(Publisher’s note: Be sure to check out the gallery of additional photos at the bottom of the story.)
The largest number of marching band members in the history of Chelsea High School began band camp this week.
At 156-members strong, the Chelsea High School Marching Band began its 45-hour practice marathon under the watchful eyes of Band Director Rick Catherman and Associate Director Jim Otto while learning a jungle music show arranged and written by George Schrader.
Catherman says there are 23 in the percussion section, 15 color guard, two drum majors, 1 twiller and 115 in the wind section.
Schrader is a former student of Catherman’s who flew in for the week from Wyoming said Phil Jones, field assistant, who has been with the band for more than 30 years.
Catherman says that when he began as band director 14 years ago at the high school, (at the same time as Otto) there were about 1,100 students in the high school and about 150 band members, today, there are about 850 students in the high school and 150-plus band members.
Camp begins at 8:30 a.m. each day this week and members break at noon for lunch before heading back to meetings and rehearsals until 5 p.m.
When asked why band was so popular at the high school, Otto attributed it to three things:
1. “An amazingly, artistically intelligent population of parents and administrators, we could do nothing without them.”
2. “Stability. Mr. Catherman and I have been here 14 years. We love it here and we get the support. We love working in Chelsea with these very intelligent students.”
3. “The entire music department — orchestral, vocal and band — gets along really well.”
This week, band members are working with a large instructional staff from Michigan universities, which includes Daniel McDonald, battery percussion, August Pappas (U-M), front ensemble percussion, Abbey Jensen of Ann Arbor, flute and piccolo, Michael Acomb (U-M), saxophone, Ryan Doty (CMU), baritone and tuba, Emily Ouellette (U-M), clarinet, Irene Wu (U-M), mellophone, Greg Zamenski (EMU), trombone, David Rood (U-M) trumpet and Sara Dixon (WMU), administrative assistant.
“Band is unlike anything I’ve ever done. There’s a bond and acceptance,” says Jenny Gabbard, a senior drum major.
Hannah Noble, a senior trumpet section leader said, “My favorite part of music is marching band. everyone is from all grades and you get to know everyone.”
Plus, she added, “The freshman are looking really good this year.”
Steven Shepherd, a senior mellophone (hybrid trumpet) player, says band “was a great stress reliever,” in addition to being fun, bonding with other band members and learning team work.
Catherman gave a sneak preview of this year’s show, which is a jungle theme and tells a story of a day in a jungle village.
“There’s lots of percussion,” he says and includes songs such as “Jungle Boogie” by Cool and the Gang, “Some Nights” by the band Fun, plus several tunes from “The Lion King.”
While this is probably the largest per number of students–think the actual number got up in the 180s when the school was larger 6-8 years ago. And don’t forget that half the percussion section is probably practicing inside the school at this point! They don’t come up until the end of the week. See a preview of the full band show this Friday about 4:15 on their practice field.
In this rain, I hope the entire band is inside.
A mellophone is a marching french horn. It’s quite difficult to march with a french horn, but the musical part is important.
It’s also worth noting that most of the college instructors are Chelsea grads
The arts are very worthwhile. I still remember CHS band camps and I still play / serve on the board of a community band, the Spring Valley Concert Band in Schaumburg, IL.
CHS ’67