Stratford High School - Mnemosyne Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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Theyre ploying our song Bond morches to the beot 1 E Forming perfectly alligned rows, band members remain still during aghough I was always nervoug Some' t ing would go wrong, but it never their performance at the Memorial . ,, . . . . game. ..y really enjoyed performing did. said Junior Miles Fam, Standing perlectly still, band members rehearse in preparation for that week's half-time activities. Practices usually lasted about an hour and a half. 36 band Qcontinued from page 359 thought it was great, commented Sophomore Gary Miller, symphonic band member. The Village People skit was my favorite part, remarked Emerald Koo. ln the spring, the band was faced with another U.l.L. competition -- concert contest. lt's pretty tough and a lot of work, said Freshman John Overmeyer, concert band member, but once we got the music it was good. The trip to Colorado was excellent, commented Danny Stewart. ln April, the . 'r Ss x 5 Senior trumpet player Don King stands at attention during one of the only afternoon practices to prepare them for halftime activities. Giving a glance to the camera, Sen- ior Paul Stehr relaxes during a rest between songs. ,L 1 . if Q symphonic band attended a music festival in Durango, Colorado. I had a lot of fun, continued Danny. The trip through the mountains on the trains was great, and the scenery was breathtaking. Summing upthe feelings of the seniors, Senior Stacey Block, symphonic band member, said, Being in the band for four years has enriched my life and made me feel like a part of the school. I made a lot of close friends, and l'm really going to miss it. They had something for everyone from the beer drinkers to the pinball enthusiasts, commented Pete Tesarek. lt's a great way for the younger band members to get into the swing of high school life.

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Two weeks before school started, while most students still Iounged on the beaches, freshmen began learning how to march with l the aid of senior band members. One week later they werejoined by the remainder of the marching band. The freshmen did a real good job, commented Senior Amy Root, a member of the symphonic band. They did better than they have in other years, even though there were more of them. They tried hard and got a lot done. I really expected to be pushed around, stated Freshman Holly Taylor, cadet band member, but the seniors and everyone else were real patient with us, and they really wanted us to learn. I think that's why everybody worked so hard. lt was real fun because you met so many new people and made so many new friends, remarked Freshman Tara Segundo, concert band member. In late August, the beginning of school brought daily after school practices for the games in addition to the pep rallies, at which the band played each week during football season. We made up a lot of clever themes for the band for pep rallies, commented Symphonic Band Member Pete Tesarek, junior. Also, we played a lot of different stuff fmusicjf' A flag corps, led by Concert Band Member Junior Dawn Thomas, was added to the band for the first time. lt added a lot of show and a lot of flash to the band, remarked Pete. Flag Corps Member Junior Emerald Koo, also a symphonic band member, claimed that before marching all she could think of was, I better not drop the flag! After every game, the band members gathered for a band party. They were wild and a lot of fun, I Warming up before they begin prac- tice, Junior Sharalee Dicks holds music up for Junior Susan Grubbs and Freshman Susan Tyson. lt helps if you warm-up before practice because then you are familiar with the music. commented Sharalee. fcontinued on page 361 Clarinet player Sophomore Beth Verbrugee stands on a white line to perform at the Westchester Game, The routines were sometimes hard to learn but we always performed well, it always felt good to be out there on the field knowing that you were performing something that the people in the stands enjoyed to watch. com- mented Beth. Concentrating on her music and the band's performance. Sophomore Paula Brennan performs to the theme of Battlestar Galactica, I was really concentrating on what l was doing and l felt good about the per- formance at that game. We had really practiced hard and I think we put on a good show. said Paula. WM' band 35

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Highlighting the band's year was University lnterscholastic League CU.l.L.J contest, where the band received a perfect rating of straight ones lt was great, commented Senior Jeff Williford, symphonic band member. lt'sjust something you have to experience. I really wanted the one for the seniors and everybody that had worked so hard, said Holly Taylor, so I workedreal hard. Following the marching season, the symphonic and concert bands, in addition to the new stage band, gave a Christmas concert. The Christmas concert was fun, stated Sherri Tefft. lt went pretty well tor the amount of rehearsal we had. The bands presented a spring concert in May. The whole stage band went over great, stated Jeff Williford. l think it is a necessary addition to the band program to help expand it and bring in new people. This has been my favorite part of the band. .-,fl be Mex: X 5 Flag girl Sophomore Natalie Tett concentrates on one of their compli- cated routines. l really enjoyed being a flag girl because it was something we had never done before and l was happy to be involved in it. corn- mented Natalie. Symphonic band member Danny Stewart, junior, added, lt's really great and a lot of fun to just go for one hour and play good music. On January 26 the band held the annual band banquet at the Pine Forest Country Club. Dressed up as a Playboy bunny for the Halloween pep rally, Junior Alissa Alban listens intently to a conversa- tion going on behind her. l got a lot of response to that costume, but I made it the night before. said Alissa. Trumpet players Freshman Steve Tanner and Senior Ray Poche rehearse their music and their rou- tines at one of the band's daily after- noon practices. Under the leadership of Drum major Margie McCrory, the band plays the Yellow Rose of Texas for the Sparta- naire 's performance. Trumpet player, Lance Morgan stands at attention durng an after- noon practice session. VVe practiced every afternoon for about an hour commented Lance. .' -- Z --il-.S-f r i L'T-'- E . etfee , ' Y Q fi 3 1 y ilqll I: A A: zzlx mail'