Joining of Generations:

North High Alumni Perform with Student Band

Homecoming: cooling fall weather, alumni returning to cheer on their alma mater, and the marching band blaring the fight song. North High School’s band will be a bit larger this year, though. Alumni will join with current band members to play at the Homecoming football game on October 12.

“We’re just trying to have fun and have a good time,” said current band director Russ Hoagland about this year’s special band. Hoagland has been the band director at North for four years and with Springfield schools for twenty.

This year seemed to be the best time to put together an alumni band, since it’s North’s last year, explained Hoagland. Dianna Russell, a North alum, suggested the idea and has headed up the effort to put the band together. She’s rounded up almost 50 alumni so far. About half are graduates from the past three or four years, but some haven’t played in over 40. To loosen up those that may be a bit rusty, the entire band will practice the night before the game, from 6-8 pm, and the day of the game, at 5 pm.

Diane Schneider, a fourth grade teacher at Mann, is one such alumnus who hasn’t played in four decades. The time lapse showed when she asked Hoagland how much a clarinet reed costs today. They run about $2.50, but when she played they cost only 25 cents!

Those joining Schneider in the band include alumni Linda Bodey, drama teacher at North; Steve Vrooman, principal at Warder Park Lane; and Audrey Hopkins, last year’s field commander.

The joint band will play the fight song, alma mater, and “The Star Spangled Banner” during pre-game festivities, and Hoagland hopes that time will allow them to perform three numbers during half-time.

If you’re interested in playing with the alumni band, there’s still room! Contact Diana Russell by e-mail at northalumniband@gmail.com.