The Morrison High School Band Room was filled with supporters on Friday afternoon, October 26, 2018, to celebrate a Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting ceremony for Morrison Music Boosters. Adults left-to-right are Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Meridith Layne; Norma Nelson of TKB Bank; Booster Secretary Lisa Bland; future Choir Director Stephanie Bergland, who begins work in January 2019, upon graduation from Western Illinois University; Booster Treasurer Jean Eggemeyer; Booster Vice President Jan Scott; Chamber Board member Junior High Principal Joe Robbins; Booster President Melissa Zinke; MHS Director of Bands B. Tyler Sutton; Drum Major Taylor Stratton; Andy Carlson of McDonald’s.
It has been 30 years since new band uniforms were purchased. The Unit District will pay the majority of the cost of new attire. Lisa Bland stated, “I was very excited that the Board [of Education] approved the purchase and that they could get [the new uniforms] this year.” Her daughter Charidy is a Senior.
Morrison Music Boosters will raise $6700 of the cost.
One fundraiser was a music-themed painting party for adults, on Saturday, October 27, at the Brick Block Pub, 105 W. Main Street, Morrison, IL. It began at 7:00 p.m.
The second is the Boosters’ annual sale of fresh wreaths, grave blankets, and vertical flags, now in progress. The sales end and payment is due Wednesday, November 7. Make a purchase from any Booster or student band member, or place an order at morrisonmusicboosters@gmail.com. Wreaths are $17 (24″ diameter) and $25 (30″ diameter.) Vertical flags (12 x 20″) are $26. Grave Blankets are $35.
Pick up times are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., on Tuesday, November 20, and Wednesday, November 21, at the back garage door of Wilson Greenhouses & Florists, 103 N. Heaton Street, Morrison.
Monetary donations are appreciated.
MHS Junior Taylor Stratton is the Drum Major. She performs in Marching, Jazz, and Concert Bands. She modeled the new uniform for the photograph; hers will be a smaller size.
Bland noted the garments are created from recycled material. Inside the pants and sleeve openings are snaps, to shorten them without making alterations. The wide, jacket cuffs also snap closed. One difficulty is the jacket zips from the back. Students may have to help each other with this.
Stratton said, “Band students got to choose from four of five different [uniform] designs in August. All were pretty similar, but pretty cool.” The metallic strands of silver on the hat’s plume drew positive compliments from a couple students, who were seeing the hat for the first time.
Director Sutton submitted this list of 26 Junior High and High School band students; 21 attended the Ribbon Cutting for the Morrison Music Boosters. They were Charidy Bland, Jon Kirkpatrick; Hannah Linder; Molly Neumann; Cassie Osborn; Sarah Schrenock; Megan Sterenberg; Jenna Scott; Grace Steines; Hannah Stralow; Taylor Stratton; Griffin Vos; Thomas Wagenecht; Hannah Wallender; Jaysie Pruis; Isabel Stuhlman; Rachel Coyle; Aaron Freeman; Faith Green; Lorilee Hutson; Quinn James; Hannah Lambdin; Adam Neumann; Courtnee Oldham; Faith VanderVinne; Alexander Wakeman.