, Twilah Godfrey, Joy Jorgenson, Doris Moon, Roma Rososky, Janiece Deason, Mary Jane Keller, Margaret Harth. Row 4: Jack McVay, Joe Mansfield, Paul Jones, Robert Tabor, Robert McDougall, Robert Mehlberg, William Rivers, Thaddeus Jones, Royce Everett, Donald LaBarge, William Garcia, LaVerne Cox, Joseph McKinney. Room 1X7 - Jdullalufe Jlatte “Looking at your music again, Jack? That’ll be five copies!” (Loud groans.) “Late again, Mary? Let’s see— three minutes—three copies.” (Loud groans.) “You took a breath in that phrase; I’ve told you not to breathe at that point—one copy!” (Groan). When you realize a “Copy” takes about a half to three quarters of an hour, no wonder at the groans! But the A Cappela Choir does learn its music, and members admit “copy” is a successful penalty for failure to observe rules. Each day the second hour, the P. H. S. A Capella Choir, under Mr. Bourziel’s direction, practices intonation, rhythm studies, vowel qualities, intensity, and all the elements of a fine performance which make up choral music. Begin¬ ning from scratch, with no previous vocal training, it takes about a year to turn out a good chorus singer; consequent¬ ly, students are admitted into the choir only after a probationary period, and only on condition that they re¬ main at least a year longer. The choir every year fills several engagements; this year it sang at both Baccalaureate services at the Central Methodist Church; the Annual Community Christmas Concert; the Annual Spring Concert, held this year on May Day; at assemblies before the senior and junior high school students; the P. T. A.; the Oakland County Teach¬ ers’ Institute; the State Vocal Festival at Ann Arbor. The choir also sang on the World Day of Prayer at the First Presbyterian Church; and at the Civic Lecture Course. The fine performance at the Christmas pageant was made possible through the joint efforts of the vocal and dramatics departments. On several occasions the members of the choir assisted the Badio Works hop on broadcasts over station WCAR. Student directors are automatically chosen from first and second chair choir members, who also assist in di¬ recting the Boys’ and Girls’ Glee Clubs, and the Girls’ Triple Trio. Not as exacting in their performances are the two Glee Clubs, which offer any student of the school an opportunity for singing during the fifth hour, provided the scholastic average remains at “C” or better. Prominent among the year’s activities was the glee club initiation, under the direction of Mary Mandos. Such goings-on (and comings-off). Of outstanding importance to the vocal department is the Girls Triple Trio, composed of nine singers and two accompanists. These girls filled about thirty engagements this year, before P.T.A.’s, school and church organizations, study clubs, high school assemblies and on the radio. Filling a mid-term vacancy was Virginia Law, a capable alto. (Turn to Page 82) Page twenty-two