I'm class of '67... I wonder if they still have the old purple wool skirts, pants, and jackets, and those hats!  Don't play the clarinet anymore, but every time there is a parade, or I hear "Chester" I remember.

My mother keeps threatening to throw out my band uniform, that was over thirty years old when I first tried it on in 1964. I believe the hat is long gone. I do remember marching down State street for Mayor Daley on St Patricks's Day. I played      the Sousaphone, the valves froze by the time we crossed the river. I live in Florida because of those freezing marches and never wanting to be that cold ever again!

I did see Mr. C. a few years later in downtown Chicago. He was playing in the orchestra for a play and having the time of his life. He used to call the class clowns "Schmutzic"--dirt.  I used to get my white shirts purple after getting soaked playing at the football games.

I vaguely remember something about someone tossing oranges around the band room and putting a hole in a cello. I also can't forget -- no matter how hard I try -- the band playing Al Hirt's "Cotton Candy."  And how about the bow 'n' arrow routine we performed on the football fields? Funny how I remember so much about band and nothing about my classes.

Good memory...i was there when the cello was hit...and played (yuck) "Cotton Candy"...do you remember the hockey games we played?

I was in the band and orchestra from '61 - '65 and remember another parade,  I believe it was at Thanksgiving but it           could have been St Patricks Day, but all our valves froze and we must have been a sight. Football games were fun especially in the rain.

I remember Mr C coming to cincinnati and giving me a ticket as he played in the orchestra for Man of La Mancha. He was a great guy. does anyone remember Ms Caldwell??? who was before Mr C?  I played the Sousaphone also. when I was a freshman ... it weighed almost as much as I did...

John Cvejanovich and band/orch were the focus of my life beginning the summer before high school began, and ending with graduation. Mr. C gave me the opportunity to play bassoon - a years-long desire.

Who remembers the Senior strike, spring of 1967? I was afraid that Paul Cohn, 1st chair clarinet, would strike and I would have to play the solo in Scheherezade? Oi! And, then, what about the time we won the citywide Band competition. We had our purple woolie uniforms, of course, and so many other bands had such sharp, new unies. But our MUSIC was better!     The whole gestalt was better. I agree with the comment, "why do I remember so much about Band and so little about the rest of my subjects?" When I saw "Mr. Holland's Opus" I cried and cried. That was Mr. C, wasn't it!  Where is he now?

I'm a Bowen grad, class of 72/73*   I was in the Bowen HS Band and Orchestra from '70'-'73'.  Thanks to the Bowen instrumental music program, I went on to major in music at Indiana University.  After that, I auditioned for the US Marine Band in Washington, DC. I played French Horn in the Marine Band from '77' - '88'  while coming back to Chicago on leave to play in the "Nutcracker" at Arie Crown Theatre.  Sometimes I would perform with Mr. C (what a great musician!) and Mr. Wilder, the Bowen band director who followed Mr. C.  Here's a bit of trivia for Bowenites.  In the opening scene of the
movie, "A Few Good Men",  the French Hornist that the camera zooms in on is a Former Bowen Band member.  Yes, it's me.  This is really special for me, finding your class web page.  Perhaps we could someday have a "multi-year" band reunion.

*I was supposed to graduate in '72'  but I was a credit short for failing chemistry (Mr. Keane was the chem teacher. I don't know if he was there in '68').  I had a choice of going to summer school or going to Europe for 3 weeks with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony.  They were short of French horns that summer.  I remember it took me less that 5 seconds to make my
decision!  So, there I was, back at good old JH Bowen in the fall of '72' for another fun filled senior year!  I did finally graduate in '73'.

Oy Vay, Mr. C. --  John was without a doubt the greatest teacher I ever had. Ever. And the band scene. To this day, I'm close to many, many of my Bowen band and orchestra friends - can't say that about grade school or the rest of
Bowen or college or grad school or...

When the Band went to parades and football games we would load up her Checker Station Wagon with the large instruments. She would follow the Band Bus with her car. One time, the bus stopped at a light. Someone yelled to a parked Police car, "stop that woman. she's following us."

Sure enough, they stopped her. She arrived at the Christmas Parade a half hour after the Band.  She was not amused!

It was absolutely great finding this web-site. I really enjoyed reading all the memories and recollections of the Bowen Band members. For me, I came back to Bowen as a teacher in 1963 and left in 1968 to play in the orchestra for the          musical Man of La Mancha.  In retrospect, I should have stayed at Bowen.

At this point in time, I'm teaching at Kelly High School in Chicago,but not Instrumental Music.  I do help out with the Kelly Band of course, but I manage a large computer lab for the school and teach Windows 98 and Office 2000 to both teachers and students.  I also teach a variety of computer courses at Triton College in a suburb NW of Chicago (River Grove) and have been teaching computer classes in the Chicago Public School system since 1979.

After the La Mancha tour was over, I came back to the CPS in 1971 and was assigned to Fenger High School where I had Beginning Band classes and helped the Band Director from time to time.  Then in 1979, I said bye-bye to the Band Room and "hello" to the computer lab.  In 1982 I was "drafted" to teach teachers how to use microcomputers in their classrooms (APPLE IIe) and was involved with that activity until 1988. I was then transferred to Kelvyn Park High School to run a        computer Math lab, and after spending two years  at that school I was sent to Jones Commercial (downtown) to teach office application software (Lotus, WordPerfect, dBASE, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Windows etc..) where I stayed until 1997.  At that point the school system decided to transform Jones into a four year magnet school, and eliminate        the vocational program that was in place for well over 60 years. At that time I transferred to Kelly and have been there until now.

This will be my last year, I plan to retire in July 2001 when I will be 65! Just imagine, I started teaching at CVS in 1961, 40 years ago,  and now it's "Goodby Mr. Chips." No, "Goodbye Mr. C."  I hope many of the Bowen Band members from the years 1963-1968 read this.  I have super fond memories too. After all, I went to that school too you know.  Take care,

On the Bowen campus now are four “small schools:” Global Visions Academy, Best H.S., New Millennium H.S., Bowen H.S., and the school I work for, Chicago Discovery Academy.  Several years ago, Bowen gave away its band instruments in favor of forming a steel-drum band, which continues to perform. In November of 2004 CDA acquired seven band instruments, and there may be another acquisition later this year.

Band students performed for home games at Eckersol Stadium, and have performed at school assemblies.  Our hope is to qualify this year to participate in the All City Band Festival.  Next year, the schedule of classes will include beginning band.

Hearing your voices has confirmed for me that Bowen was once a musical dynasty, winning contests and braving the elements.  But most importantly, it reminded me of how much fun band can be, and how important it is to make the band program the best it can be.  Trust me when I say there are many who remember the Mighty Bowen Band.

P.S.  If you know the name of a former Bowen Band member who is now teaching in the band program at Arkansas State at Pine Bluff, please let me know.

Yes, I was in the band too. I had the distinction of playing the only bass clarinet in the band. Larry Persily is correct, we did have an orange fight in the band room and a cello was hit.

Can't forget those band uniforms. Purple and gold braids and hotter than hell.
All in all it was a fun experience and those parades in the early winter or late spring I will forever remember.