OHS ’76 – BAND & JAZZ BAND

NOTE: Here is the ‘unedited’ version of the article that appeared in the recent Orr Views newspaper:

BAND ON THE RUN: OHS CLASS OF 1976 BAND

With the Orrville High School Class of 1976 getting ready for their 35th Annual Class Reunion September 16 – 17 here is a look back at the OHS Band and Jazz Band programs that had much success under teachers Don Carpenter and Perry Hosmer.

Orrville High School always had a lot to be proud of, academics, sports, and much more. Such was the case back in the 1970s and for a large contingent of OHS Class of 1976 members particpating in band was a four-year commitment of learning, achieving, growth and… fun. Orrville High School churned out an enormous amount of musical talent during the 1970s and the Class of 1976 had their share and a large part of the credit goes to band teacher Don Carpenter, as well as Jazz Band director Perry Hosmer. Both made a significant impact in more ways than one.

DON CARPENTER

Don Carpenter graduated from Kent State with a BS and ME Music. Carpenter left Triway High School and came to Orrville in 1968. Carpenter headed up the marching band and two concert bands. The marching band had nearly 130 members in addition to majorettes and was split into two bands for what was termed the concert season and performed at three concerts. Carpenter also assisted with the elementary instrumental music program.

Carpenter, once school started, held rehearsals after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until 5:00 PM and then for two hours on Thursday nights. The marching band performed at half-time of football games, parades and various regional marching band shows.

Carpenter was well-liked and respected by his students, as many in the OHS Class of 1976 attest to.

“Don Carpenter tried to be tough because he knew that it would produce a sharp band,” recalled Jim Williams. “Those who knew him best, just had to laugh sometimes when he would yell and throw a fit, as if he was furious.  He was usually too kind and too gentle to pull it off convincingly. He worked very hard to find that middle ground between ‘shepard and tyrant’ and was often successful in leading us to do far more than we realized we could do.”

“Mr. Carpenter loved music and wanted to instill that love and appreciation into his students,” commented Shirley Kohler-Weyrauch. “We didn’t always appreciate it at the time, but looking back on it, it’s been an important part of my life.”

“Don was a dedicated teacher and really did his best to reach the kids,” bottom-lined Ed Marthey.

And each one took something with them from the band program and being taught by Don Carpenter.

“Love of music and the discipline of practicing,” flatly stated Kohler-Weyrauch.

“Well, after being away from OHS and the band and playing an instrument for 20 years, I picked up the baritone again when my wife found a horn at the local second hand music store here in Tallahassee, FL,” explained Jerry Edwards, now a teacher in Florida. “I started taking private lessons and learned to read bass clef music (Cindy Yoder eat your heart out!) and then started performing in two local jazz bands playing the trombone part using my baritone. I thank Don for his patience during those high school years as I gained an appreciation for performing music.”

“Don taught me that you have to stay the course and let the pieces come together at their own pace,” stated Williams. “It took time, but some great results were seen here and there.”

“Here’s what I took away: I realized I didn’t want to be a band director,” declared Marthey.

Former OHS band members recall their experiences as positives and each has special memories of their time working under Don Carpenter.

“Lots of fond memories of evening practices under the lights and long bus rides in the dark with a bunch of crazy band nerds,” said Williams. “If you are a nerd, that’s a good time.”
When Kohler-Weyrauch was asked what her favorite memory was during her time in the band program, it was succint: “Marching band!” proclaimed Kohler-Weyrauch. “We grumbled and complained about learning new drills and music every week, but the challenge of it kept it interesting, and we had a lot of fun. I doubt if I would have gone to away football games were I not in the band.”

For Edwards, one memory stands out that illustrates the busy schedule he had during high school.

“Junior year, Doug Mitchell and I had a conflict with the band’s contest schedule as we had an invitational track meet the same Saturday,” Edwards related. “After we looked at our schedule of track events, we decided to take our change of clothes and band instruments and get my Mom Maxineto shuttle us from the location of the track events to the location of the band contest so we could participate in both. I remember Don thinking that we may not make the band contest because of the drive between locations but we made it just in time. That’s life in a small high school! Doug and I both thanked Ernie Mello, Don Carpenter, and my Mom for helping us participate in both track and band that day.”

