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Modesto High Band and Guard Historical Site
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Note: In the following newspaper articles, misspelled words have been corrected except in the case of names of people and places. As the Modesto High Band became more prominent, the newspaper proofreaders began to pay more attention to the band and the people associated with it.
The Modesto Herald Wednesday, September 3,
1924 Section 2, p. 1
STANISLAUS
IS PROMINENT AT STATE CAPITAL Modesto Boys Band Wins
First Prize of $500; County Exhibit Draws Crowds
L. T. Stanley, secretary of the chamber of commerce, who visited the
Sacramento State Fair Monday says that Stanislaus county is represented by
more than usually good exhibits, and that the county display is causing a
great deal of comment, both on account of its quality and quantity.
The three outstanding counties at the fair this year, says Stanley,
are: Stanislaus, Fresno and Kings. The
Modesto boys’ band has once more taken first place, winning the prize of
$500, and beating its nearest competition, Los Angeles, by two-thirds of a
point. F. A. Mancini, who
recently suffered an injured foot, was conducting the boys with one foot
resting upon a chair, but is much improved and is highly elated over the
victory of his band.
The chamber of commerce secretary says that Stanislaus is splendidly
represented with the best products grown in every section of the county, and
that high praise is due George McCabe, board of trade secretary, for the
general excellence of the display.
The Modesto Herald Sunday, September 7, 1924
p. 8
SCHOOL
BAND TO COMPETE TODAY AT STATE FAIR Frank Mancini, Who Leads
Modesto Organization to Victory Hopes to Win
Under the direction of Frank Mancini, leader of the winning boys band
at the Sacramento State Fair last week, the Modesto High School band will
leave this morning for the state fair, where they will compete in the high
school division.
The first prize in this class is $300 and Director Mancini is confident
of winning, despite the fact that his boys never competed at the fair before.
The Modesto Herald Tuesday, September 9, 1924
p. 2
HIGH SCHOOL BAND WINS AT FAIR MANCINI
AGAIN LEADS MODESTO BOYS IN FIRST Oakland Organization
Defeated by Local Musicians for $300 Award
Prof. Frank Mancini, director of the high school orchestra and the
Stanislaus County Boys’ band added more laurels Sunday when the Modesto High
school band won first prize in the state fair band concert.
The Stanislaus County Boys’ band had previously won first place for
the second consecutive time.
Only two bands, the Modesto and Oakland organizations, competed for the
prize of $300. The local band
also won a trophy for having the neatest appearing uniforms.
The honor bestowed upon Prof. Mancini and his protégés is all the
more conspicuous by the fact that the Oakland band has always won first place
in the competition.
The Modesto High school orchestra is comprised only of high school
students, there being four girls in the organization.
With the double win at the State Fair, Prof. Mancini has gained much
prominence as a band leader. Formerly
a soloist with the great John Sousa band, Professor Mancini came to Modesto
and began instruction in the local schools.
His wonderful showing with the Boys’ band has gained him considerable
prominence throughout the country. Competing
four times at the state fair, Mancini and his protégés won three firsts and
one second. The time they took
second place, the Oakland band was given the verdict by a narrow margin.
1925 STATE BAND CONTEST
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, September 8, 1925
p. 2
MODESTO
BOYS’ BAND AGAIN WINS FIRST PLACE IN STATE CONTEST HERE’S THE BEST BAND
AT THE STATE FAIR
The Modesto Boys’ Band, pictured here, again took first prize at the
State Fair Sunday. The Boys found
themselves prime favorites with the audience, which applauded like a football
crowd when the Modesto band was declared the winner.
This band will play at the Stanislaus County Fair the first two days,
September 14 and 15.
Modesto News-Herald Saturday, September 12,
1925 p. 3
HIGH
BAND WILL COMPETE SUNDAY
The Modesto High school band,
directed by Prof. F. Mancini, will journey to Sacramento Sunday morning to
compete in a state-wide contest to determine the best high school band in
California.
