Drury High School
Music Alumni Association
Dear Drury Music Alum,
Time flies! It is hard to believe that our 85th celebration is upon us! See you Saturday May 17th for #85!
Quickly recapping - we gathered April 29, 1995 for our first joint concert of alumni and current music students in conjunction with the Centennial of the City of North Adams. We next celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Drury Band on May 23, 1998. Everybody participating in both had a wonderful time and recommended more of the same. So...Our next get-together was May 31, 2003 in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Drury Band. Lo and behold! on May 17, 2008 we will be gathering for our 85th. We hope you will all be able to attend.
Remember the post card on display as part of our memorabilia in 2003? Mailed in 1924 it identifies the Drury High School Band as the "Largest school band in America" so it appears we wasted no time in establishing ourselves after Conductor James Morley Chambers founded the group.
Last time by popular request we added an informal get-together Friday night. If there is sufficient interest as indicated on registration forms, we will do so again and let you know the time and place
For Saturday morning we suggest you visit the North Adams Museum of History and Science located in Building 5A at Western Gateway Heritage State Park at the southern end of Hadley Overpass. They are open 10-4 and admission is free. Here's your chance to recall the great moments in NA history from the barracks room at Fort Massachusetts (replica) through ballooning, railroading, the growth of industries such as Wall-Streeter, Hunter's and Arnold Print to the black light gallery where we commemorate that products from Sprague Electric traveled to the moon with the NASA crew. The temporary exhibit gallery this May features the 200th anniversary of the First Baptist Church, the oldest in North Adams.
If you have yet to tour MASS MoCA in the former Sprague complex, you might also wish to do so during the day on Saturday. They are open 11-5; there is currently an admission charge of $12.50.
If you'd prefer the outdoors in May - gorgeous in the Berkshires - try Grace Greylock Niles Day 10AM to 12 noon at Mountain Meadow Preserve in Williamstown 413-458-3135. Guided walks and botanizing in honor of the author of "Bog-Trotting for Orchids" published in 1904 but still heralded today. Free.
For Saturday afternoon we encourage all to arrive at Drury, the new to many and newly renovated to the rest, High School building 1130 South Church Street beginning at 2PM to register, peruse memorabilia (bring some to add if you have it), chat and prepare for rehearsal for those participating in the joint concert. From 2:30 to 5 the chorus and band will rehearse under the direction of the current music personnel, band director Carl Jenkins and chorus director Aldonna Girouard, as well as alumni guest conductors, Colleen Sprague Bretthauer ‘84 for the chorus and Debbie Kinsey Keough ‘88 for the band. This concert's local-flavor selection for the chorus will be "Lafayette We're Going Over" copyright 1917 by lyricist Ray Girard with music arranged by Ralph Domin, longtime organist and choir director at the First Congregational Church. His twin daughters have faithfully sung in all three alumni concerts to date and we look forward to their participation again this year.
At 5 PM all will gather for the always delicious buffet dinner catered by the Friends and Parents of the Drury High School Band. Those who are not dusting off instruments or clearing throats to participate in the joint rehearsals and concert are encouraged to come early enough in the afternoon to view the exhibits and share memories and to join the entire group for supper.
The joint concert will commence at 7PM. A special treat will be a composition for the chorus by Matthew McConnell ‘99, doctoral candidate at the new England Conservatory of Music. We save dessert for after the actual 85th anniversary celebration.
Past gatherings have afforded current students the opportunity to work with incredible professional musicians and to meet others who may not continue to play or sing but have marvelous remembrances to share. We hope to welcome and honor the one (known) living member of the original band from 1923, Fred Crosier of North Adams who will celebrate his 99th birthday in April.
Please fill in the registration form enclosed and mail it to us ASAP or call 413-662-3240 ext 3309 with the same information by May 2nd so we can plan on enough sheet music, enough food and many happy returns of the day as we celebrate the Eighty-fifth Anniversary of the Drury High School Band. Thank you.
Please make copies of the registration form on the following page for friends not on our mailing list and/or tell them to watch the Transcript April 5th for an advertisement with registration information.
Thanks again. - See you in MAYJ