With so much success it is assumed their was considerable comraderie among those who particpated in band.

“Camaraderie was very good,” stated Williams. “The process of playing together naturally produced a lot of that.”

“I think so,” confirmed Kohler-Weyrauch.

“Definitely, although there were cliques within the band, some good, some evil,” chuckled Marthey. “The Bushwackers were organized just to put me in my place, and we ‘indoctrinated’ smartmouth band members for the entire time the class of ’76 was in ascendancy. Prisoners were conducted to the Place of Judgement in the woods behind Moser’s Orchard in the south end after Thursday night marching band practice and Justice was leveled against them.”

“Anything approaching this level of hazing in today’s world would involve grand juries and prison time for the organizers, of course!”

So 35 years later the memories remain and lessons learned are remembered.

“There was something about Don Carpenter in the marching band, concert band & symphonic band,” offered Marthey. “It was like, we wanted to drive him crazy in rehearsals, because getting him to yell until he was spitting was something every class did. But we always pulled it together in the last couple rehearsals before a concert, game or competition. We didn’t want to disappoint him, since it all seemed to be so important to him, but we couldn’t help messing with him, and that was almost everyone in all those bands.”

“We used to throw Don in Orr Pool and hide his van every year on the last day of summer band practice, and he was always a good sport about it. I think that speaks volumes about what a good & kind person he was under his gruff exterior.”

PERRY HOSMER

One can’t talk about the exceptional band & music program at OHS during the 1970s without mentioning Perry Hosmer, the motivator and director of the famed OHS Jazz Band.  Perry Hosmer was an Ohio State graduate with a BS Music. In addition to heading up the Jazz Band Hosmer also taught Music History & Music Theory. The Jazz Band, especially during the mid-70s era, usually counted on a minimum of 50 members.  The members participated within two groups, the ‘A” and ‘B” Jazz bands. The OHS Jazz Band for a number of years during the 1970s attained considerable prestige, honors and media attention.

“There were a lot of freaky talented players in the jazz band in ’73, and without Perry Hosmer’s tutelage they may have gotten nowhere,” stated Ed Marthey, reflecting on musicians who came out of OHS and who several, under Hosmer’s guidance, went on to professional careers.

“Jack Schantz, first & foremost,” continued Marthey. “He is a world-class jazz trumpeter and educator now, and has been for decades. Back then the Jazz Band was like a bunch of local rock stars, and every performance was packed and even had cool lighting & backgrounds. That band (1973) had Jack, Chris Conway on bass, Keith Forfia on ‘scream’ trumpet, saw him pass out on a triple-C once, live, Randy Coole on alto sax, Johnny Adkins and Roxanne Beery on tenors, and of course Mouse Greegor on percussion. At the Jazzfest in ’76 in Montreaux, Switzerland, that band got #3 in the world. But Mouse got World’s Best High School Percussionist. Those were the days, and all that came about through the tireless efforts of Perry Hosmer.”

“The band program was greatly energized indirectly by the Jazz Band program and the late Perry Hosmer,” commented Jim Williams. “Through his program, the Jazz band kids, especially the class of ’73 and ’74, were able to raise the popularity of the entire music program.  The effects of this continued for several years after they were gone. Perry also had a special talent and intellect allowing him to walk that ‘Tyrant/Shepard’ line effectively.”

“The best musicians who ever came out of Orrville High School did so from 1973 to 1977,” proclaims Marthey. “Obviously Perry deserves most of the credit. Not only did he conduct the Jazz Bands, he also taught first period Music History & Music Theory, both of which I took twice even though I’d aced them the first time.”

“When I was a freshman, some of the jazz band members who had been to the Montreaux Jazz Festival were still band members,” explained Shirley Kohler-Weyrauch. “I was always in awe of them and what they had accomplished. I still like to hear them play when their various groups are performing locally.”

“Being in band and jazz band were the best part of my four years at OHS,” stated Mike Hignight. “They (carpenter & Hosmer) were great motivators of the kids and truly wanted the kids to exceed. It is true they both popped a gasket on occasion, but that was just something we came to expect!”

“It is a small world though, because Mr. Carpenter is my daughter-in-law’s grandfather!! I ask him at the wedding if he ever thought we would be here back some 30 years ago, he just laughed!”