The members of the band will go to the capital city in high school
busses, and will play in the contest at the state fair Sunday afternoon.
The Modesto high school won this event last year, and Mancini hopes to
repeat this year.
A first prize of three hundred dollars is offered the winning band.
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, September 15, 1925
MODESTO SCHOOL BAND
VICTORS IN CAPITAL CONTEST Adult Band Placed Lower
Than Local Organization Of Children At Fair
For the second time in two years, the Modesto high school band won
first prize of $300 at the Sacramento state fair, Sunday afternoon, making a
total of 85 2-3 points against 68 made by its nearest competitor.
The triumph of the Modesto boys was no accident.
They have been practicing for this event two evenings a week all during
the summer, and went into the contest fully prepared.
This is the second triumph of this nature in two years for the local
band.
After the contest, the high school band, combined with the Modesto Boys’
Band, which won first prize in its division last week, played a concert by
request at the fair Sunday evening. The
same judges scored an adult band of trained musicians of the fair, placing it
several points under the High School Band.
The High School band, like the Boys’ Band, is directed and trained by
Frank Mancini.
Frank Mancini, director and leader of both the Modesto Boys’ Band and
the Modesto High School Band, each of which won first place in state-wide
competition at the state fair this year.
Mancini takes the children as they enter high school, teaches them
first to play the chosen instruments and then wields them together into
prize-winning bands.
1926 BAND CONTESTS
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, September 9, 1926
BOYS’ BAND TAKES PRIZE
CASH AGAIN Gets It This Year
Without Competition; Will Go To Sonora, Columbia
After five years of competitive concerts at the Sacramento State Fair,
during which time the first prize was brought to Stanislaus County five times,
the Stanislaus County Boys’ band is playing at the capital fair this week
without competition.
When the bands failed to enter the state band contest this year, the
state fair committee invited Professor Frank Mancini and his band to assist
the other three official bands in furnishing music during fair week.
The county band will receive the amount set aside in prior years as
first prize money.
The band left Modesto Sunday morning for Sacramento, under the
management of Lester Shock of Turlock.
After fulfilling the engagement at Sacramento, the band journeys to
Sonora and Columbia to play for the Knights of Pythias’ picnic.
Next week the band will play daily concerts at the Stanislaus County
Fair.
1927 BAND CONTESTS
Modesto News-Herald Saturday, May 7, 1927 p. 11
PLAYING
OF BAND INSPIRING TO ALL By HOKUM
Aroused to high enthusiasm by their band, students of Modesto high
school gave the organization a great send-off at the two assemblies.
The band is leaving for San Francisco where it will compete in a state
contest of school bands.
The performance at what amounted to dress rehearsals was of great
merit. The selections to be played in the contest were played.
The music was of such a character and excellence as to inspire
enthusiasm and admiration. It was a great tribute to the directing and musical genius of
Frank Mancini, who is the heart and soul of the organization.
Shading, volume, clearness of tone and interpretation of the music
itself were of such a character as to thrill the listener and to inspire
reverence of great music. To have
such an organization in the high school is of untold cultural value.
Among the listeners was Jack Beaty, who yesterday arranged so that the
band might stop at the Lankershim hotel free of charge tonight.
He is a part owner of that hotel and acted after he had learned that
the band planned to leave at 5 a.m. Saturday and play in the contest the same
day.
At the assembly Beaty learned that the band had only $75 in funds with
which to feed its 63 members three meals in San Francisco.
Beaty donated $25 after being assured that the sum of $100 would be
sufficient.
“They must eat,” he said.
Students and teachers at the high school were overjoyed when told of
Beaty’s hotel arrangements. The
students gave him six rousing cheers after the band had played.
A contest is interesting. The
Sacramento high school’s band is being sent to San Francisco in a special
train fortified with a fund of $350.
It is certain that had the board of education been informed of the need
for funds it would have acted. The
$75 for food was donated from the funds of the student body.
