'A lot of cowbells': Ridgewood High School Marching Band wraps up 100 years
RIDGEWOOD — Some say if you survive marching band, you can survive anything.
Ridgewood High School students have been surviving it for 100 years.
The marching band will wrap up its centennial season on Sunday at the USBands National Championships in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and return for an encore at the village's Downtown for the Holidays tree lighting on Dec. 2.
"Actually, it's the centennial of our full band program," said Jeffrey Haas, director of bands since 1988. "We also have a symphonic band, concert band, wind ensemble, two jazz bands and a chamber music ensemble, all involving 200 students."
Haas said it wasn't until around 1925 that the marching band defined itself as separate from other instrumental groups. Students continue to advance through and perform in more than one. He said the band attracted more students in the 1970s under the "charismatic leadership" of Chris Wilhjelm, who also founded the Ridgewood Concert Band, now the New Jersey Wind Symphony.
"It helped our numbers when the district reorganized from a three-grade high school to four grades in the '70s," Haas said. "That's also when the band also started competing."
Competitions have become an ever-larger part of high school marching band itineraries each fall as styles progressed from straight-line marching to drum corps formations and more recently "traditional" or "show band" programs, in which band members dance as well as play. Football game halftime shows have become dress rehearsals for competitions against other schools, with the band perfecting the same set of songs and moves as the season progresses.
"It's become more and more theatrical," said Patti Wojtowicz, the band's color guard and twirler adviser. "The color guard used to be more military; uniforms matched the band. Dance and movement became more popular in the '70s and '80s. The color guard uniforms no longer matched. The banners are no longer just the school colors. It's a visual package."
Band director John Luckenbill joined the district in 2011, having honed his skills as a trumpet player with the 300-member Michigan State Marching Band as well as its symphony.
He wanted this year's music program to reflect a variety of musical interests over its 100-year history: the school's fight song, "Go Get 'Em," Harold Arlen's 1930 "Get Happy," "Prelude" from William Walker's 1835 "Southern Harmony," and My Chemical Romance's 2006 "Welcome to the Black Parade."
"The key to a high school program is to make it completely elective," Luckenbill said. "We have to respect that most students will graduate and do something other than music. My goal is to encourage kids to play."
Luckenbill said the marching band was egalitarian from the start.
The first director was a woman, Helen Greelaw, and the first known member was a woman, Dorothy Zimmerman, Luckenbill said.
To that end, leading the band this year is senior Vera Witte. As field captain, she conducts the 84-member band from the 50-yard-line podium. She is assisted by drum major Bella Salerno and color guard co-captains Deniella Comisi and Felice Cristaldi.
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"It's a two-year deal," Vera said. "There's an audition, and if you do well the first year you're the drum major and assist directing. We also go to drum major academy summer camp."
Cheering on the band are lots of parents.
"I would say about half the parents show up at any given event," said parent Gregg Gardner, who is a constant presence at games and competitions. "We raise funds, we move equipment. We don't have an official uniform, but a lot of parents wear band sweatshirts or jackets. And cowbells. There are a lot of cowbells."
There is considerable banter between the band and sports teams over whose job is harder, but for Wojtowicz, one thing is assured.
"Nobody sits on the bench," she said.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ridgewood HS Marching Band to wrap up centennial year