Kohler-Weyrauch still carries her passion for music and what she learned to this day.

“Music has been an important part of my life,” stated Kohler-Weyrauch. “From piano lessons, band, church and college choirs, and still playing my French horn when I get a chance, music has been an escape when I needed one and the background score to the rest of my life. It binds together people in ways we don’t realize or expect at the time. It’s even been a key piece in planning our upcoming reunion!”

“Here’s to band nerds everywhere!”

For more information on the Orrville High School Class of ’76 35th Reunion, to be held on September 16-17, 2011, visit the Class of ’76 website at: https://ohs76.wordpress.com or contact Reunion Chair Ruth Walentik-Johnston by calling 216.820.1439 or email: ruthjohnston@sbcglobal.net 

– Doc Lehman

OHS CLASS OF 1976 BAND

BAND ON THE RUN

Orrville High School always had a lot to be proud of, academics, sports, and much more. Such was the case back in the 1970s and for a large contingent of OHS Class of 1976 members particpating in band was a four-year commitment of learning, achieving, growth and… fun.Orrville High School churned out an enormous amount of musical talent during the 1970s and the Class of 1976 had their share and a large part of the credit goes to band teacher Don Carpenter, as well as Jazz Band director Perry Hosmer. Both made a significant impact in more ways than one.

 

Don Carpenter graduated fromKent State with a BS and ME Music. Carpenter lef tTriwayHigh School and came to Orrville in 1968. Carpenter headed up the marching band and two concert bands. The marching band had nearly 130 members in addition to majorettes and was split into two bands for what was termed the concert season and performed at three concerts. Carpenter also assisted with the elementary instrumental music program.

Carpenter, once school started, held rehearsals after school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday until 5:00 PM and then for two hours on Thursday nights. The marching band performed at half-time of football games, parades and various regional marching band shows.

Carpenter was well-liked and respected by his students, as many in the OHS Class of 1976 attest to.

 

“Don Carpenter tried to be tough because he knew that it would produce a sharp band,” recalled Jim Williams. “Those who knew him best, just had to laugh sometimes when he would yell and throw a fit, as if he was furious.  He was usually too kind and too gentle to pull it off convincingly. He worked very hard to find that middle ground between ‘shepard and tyrant’ and was often successful in leading us to do far more than we realized we could do.”

“Mr. Carpenter loved music and wanted to instill that love and appreciation into his students,” commented Shirley Kohler-Weyrauch. “We didn’t always appreciate it at the time, but looking back on it, it’s been an important part of my life.”

“Don was a dedicated teacher and really did his best to reach the kids,” bottom-lined Ed Marthey.

And each one took something with them from the band program and being taught by Don carpenter.

“Love of music and the discipline of practicing,” flatly stated Kohler-Weyrauch.

“Don taught me that you have to stay the course and let the pieces come together at their own pace,” stated Williams. “It took time, but some great results were seen here and there.”

“Here’s what I took away: I realized I didn’t want to be a band director,” declared Marthey.

 

Former OHS band members recall their experiences as positives and each has special memories of their time working under Don Carpenter.

“Lots of fond memories of evening practices under the lights and long bus rides in the dark with a bunch of crazy band nerds,” said Williams. “If you are a nerd, that’s a good time.”
When Kohler-Weyrauch was asked what her favorite memory was during her time in the band program, it was succinct: “Marching band!” proclaimed Kohler-Weyrauch. “We grumbled and complained about learning new drills and music every week, but the challenge of it kept it interesting, and we had a lot of fun. I doubt if I would have gone to away football games were I not in the band.”

Marthey had one specific memory that he ranks as a favorite.

“After we graduated in June 1976, we went with the marching band to several dates in Virginia & DC,” explained Marthey. “So you can imagine how we recently liberated seniors acted up. We stayed inWinchester,VA, where Dan Sauers, Henry Bevins and I were silently but definitely refused service in a lunch joint. We played in DC and toured there, electing to visi tLenfant Plaza instead of the Smithsonian, and buying a 3-foot diameter pizza that we gnawed on for days.”