Modesto News-Herald Sunday, May 8, 1927 p. 1
MODESTO SCHOOL BAND WINS CONTEST TAKES FIRST WITH RATING
OF 96 PER CENT IN BAY CITY May Represent State In
Kansas Contest: Win At Auditorium
The Modesto high school band of 63 pieces, directed by Frank Mancini,
not only captured first place in the northern California school band contest
held in San Francisco yesterday afternoon, but won first prize in a contest at
the Civic Auditorium last night in competition with 15 other schools,
according to information received by the News-Herald.
The contest at the auditorium was the final event in observance of
music week. Awarded Percentage of
96.17 In Test
To win the afternoon contest the Modesto band scored 96.17 points.
San Mateo was second with 93 points.
In the auditorium contest last night second place in class “A” was
given to Burlingame high school band and third honors went to the Sacramento
high school concert band.
First place in class “B” went to Princeton high school band and
second to Arcata high school.
No awards were announced in class “C”.
Lodi high school won first place in class “D,” second honors went
to Santa Rosa and third to San Mateo. Crowned Champions At
Sacramento Fair
In 1924 the high school band won first place in the school contest,
held as an annual feature of the Sacramento State Fair.
The performance was repeated in 1925, when they were crowned state
champions for the second time. The
band was not entered in 1926.
It was through the co-operation that the organization was able to make
the trip to San Francisco and win additional honors.
Beaty arranged so that the band might stop at his San Francisco hotel,
the Lankershim. He also donated
$25 to help defray the expenses of the organization while in San Francisco.
The band won the right to represent this state in the national contest
in Kansas City by virtue of their victory yesterday.
Modesto News-Herald Friday, May 13, 1927 p. 11
FUND STARTED TO PUT
SCHOOL BAND IN BIG CONTEST Exchange Club Opens Fund
With $100; Beaty Starts Subscription List
The campaign to send the Modesto High School Band to Council Bluffs, Ia.,
to compete for national honors, got under way Thursday when the Exchange Club
directors voted to donate $100 towards a $6000 fund.
The directors acted after the club had been appealed to by E. J.
Delano, president of the state band concert committee, who announced that the
committee already has $1000 in sight, pledged by San Francisco business men,
many of whom heard the band play in the contest in San Francisco recently.
Delano declared that if the Modesto band goes to Council Bluffs it will
win the national championship, bringing great credit to Modesto and to
California. He declared that he
has heard the prize-winning bands of the east of other years and that they
cannot defeat the one directed by Professor Frank Mancini.
Jack Beaty, who supplied hotel accommodations for the 63 members of the
band in San Francisco and also donated $25 towards its expenses, pledged $25
towards the Council Bluffs fund and said that he will make it $50 if
necessary, if 30 other Modestans will do the same.
William Harter said he would give $25.
Howard Chappell of the high school faculty announced that the teachers
of the high school already have raised among themselves $200 for the fund.
L. D. Thompson pledged $10.
Thus far no machinery has been set up for receiving contributions.
Delano will stay here, he said, as long as he can be of use.
R. B. McBride and W. E. Faught compose a committee appointed by the
school board to consider plans to send the band east.
Modesto News-Herald Wednesday, May 18, 1927 p.
4
MONEY SLOW FOR HIGH
SCHOOL BAND San Mateo Band Will Be Sent
If Local Organization Cannot Make Grade
Subscriptions are coming in very slowly for the fund to send the high
school band to Council Bluffs, Ia., for the national contest.
Since the state must act quickly if the band is to be sent east, those
in charge of arrangements at San Francisco have sent out an urgent appeal for
contributions from any source, but particularly from Modesto.
If Modesto does not act, money raised elsewhere will be shifted to the
San Mateo band, which was second in the contest.
The contributions to date total $1600 with the possibility of another
$1000 from San Francisco.
Word from Council Bluffs is that all bands will be the guests of the
city while there. The band had
planned to remain there three days. This
would cut the cost considerably under the $6000 estimate.
