Sault Ste Marie High School - Northern Light Yearbook (Sault Ste Marie, MI)

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jbfelody magicians - - - usic Qrganizaitions That the inspired directing of Earl P. Thomas has developed the music depart- ment to what it is today is a well known fact. His dynamic personality and perse- vering efforts have made him one of the best known and best-liked persons in the Sault. XVhen Mr. Thomas came to the high school as music supervisor almost a de- cade ago, the music department was a struggling little group. He gradually built it up to what it is today, an object of civic, as well as school, pride. Every undertaking he has touched seemed to spring to life and thrive, due to his high aims and ceaseless ambition, which he conveyed to his students. As a leader of community singing and also of any movement or activity which needed a boost, Mr. Thomas has donated more than his share of time and energy. He has patriotically demonstrated his salesmanship by appealing to and persuading the public, at the Soo Theater and over the air, to buy bonds, bringing excellent results. His commanding, exact manner of conducting has always spurred his groups to their best efforts, and every year he has put music in high school on .1 more exalted level. Offered several better positions in colleges, Mr. Thomas has turned them down, but if some day he should decide to leave the Sault, we will remem- ber what he has done for music here and will not begrudge him the opportunity for advancement. To have merely upheld the high standard set by former Sault High School choirs would have been surlicient for this choir, but they, the whole school, and the many audiences who have heard them, feel rightfully certain that the notch of school fame has been placed a little higher by their achievements this year. Each recedin choir had been characterized b ' some outstandin trait, either wealth of excellent soloists, volume, tone . P 5 . . 5 . g . ,, . quality, or personality. This yearls group mingled all these pleasing factors into the best blended group of voices I have ever had. No sin le voice is outstandin or can be heard distinctl when the whole choir is erformin . Mr. Thomas feels he has . S - S . Y h P A S . h ' had a choir to com are with the famous choir of ,4l, that went downstate and missed a national cham ionshi b one oint. P P P Y P With new members continually coming in and older ones enlisting or being drafted, the number of singers seemed never to be the same, but on the average there were one hundred members, one of the largest choirs the school has had. Helping sell a bond drive, the choir sang at the Soo Theater, directed by Frank Staley. The grand event of the year was the annual winter concert March 2, in which the choir sang several Fred Waring arrangements: when Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, There Are Such Things CPat Sparling, soloistj, The Navy Hymn, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Set Down Servant CRoberta Rohr, soloistj, Stodola Pumpa, Madame Jean- ette, Dark Water, and The Cossackf' In honor of the late President the group performed at the Methodist Church on April 14, directed by Frank Staley. For several years there has been no exchange of concerts between the two Saults, but this year the custom was revived, as the music department visited Clayton Auditorium in Canada and presented a concert for an appreciative audience of Can- adian listeners.

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Qrecirizaifs fargo, Qep - - - the qiazzrls QContinued from page 311 Starting the year with the usual early morning march- ing sessions and formation practicing, the band put its knowledge to practical use during the football season when it played for all home games, fair weather or foul. The musicians led snake dances through the downtown section, provided the La Conga rhythm for the ceremonies at the athletic field when the crowd hopped in huge circles around burnt efligies of opposing teams, they gave parades and did stunts for games, they played for many pep assem- blies and for most of the basketball games. When the Sault-Newberry basketball game came around, everyone in the band who had a uniform and could go was tumbled into a Soo Traction bus to provide school spirit for the team. Many other students and several of the cheerleaders made the trip in cars and presented a solid cheering section. The considerably smaller Newberry band played several selections between Sault band numbers. At the ceremony for presentation of the War Depart- ment award for exceptional civilian service to Mr. Jack Harns, the band played patriotic music. The award was for the construction in record time and in the face of al- most insurmountable diflicultiesn of the MacArthur lock, which Mr. Harns supervised, and was presented by Brig- adier General Edwin Jones. Then when the Northwestern Leather Company was awarded the Army-Navy E for excellence, the whole band witnessed the ceremony from ringside seats, Where they played. The musicians marched in formation to the Commun- ity Building for the annual winter ice carnival. Hardly fitting on the small stage of the Collegiate In- stitute auditorium in Canada, the band performed under stress and came 'through as though conditions had been per- fect. Said Mr. Thomas to the audience, There are some fine looking trombonists back here, but you can't see them! A live wire in the school system this year, the pep band. .1 condensed version of the big band, owed its existence to the fact that the regular band sometimes found it difficult to move around in crowded places and play at the same time. This sparky little band consisted of the first chairmen of each section in the regular band plus a few more select- ed by Mr. Thomas. Cornets-Al Frechette, XVimpy Smith, Ronald Pearceg clarinets-David Bort, Louine Dahlman, Don Gerrie, Betty MacLachlang trombones-- Frank Levin, Vern Talsma, Terry Brown, saxes-Jeanne Ala, Caroline Barclay, altos-Lois Carter, Dorothy Mc- Cormick, flute-Alma Butlerg bell lyre-Barbara Murphy, bass horn-Sam Marrag and drums--Elmer Van Dusen, Bob Poppe. They have been busy all year performing for assemblies when the big band didn't, and at some of the basketball games in the gym. Last fall when the Sault High Blue Devils played Tra- verse City, Chief decided the team needed a booster for their morale, so he arranged for the pep band to make the trip. The girls went in one carg the boys, in Mr. Thomas' car. Having arrived first, the girls' carload tried to play without the rest of the band. Later, the boys still hadn't come. When the truth came out, it was learned that Chief's car had finally broken down, at a most critical mo- ment, and that group didnlt get to Traverse City at all. Afterwards, the car required a complete overhauling which cost 555010. The pep band played at several of the grade school rink programs sponsored by the P. T. A's. during the win- ter. A public address system conveyed their music to the skaters. Most popular selection of these musicians was Goo- fusf, a catchy novelty march by Gus Kahn and Wayne King, which they delighted in playing at breakneck tempo. After a trial pep assembly in the gym, the whole school fContinued on page 541