“In ‘colonial’ Williamsburg, Dan, Henry & I got drunk at some Ye Olde tavern, and had a wrestling match on the bus afterwards and in the music school dormitory where we were lodged we snuck out every night and wreaked havoc on students from the other schools staying there. We were so bad. Dan was caught by a security guard one night and gave his name as ‘George Evans’, his nickname among some of us since!”

During the Class of 1976’s senior year the band won numerous awards in various competitions. With so many winning so much for one class, the former students were asked if this success and achievement could be atributed to Don Carpenter.

 

“I don’t think Don Carpenter was as big on awards as most coaches or directors, but he worked so hard because he wanted us to have that opportunity, to be award winning,” offered Williams.

“Yes, Mr. Carpenter had very high standards, and he expected us to not only meet them, but to set standards for ourselves,” explained Kohler-Weyrauch. “He was usually pretty calm, but there was one time I did see him lose his composure with a student. The student probably deserved it. That made an impression on me, and I didn’t want to disappoint him.”

“We had performing groups of which we could be proud.”

“Don was a very good symphonic and marching band conductor, so all the kudos for those awards goes to him,” interjected Marthey.

With so much success it is assumed their was considerable camaraderie among those who participated in band.

“Camaraderie was very good,” stated Williams. “The process of playing together naturally produced a lot of that.”

“I think so,” confirmed Kohler-Weyrauch.

“Definitely, although there were cliques within the band, some good, some evil,” recalled Marthey. “The Bushwackers were organized just to put me in my place, and we ‘indoctrinated’ smartass band members for the entire time the class of ’76 was in ascendancy. Prisoners were conducted to the Place of Judgment in the woods behind Moser’s Orchard in the south end after Thursday night marching band practice and Justice was leveled against them.”

 

“Anything approaching this level of hazing in today’s world would involve grand juries and prison time for the organizers, of course!”

The former students were asked if any fellow band members during their high school years especially impressed them with their talents and abilities.

“When I was a freshman, some of the jazz band members who had been to the Montreaux Jazz Festival were still band members,” explained Kohler-Weyrauch. “I was always in awe of them and what they had accomplished. I still like to hear them play when their various groups are performing locally.”

“I remember when we were out there with the older guys, like Randy Cool, Jack Schantz, Chris Conway, Dave Guessford, Dave Morrison,” said Williams. “They really inspired us with their talent and enthusiasm. They were really good musicians and they were not too cool to be in the band, so we could feel proud.”

So 35 years later the memories remain and lessons learned are remembered.

“There was something about Don Carpenter in the marching band, concert band & symphonic band,” offered Marthey. “It was like, we wanted to drive him crazy in rehearsals, because getting him to yell until he was spitting was something every class did. But we always pulled it together in the last couple rehearsals before a concert, game or competition. We didn’t want to disappoint him, since it all seemed to be so important to him, but we couldn’t help messing with him, and that was almost everyone in all those bands.”

“We used to throw Don in Orr Pool and hide his van every year on the last day of summer band practice, and he was always a good sport about it. I think that speaks volumes about what a good & kind person he was under his gruff exterior.”

Kohler-Weyrauch still carries her passion for music and what she learned to this day.

“Music has been an important part of my life,” stated Kohler-Weyrauch. “From piano lessons, band, church and college choirs, and still playing my French horn when I get a chance, music has been an escape when I needed one and the background score to the rest of my life. It binds together people in ways we don’t realize or expect at the time. It’s even been a key piece in planning our upcoming reunion!”

“Here’s to band nerds everywhere!”

PERRY HOSMER

One can’t talk about the exceptional band & music program at OHS during the 1970s without mentioning Perry Hosmer, the motivator and director of the famed OHS Jazz Band.  Perry Hosmer was anOhioStategraduate with a BS Music. In addition to heading up the Jazz Band Hosmer also taught Music History & Music Theory. The Jazz Band, especially during the mid-70s era, usually counted on a minimum of 50 members.  The members participated within two groups, the ‘A” and ‘B” Jazz bands. The OHS Jazz Band for a number of years during the 1970s attained considerable prestige, honors and media attention.

“There were a lot of freaky talented players in the jazz band in ’73, and without Perry Hosmer’s tutelage they may have gotten nowhere,” stated Ed Marthey, reflecting on musicians who came out of OHS and who several, under Hosmer’s guidance, went on to professional careers.