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, May 19, 1927 p.
16
Editorial Examiner Appeal For
Modesto Band
An appeal to the whole state in the campaign to raise funds to send the
Modesto high school band to Council Bluffs for the national championship
contest is voiced in an editorial in the San Francisco Examiner of Wednesday.
An effort is now being made to raise $2,000 in San Francisco. The Examiner says:
While California is sending athletic teams and crews and tennis players
hither and thither to return with various championships what about music?
Why shouldn’t California step to the front culturally as well as in
the athletic field?
Modesto high school has developed a band which not only carried off the
state championship in competition against a hundred or more other California
schools, but which is declared by music critics to be a remarkably find band
on any man’s scale of values, and is probably the best school band in the
nation.
We think that band needs additional advertising.
Back at Council Bluffs in a few weeks, there is to be something like a
national music tournament, for schools--an orchestral “I. C. Four A.,” an
instrumental Poughkeepsie, a lyric Wimbledon, so to speak.
A big affair it will be.
And wouldn’t it be fine if these lads from Modesto should saunter
into the midst of that affair, lugging their instruments, and bring home the
national cup as THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL BAND IN THE UNITED STATES?
Just listen to them—didn’t think boys could ever play like that—why,
they are from Modesto, CALIFORNIA!
A little money is needed; not much.
The Modesto Chamber of Commerce is taking up the good cause. This sort of advertising really helps the whole state, and
Modesto should be helped.
Modesto News-Herald Saturday, May 21, 1927 p. 9
BAND FUND IS NEARING
GOAL But $1000 Needed To Send
Modesto High School Band To Iowa
Indications are that the championship Modesto high school band will
board the Southern Pacific train Sunday, Council Bluffs bound, to compete in
the national contest. This was
assured last night following a check-up of funds, when it was revealed that
but one thousand dollars is needed to complete the fund of $6,500 necessary to
defray expenses of the band.
Subscriptions raised yesterday follow:
(list of donors)
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, May 24, 1927 p. 2
HIGH SCHOOL BAND
LEAVES AMID CHEERS FOR BIG CONTEST Scenes Of Great School
Spirit Mark Departure
Sped on their way by cheers and tears, the Modesto high school band
left yesterday for Council Bluffs, Iowa, to take part in the national high
school band contest.
Ovation after ovation were given them, both at the high school and the
Tidewater station. So
soul-stirring was the the departure from a general assembly at the high school
that Frank Mancini, director of the band, left with tears in his eyes and wept
into retirement for a brief while.
No Modesto athletic team was ever given such a send-off as the one
given the band as more than a thousand students, many of them forced to stand,
crowded into the high school auditorium.
The high school song was sung with great feeling.
There were many cheers. Mancini
was presented with a brief case, a gift of the students, and told to carry
music in it to Iowa, but to bring the prize home in it.
The members of the band—62 boys and girls—stood in rows on the
stage during the assembly, which was held just before the departure for the
Tidewater station.
As they filed out of assembly all went on the high school lawn to bid
the band farewell. Two big school
busses were filled with members of the band.
They proceeded towards town, led by four motorcycle officers sounding
their sirens, and by Chief of Police Lee H. Smith in an automobile.
At the Tidewater station a large crowd of Modesto citizens, many of
them parents of the band members, had gathered.
The departure marked the end of a stirring three-day campaign during
which more than $6,500 was raised to send the band to Council Bluffs.
The drive got a late start, due to a feeling by many leaders that the
Red Cross drive, just completed, had left generous people of Modesto unwilling
to undertake another even larger task.
The band left under the chaperonage of Howard Chappell, who was largely
responsible for the success of the drive, and Miss Mary Alice Lynn, vice
principal of the high school.
The San Mateo band which placed second to Modesto in the state contest,
left also for Council Bluffs, as did the Princeton band, which placed first in
a lower division.
