Published: 04/28/2008  Lawrence Eagle Tribune

Having a ball for a good cause

By Jill Harmacinski
Staff writer

METHUEN — Methuen High School's Ranger Band picked up some cash from the police yesterday.

The patrolmen's union donated $500 to the band, which is headed to Washington, D.C., to perform next month.

The Ranger Band will represent Massachusetts in the National Memorial Day Parade on May 26. It is the only high school band in the state to garner that distinction this year.

On Saturday, the band parents association held a giant yard sale and a baked goods sale to raise money for the trip.

Then, yesterday afternoon, union president and Patrolman Joseph Aiello handed the $500 check to band members. The police then played softball with a variety of hefty professional contenders. Union members faced off against retired Boston Bruins, New England Patriots and Red Sox.

A baseball clinic for kids was held before the game.

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Published: 04/23/2008  Lawrence Eagle Tribune

Methuen band rocks the House

By J.J. Huggins
Staff writer

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METHUEN — The Methuen High School Ranger Band rocked the Statehouse earlier this month.

The band is gearing up for its trip to Washington, D.C., where it will represent Massachusetts in the National Memorial Day Parade on May 26. It is the only high school band in the state to garner that distinction this year.

But the trip won't be cheap. In fact, Ken DesLauriers, president of the Methuen Ranger Band Parents Association, said it will cost $75,000 for some 100 band members to go. The band parents association is raising money to help pay for the trip. They raised $4,000 from events, such as a July Fourth concession stand and a band competition in October. More recently, they raised more than $500 by urging businesses to donate, according to DesLauriers.

The students raised more than $10,000 from efforts that included selling chocolate, poinsettias and calendars. The balance of the trip's cost will have to come out of students' pockets, or from more donations.

To raise more money, the band parents association is hosting a giant yard sale Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon. The yard sale will be in the Nicholson Stadium parking lot on Pleasant View Street, next to Timony Grammar School, rain or shine.

Published: 04/11/2008  Valley Dispatch Staff

MHS band has a Memorial Day date in Washington

BY GAYLE SIMONE, VALLEY DISPATCH STAFF

METHUEN -- Methuen High School's Ranger Marching Band has been selected to represent Massachusetts in the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington on May 26. 

"I'm still shocked they picked us," said junior drum major Matt Lawson. "I feel so honored."

Tom Walters, the school's director of fine arts, said he was contacted by the Marching Band Travel Committee about the band performing in the parade. 

"Three years ago I was the band director in North Andover and I was contacted about the marching band being in the parade," Walters said. "But I left to come here at the end of the school year, so I wasn't around when they marched in the parade. I was contacted again last year about Methuen being in the parade, based on what I had accomplished in North Andover."

This is the second year the Ranger Band will travel to participate in a parade. Last year members marched at Disney World.

"Normally we don't travel two years in a row," Walters said. "But ... I thought it was a good opportunity (for the students)." Senior drum major Simone Dufresne feels honored the Rangers were selected to perform in the parade.

"We're so excited. It's a huge honor," said Dufresne. "It's awesome to have that recognition and bring this to our school."

Marching in the parade may not be the only honor for Lawson, Dufresne and Kevin Aponte. They may also be participating in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown.

"We're still waiting to find out about the wreath," Walters said. "When we get the final itinerary, we will find out. But it will be Sunday afternoon or Tuesday morning for the laying of the wreath."

The Washington parade, presented by the American Veterans Center, features one high-school band from each state. Each band is responsible for its own music.

Because there aren't many patriotic songs to choose from, Walters commissioned University of Massachusetts Lowell band director Dan Lutz to write a patriotic piece for the Rangers.

"He wrote 'American Salute' for us. He wrote 'Belle' for us for the Disney parade last year," Walters said.

"Because there's not too many patriotic songs to choose from, the audience usually hears the same thing over and over, and that can get tedious. We wanted to do something different."

Though band members enjoyed their time at Disney, they know the trip to Washington is going to be a completely different experience.

"When we went to Disney, there was another band from Massachusetts," Aponte said. "We're representing all of Massachusetts in this parade. It's going to be so much more meaningful."

The Rangers will be leaving for Washington on Friday night, May 23. "We have to go by bus because there is so much equipment we need to bring with us," Walters said. "We'll get to D.C. in the morning and take a tour of Washington before checking into the hotel in the afternoon."

Walters said he is very proud of the Ranger band.