“Jack Schantz, first & foremost,” continued Marthey. “He is a world-class jazz trumpeter and educator now, and has been for decades. Back then the Jazz Band was like a bunch of local rock stars, and every performance was packed and even had cool lighting & backgrounds. That band (1973) had Jack, Chris Conway on bass, Keith Forfia on ‘scream’ trumpet (saw him pass out on a triple-C once, live), Randy Coole on alto sax, Johnny Adkins and Roxanne Beery on tenors, and of course Mouse Greegor on percussion. At the Jazzfest in ’76 inMontreaux,Switzerland, that band got #3 in the world. But Mouse got World’s Best High School Percussionist. Those were the days, and all that came about through the tireless efforts of Perry Hosmer.”

“The band program was greatly energized indirectly by the Jazz Band program and the late Perry Hosmer,” commented Jim Williams. “Through his program, the Jazz band kids, especially the class of ’73 and ’74, were able to raise the popularity of the entire music program.  The effects of this continued for several years after they were gone. Perry also had a special talent and intellect allowing him to walk that ‘Tyrant/Shepard’ line effectively.”

“The best musicians who ever came out ofOrrvilleHigh Schooldid so from 1973 to 1977,” proclaims Marthey. “Obviously Perry deserves most of the credit. Not only did he conduct the Jazz Bands, he also taught first period Music History & Music Theory, both of which I took twice even though I’d aced them the first time.”

A FEW RANDOM CLASS OF ’76 SENIOR YEAR BAND HIGHLIGHTS

The OHS Band Officers for senior year were Jerry Ramsey (president), Mike Hignight (vice-president), Jim Williams (secretary) and Stu Johnson (publicity).

The OHS Band received the Superior rating at the District VI contest at Copley-Fairlawn High School.

The sax quartet of Holly Hofacre, Collen Johnson, Dave Tibbitts and Jerry Ramsey won the Superior rating at the Solo & Ensemble Contest at Norton High School.

During the Annual Orrville-Wooster Football Game it was also Parents’ Night for senior band members and among those seniors honored included Janet Bowers, Jeff Brest, Dawn Davis, Karen Fry, Judy Fugitt, Linda Gavin, Vicky Harding, Mike Hignight, Jill Hostetler, Burt Jarke, Stu Johnson, Brenda King, Shirley Kohler, Cindy Lepley, Syndi Lorson, Connie McKnight, Ed Marthey, Debbie Martin, Tom Morrison, Lori Myers, Jerry Ramsey, Danny Sauers, Gary Synder, David Tibbitts, Marianne Walters, Mike Weiss & Jim Williams.

In the Graduation Awards and Outstanding Departmental Student category David Tibbits was recognized for instrumental music.

In May 1976 the annual OHS Spring Band Banquet was held in the OHS gym with 400 people attending. Awards given that night to Class of ’76 members included:

John Philip Sousa Award:

Jim Williams

Marine Band Award:

Jerry Ramsey

Most Likely To Succeed In Music:

David Tibbitts

Special Recognition Award:

Connie McKnight

Exchange Club Awards:

Jill Hostetler

Jerry Ramsey

Outstanding Bandsmen:

Dawn Davis

Sue Martin

Brenda King

JAYCEE AWARDS

Most Improved In Marching:

Shirley Kohler

Most Outstanding In Marching:

Mike Hignight

Most Improved In Symphonic:

Gary Snyder

Most Outstanding In Symphonic:

Lori Myers

Four Year Participation Award:

Janet Bowers, Jeff Brest, Dawn Davis, Jerry Edwards, Karen Fry, Judy Fugitt, Linda Gavin, Carole Geiser, Vicky Harding, Mike Hignight, Jill Hostetler, Burt Jarke, Stu Johnson, Brenda King, Shirley Kohler, Cindy Lepley, Sandi Lorson, Connie McKnight, Ed Marthey, Sue Martin, Lori Myers, Jerry Ramsey, Danny Saurers, Gary Snyder, David Tibbitts, Marianne Walters, Mike Weiss, Jim Williams, Debbie Yoder

– by Doc Lehman

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OHS CLASS OF ’76 35th REUNION SPONSORS: