Part III - Culture, a supplement to the Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper. Used with permission.



STRIKE UP THE BANDS

Anyone who knows about the history of Big Rapids High School music programs, knows that the Big Rapids High School bands have a reputation for excellence, today and in yerteryears.

It al began with the first public appearance of the Big Rapids High School Band on May 30, 1925 under the direction Harry H, Nigro, Members of that band (from left)were Gerald Larson, Glenn Loomis, Director Nigro, Dean Parr, C=Dick Donley, Randolph Clark, Fred Nehmer, Ron Everitt, Lloyd Osborn, Nuel Donley, Francis Resseguye, Harold Brandle, Ceylon Buskirk, Russell Borst, LeRoy Percy, Michael Kenney, Kenneth Ford, Forrest Totten, Byers Goltz, Irvin Jackson and Howard Runk.

Dacho Dachoff, former director of music activities at Ferris State College, and a special assistant to former FSC President Robert Ewigleben, says Nigro began the music program at Big Rapids while serving as director of music and conductor of the band and the orchestra at Ferris Institute from 1920-1927. In a letter to Dachoff in 1959 Nigro said "In order to tie the Institute to the community, I organized the band in the Big Rapids Public Schools. Many of the band members took private lessons at the Ferris Institute. Later the Big Rapids City Bandwas started and I also directed this band during my years at the institute." Dachoff says Nigro also played in a popular dance band of the time called "A pair of Jacks" along with Jack Davis, who was conductor of bands at Ferris from 1932-1944.

Joanne (Tomkins) Snyder recalls that Kack Davis assisted Burrell B. Bradley as band instructor at Big Rapids High School in the late 1930's and early 1940's, when she played in the group. She says Davis snuck in some populwar songsfor the band to playto offset the marches and concertos that Bradley liked. She also remembers that Bradley started a band festival that brought musicians to Big Rapids from all over the area during the six years she was in the band, and that Big Rapids had one of the biggest bands in the area.

Also pictured here are the high school band performing on Armistice Day in 1937 and the 1938-39 band in concert. (Pioneer file photos)

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