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Last updated 04/22/2009 HISTORY OF THE GREENBRIER HIGH SCHOOL BAND(Excerpt from The Gossip of 1942) Ronceverte's earliest band organization dates back to 1887, when Prof. Light assembled a group of the city's pioneer musicians. The enterprising and ingenious Mr. Light was director and composer for this first band. Music books were not allowed band members, but Light's original compositions and arrangements only were permitted to be played - it is said these instrumentations resembled the scratchings of a hen after a muddy day in the barnyard. Another band, dissenters from Prof. Light's aggregation, was formed in 1889. Band organizations were in vogue in Ronceverte from time to time, especially the periods before and after the Spanish-American War 1898. Community interest toward a musical organization was again shown in 1914, or sixteen years prior to the organization of the first high school band. In that year a very fine band, known as the Citizens' Band of Ronceverte was organized. Mr. Jas. R. Johnson was the director, succeeded by Professor Martin Manch. Though it consisted of only eighteen members, it soon became well-known thru-out the State, and its presence added to the gaiety and glamour of the "Old Confederate Veterans Reunion," which was held in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1916. In 1917, the World War absorbed the greater portion of the band's membership along with Manch, who became director of the 150th Infantry 38th Division A. E. F. Nothing was done toward the organization of a band with younger talent until October, 1930, at which time John C. Turner, solo cornetist of the Citizens' Band, representative of Frank Holton & Company of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, came to Ronceverte and encouraged -at inception of a school band. He sold instruments to those interested and announced that his company would send an instructor at a later date. This first group of consisted of the following: Pat Clifford, Jack Winkler, trumpet; Frances Murphy, trumpet; Edwin Folden, trumpet; James Folden, cornet; Wilbur Folden, cornet; Elizabeth Grove, cornet; Catherine Compton, clarinet; Ruth Thrasher, clarinet; Frank Bartels, clarinet; Helen Smith, cornet; Norman Blake clarinet; Gertrude Butler, bass; Robert Leach, snare drum; and John Cackley, trombone. These boys and girls, under the able tutoring of Mr. Middlestead of Frank Holton band instrument company, progressed so rapidly that on February 17, 1931, our band made its first public appearance by entertaining the members of the Ronceverte Business A Men's Club. This band was one of only five in this immediate the country, and joined in an Association with Clifton Forge Covington, White Sulphur and Lewisburg. Captain W. H. Beardsworth succeeded Mr. Middlestead as the director of the band. September 1931. The band's progress was rapid. A minstrel was held on January 20, 1932, to raise uniforms, and by the following spring the first Greenbrier High School Band ever to attend the State Band Festival journeyed to Charleston. The coming of Mr. Andrew Kozak in 1933, marked the beginning of a stronger emphasis on our school band though it was composed of but twenty members. Members of the band attended the State Educational Association meeting held at Parkersburg in 1934 an found places in the all-West Virginia orchestra. An again in 1935, Frank Bartels and James Folden represented the Greenbrier High School Band in the all state orchestra of the year. In 1936, Mr. Paul Corder succeeded Mr. Kozak, who accepted a position on the faculty of Concord State Teacher's College. Mr. Corder, with Greenbrier but one year, was succeeded by Mr. Dominic Gaudino. Mr. Gaudino came to us in September, 1937, as the director of the band and instructor in mathematics. Previously he had taught mathematics and history in one of the high schools in McDowell county. At this time the band consisted of these fifteen members: Walter Lynch, Dale Simmons, Robert Rodgers, Claude Thrasher, John Compton, Jack Kern, Harold Boone, Ernest Cobb, Thomas Burr, Joe Reynolds, Carl Smith, Edwin Ott, Billy Corkrean, Noel Gorman, and George Smith. Of these boys, six graduated the first year and because of the declining membership, Mr. Gaudino urged that girls join the band. The growth of our band during the last four or five years has been due to many factors, among which many be listed: The hard and faithful work of a "bunch" of youngsters, the wonderful cooperation and backing give our band by civic clubs, patrons, and the Ronceverte community at large. A drive for new uniforms was begun by the Ronceverte Rotary Club, who sponsored two Halloween fairs, the proceeds of which went to the Greenbrier High School Band Uniform Fund. In the meantime, the band progressed as a musical organization: Jack Kern was a member of the all-state orchestra in 1940; Richard Baker, Virginia Moore, Jack Kern, Margaret Sherwood, Honnie Gunnoe, and Lawrence Sherwood, were members of the all-state band at the state band festival which was held at Huntington last spring. At the same time the band was rated as first division band. Today the band has a membership of about fifty. And it is hoped that the history of the Greenbrier High School band is not yet finished. -SARA BUTLER
(Excerpt from The Gossip - 1950's) Since 1887 Ronceverte has made band history. The first band was directed by Professor Light who composed and arranged all numbers that were played because the band members were not allowed to use music books. It has been said that these instrumentations resembled the scratchings of a hen after a muddy day in the barnyard. From there the band expanded and became well know. The Citizens' Band of Ronceverte in 1916 was given the honor of performing at the "Old Confederate Veterans Reunion" in Birmingham, Alabama. During the period between 1917 through 1930 the band became dormant and was finally re-organized by John C. Turner at the end of that period. He sold instruments to those students interested and made arrangement for a new director who was Mr. Middlestead of Frank Holton band instrument company in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. This band became one of only five in this section of the country and joined in an association with the of five bands. In 1933 Mr. Andrew Kozak, marked the beginning of a stronger emphasis on our school band. It was composed of the following members: Carl Smith, Hilleary, John Compton, Jack Horton, Noel Gorman, Jack Kern, Shuey Wagner, Ernest Cobb, Bill Corkrean, who died in World War II, Charlie Lynch, Milton Byrd, Thomas Burr, Frank Bartels, who also died in the war, Phil Vogel, James Folden, Elmer Jackson, Robert Rogers, Edwin Ott, Harper Hellems, John Lee, Ambrose Hodge and Wendell Ott. Mr. Domenick Gaudino came to the school in 1937 and helped with further advancement of the band and brought many honors to it. Today the band of Greenbrier High school is bigger than ever. It consists of eighty-five members and is directed by Mrs. Noble Legg.
The Music Department of Greenbrier High School flourished throughout the decades because of the community support of the City of Ronceverte, many of its' citizens and businesses, and the great efforts of the hardworking "Band Boosters." In 1936, Domenick Gaudino acquired the positions of band director and math instructor at Greenbrier High School. As World War II progressed, Mr. Gaudino left the school and entered the Army Intelligence Corps as a Captain. He returned to the school in 1946, and was appointed principal in the school year 1948-1949. Mr. Gaudino served as principal of Greenbrier High School until 1966, leaving his position to join the faculty of Bluefield State College. In 1947, Noble Clay "Legg" assumed the positions of music director and physical education instructor at the school. During this school year, Miss Clay and Mr. Gaudino began "rebuilding" the Greenbrier High School Band. In the following school years of the late 1940's and early 1950's, the "new" Mrs. Legg had approximately one-third of the school's enrollment participating in some aspect of the music program. The new Music Department now included the Marching and Concert Band, Junior and Senior High Chorus, Select Choir, and several contemporary musical troupes and combos. Performances throughout the `40's, `50's, and `60's were a special part of the music program at Greenbrier High School. Hard work and many hours of practice were endured by hundreds of students who earned many awards and honors. The students in the choral program at Greenbrier High School had the opportunity to show their excellent at several functions in the community as well as at the school. The Select Choir entertained each spring at the the graduation exercises as well as performed at area churches and a State Rotary Convention at the Greenbrier Hotel. The Instrumental Music Department included students who prepared themselves for superior ratings State Band Festivals in Huntington and Bluefield, as well as concert tours in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and the International Lion's Parades of Miami and Chicago. Throughout the years, students also participated in winter and spring concerts football games, band revues, parades in Roanoke, and as a guest band at Concord College and Washington and Lee University Football Games. During the 1960's, Greenbrier High School was very proud to participate in the Greenbrier Valley Majorette Festivals. Miss Debbie Boone, (1963), Carolyn Austin, (1966), and Terri Smith, (1967), all reigned as Miss Greenbrier Valley Majorettes representing the Greenbrier High School Marching Band, which was selected as "Honor" Band several times during this period. Even though the county schools consolidated in the late 1960's, the Greenbrier Junior High School Music Department lives on under the direction of one of the former high school students, Dr. William Fox, a former _ drum major for the Greenbrier High School Marching Band.
1940 BAND
. Eddie Booze, Honnie Gunnoe. FIFTH ROW: Joe Corola, Bill Corkrean, Richard Baker, Noel Gorman, Granville Wadsworth.
TYPICAL LATE SIXTIES BAND
1950 MARCHING BAND
1956 SELECT CHOIR
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. FROM TOP ROW DOWN: Keith Morgan, Daniel Boone, Tom Green, Randy McCormack, Lee Doggett, Bill Fox, Joe Lee, Doug Shires, Jackie Martin, Barbara Hood, Sally Donovan, Ed Kyle. THIRD: Pinky Level, Mary Hanifin, Unidentified, Margaret Cuckler, Dianne Ellis, Martha Berry, Emojean Lowence, Mary McClung, Barbara Houchins. FOURTH: Nobel Legg, Margaret Ann James, Shirley Loudermilk, Mary Sue Daugherty, Bonnie Shanklin, Mary Frances Goodall, Gaye Rogers, Mary Varney, Patty Willis.
1957 SELECT CHOIR
This is your opportunity to help complete this book by identifying each chorus member pictured above.
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