"The band has been a source of pride in Methuen," Walters said. "That's something (former director) Frank Savory put in place. It's a tradition."

The trip to Washington is planned and organized by the Ranger Band Parents Association.

Published: 04/08/2008  Lawrence Eagle Tribune

National spotlight on students in Methuen High band

By J.J. Huggins
Staff writer

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METHUEN — Kevin Aponte dropped theater and football for the marching band.

Aponte, an 18-year-old drum major and senior at Methuen High School, isn't the only one making sacrifices for the Ranger marching band. Fellow senior drum major Simone Dufresne, 18, said she gives up sleep to fit music between academics and her job at Nevins Memorial Library.

Matt Lawson, a 17-year-old junior and drum major, has missed out on family time, like when his brother came home from the Navy.

Band members practice throughout the week, both in school and at home, and their work is paying off.

They're performing at the Statehouse this week, then they're off to Washington, D.C., next month to represent Massachusetts at the National Memorial Day Parade.

They will be the only band from Massachusetts performing in the parade, which President Bush is expected to attend.

"A lot of it's a bit mind-boggling," Aponte said.

"It's a huge honor just to be able to represent Massachusetts," Dufresne said.

The honor is not achieved easily. Parade director Mackie Christenson said her phone often rings with people inquiring about band performances. High school bands submit CDs, and parade organizers choose the best to march.

"It's pretty competitive," Christenson said. "The bands are really top-shelf."

There are 18 high school bands from 16 states playing this year, plus two military bands, she said.

This will be the fourth year of the parade. The event drew 250,000 people last year, Christenson said.

Meanwhile in Methuen, about 70 teens crammed into a room near the high school's field house on a recent morning to prepare for the spring concert, which happened last weekend. More than 50 trophies lined the shelf above a desk in the back corner of the room.

The students rehearsed "Fairest of the Fair" by John Philip Sousa and "Our Future Nation" by Brent Beech. Their leader is Thomas Walters, director of the school's fine arts department. He made them play particular notes over and over to perfect the sound.

"Was that better?" he asked at one point.

"No," a chorus of teenage voices replied.

Back to work they went.

Walters reminded the students of how little time they had before their concert, saying, "Don't let it go to waste."

They labored over the beginning of "Fairest of the Fair," which they opened their show with.

"This is the grabber folks," Walters said. "We want to lift the audience right out of their seats. Dazzle me."

The band eventually played the song to the end. A few sighed, and most started chatting amongst themselves. Walters grabbed their attention when he lifted up his baton about 45 seconds later to have them start working on "Our Future Nation."

Band camp starts in August and students practice Monday and Wednesday nights, and on Saturday mornings from August to October. They do marching band in the fall and transition to concert band in the winter and spring.

Next month will not be the first time students from the Merrimack Valley have traveled to the National Memorial Day Parade — North Andover High School's marching band represented the state last year.

There are 115 students in the Methuen band, Walters said. Of those students, 97 or 98 are going to the parade.

The Massachusetts Instrumental & Choral Conductors Association and the Massachusetts Music Educators Association nominate bands to play in the National Memorial Day Parade, and Methuen was nominated this year, Walters said.

Parade organizers contacted Walters and informed him of the nomination. The band sent a DVD of themselves performing this past fall, along with a formal picture. Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty then invited them to play, Walters said.

The students leave for Washington in three coach buses on May 23.

The trip will cost an estimated $75,000. The Methuen Ranger Band Parent Association has raised $10,000 to $15,000 so far, and the students have paid $600 each. That leaves the band needing about $8,000 more to make the journey possible, said Ken DesLauriers, president of the association.

Students have done things like sell calendars, candy and poinsettias. DesLauriers, whose son Kyle is a junior at Methuen High and in the band's drum line, is looking for merchants to step up next.

"The community has been very generous, but now we need the businesses," the father said.

How to help

Checks made payable to MRBPA can be mailed to:

Methuen Ranger Band Parent Association

PO Box 21

Methuen, MA 01844

Anybody who sends a donation will receive a confirmation of the donation. The donation is tax deductible, association President Ken DesLauriers said.

Statehouse performance

The band is performing in the main foyer of the Statehouse in Boston at 1 p.m. Thursday. They are meeting with Methuen's congressional delegation in anticipation of the Washington, D.C., trip.

Methuen students marching in the National Memorial Day Parade

When: Monday, May 26, at 2 p.m.

Where: Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C.

Presented by: American Veterans Center

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

Published: 10/15/2007  Lawrence Eagle Tribune

Keeping the beat with Methuen's Ranger Band

By Jill Harmacinski

Staff Writer

METHUEN - The Methuen High School Ranger Marching Band took the field yesterday, not for a halftime show, but a regional competition.

The 123-member band was one of 10 to perform before judges from the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association.

The bands are graded on music, percussion, visual effects, color guard and overall effect.

Methuen's marching band has participated in these competitions for nine years.

Yesterday's show was also a fundraiser for band parents who want to send the Ranger band to Washington, D.C., in May.

The band was selected to represent Massachusetts in the Memorial Day parade in the nation's capital.

 

Published: 10/10/2007  Lawrence Eagle Tribune

Methuen marching band contest to drum up funds for D.C. trip

By Jill Harmacinski

Staff Writer

METHUEN - Take in some music, eat Mann Orchards' apple crisp and help send the Methuen High School band to Washington, D.C., this spring.

Members of the Methuen High Rangers marching band are set to compete against 10 other local bands at Nicholson Stadium this Sunday at 1 p.m.

The band's 123 members have been training for the competition for months.

"October is competition season," said Ken DesLauriers, president of the band's parents association. Final competitions are at the end of October, he added.

The event is sponsored by the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association, which encourages and supports the development of the highest musical standards in schools. The bands are graded on music, percussion, visual effects, color guard and overall effect.

Methuen's marching band has taken part in these competitions for nine years, DesLauriers said.

Sunday's show in Methuen also is a fundraiser for the band parents, who are now trying to raise money to send the band to Washington, D.C., in May. The band was selected to represent Massachusetts in the Memorial Day parade in the nation's capital.

DesLauriers estimated between $6,000 and $8,000 will be raised from ticket and concession sales on Sunday.

"It will all go to getting the kids to D.C.," he said.

The event is an excellent opportunity to see kids who have put forward "tremendous effort" and taken time out of their summer vacations to practice, DesLauriers said. His son Kyle is a snare drummer in the band. His daughter Kathryn, who graduated last June, played the flute.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, cookies, candy, soda and Mann Orchards' apple crisp, made on Pleasant Valley Street, will be sold at the concession stand, DesLauriers said.

"They donate the apple crisp to us to sell," he said.

About 90 members of the band's parents association also will be volunteering, greeting and guiding the bands through the day.

"So the day runs smooth," he said.

The marching band from University of Massachusetts at Lowell also will perform on Sunday at Nicholson Stadium.

 

Published: 09/23/2007   Lawrence Eagle Tribune

MHS band to represent Massachusetts in D.C. parade

By Jill Harmacinski

Staff Writer

METHUEN - The Methuen High School marching band scored an invite to a gigantic anniversary party.

The 123-member Ranger Marching Band has been selected to represent the state of Massachusetts in the 2008 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

The parade will mark the 225th anniversary of the American Revolution, according to an invitation to the parade from Adrian Fenty, mayor of Washington, D.C.

"This is a terrific opportunity for our young people," Superintendent Jeanne Whitten told the School Committee, which unanimously approved the band's trip, scheduled for May 26, 2008.

Fine arts Director Thomas Walters, the band director, agreed.

"It's an extraordinary opportunity, and it's nice because we'll be representing the commonwealth of Massachusetts," he said.

The band is in the process of working out the itinerary for the trip. In addition to the parade performance, the band will also take historical walking tours around D.C., lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and visit the Korean War Memorial, Walters said.

"This will be much more of a cultural trip," Walters said.

The band performed at Walt Disney World in Florida last year. Normally, the group travels only every other year.

The Ranger Band Parents Association will work with Music Celebrations, the official tour agency for the National Memorial Day Parade, to coordinate travel and hotel arrangements. The trip will be privately paid for through the band association's fundraising efforts, Walters said.

Annually, the band parents association raised between $40,000 and $50,000, all of which is returned to the band for trips and scholarships, according to information posted on the band's Web site, www.MethuenRangerBand.org.

Students won't miss more than one day of school on the trip. The band will travel with a corps of adult chaperones - all of whom will be subject to criminal background checks, Walters said.

"The high school band has made us extremely proud over the years," said Arthur Nicholson, Methuen High's principal.

Mayor William Manzi III also congratulated Walters at the meeting.

"This is quite an honor for the school system," he said.

The band practices daily during the school year and also practices Saturdays, Walters said.