Band members and others in the Modesto party are: Donald Agen, James Algar, Maynard Amerine, Edmon Archambeault, Harold
Bartlett, Leona Beidleman, Charles Bonsack, Eugene Boone, Jack Brewster, Roger
Burke, Joel Carter, Charles Courtney, Carl Dean, Oliver Deatsch, Max Denny,
William Denny, Alfred Duckart, Henry Fischer, Carl Foit, Billy Fox.
Louis Habmer, Marion Hardie, Harold Haydock, Vera Haydock, Ervin
Higgins, Charles Hobart, Maddux Hogin, Mary Hough, Preston Jones, Robert
Lockhart, Merle Love, Burge McManis, Eugene Meyer, George Miller, Charles
Morris, Marvin Morris, Charles Mendoza, Joseph Nessier.
Lester Oakes, Loyal Oesau, Guy Outland, Park Outland, Leonard Pethoud,
Melvin Phillips, Eddie Plummer, Margaret Redman, Bernard Sears, Donna Shirley,
Dorothy Shirley, Norman Smith, Edwin Taylor, Edwin H. Taylor, Francis Todaro,
Ruth Ward, George Warfield, Lillian Weber, Jerome Willhite, Clinton Wilson,
John Wing.
Frank Mancini and Mrs. Mancini, Howard Chappel, Miss Lynn and Mrs. H.
J. Shirley.
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, May 24, 1927 p. 14
Editorial Wishing You Success,
Boys
Modesto’s prize winning band is speeding toward Council Bluffs, Iowa,
in quest of national honors. Sixty
of California’s finest juvenile musicians compose this wonderful high school
organization directed by Prof. Frank Mancini.
They are being sent east by reason of a $6,500 fund, contributed
entirely, except for $200, by the public spirited citizens of Modesto.
No greater manifestation of public price has ever occurred in the
history of Modesto. Within the
short space of four days this fund was collected, men, women and children
contributing. The various civic
bodies, luncheon clubs and other organizations aided materially in raising
enough money to provide expenses for the boys on their ten-day trip.
It was a wonderful showing in such a short space of time and more
clearly than ever demonstrates the spirit of Modesto people when it comes to
civic pride and loyalty.
The boys who comprise this wonderful organization, as well as their
efficient director, are deserving of just such support as that which provided
sufficient funds for their trip to the national championship contest.
They have consistently and faithfully trained themselves over a period
of years to a position of front rank among the best juvenile organizations in
the United States. For that,
alone, they are entitled to an opportunity to compete for the greatest honor
that could be bestowed upon them.
Success, boys! Modesto has
shown that she is still proud of you.
Modesto News-Herald Saturday, May 28, 1927 p. 4
LOCAL BAND FACES
HANDICAP IN COUNCIL BLUFFS CONTEST Lack of Instruments Must Be
Overcome by Excellence In Other Points If Modesto Organization Wins
When the Modesto high school band goes into competition at Council
Bluffs against the best high school bands of the United States, it will start
with a handicap, for it does not have enough instruments to compete on an even
basis with some of them.
Am inspection of the photograph of the Joliet high school band, winner
last year, shows that it has a full instrumentation, possessing several
instruments that the Modesto band thus far has been unable to buy.
If the Modesto organization is to win, it must overcome the handicap by
superior excellence in the other five of the six points considered.
The Modesto band lacks an English horn, two alto clarinets, two fluegel
horns, one bassoon, and has only two tubas whereas six are called for.
The standard instrumentation is based upon a 68-piece band, whereas the
Modesto band has 62 pieces. The
smaller band does not require so many of the instruments listed as missing,
but requires more than Modesto has. This
lack is despite the expenditure of $1300 for instruments, recently
appropriated by the school board.
The other five points considered are interpretation, intonation, tonal
and harmonic balance, tone quality, precision.
Interpretation deals with the general rendition of the music.
Intonation refers to the general question whether the band plays in
tune.
Tonal and harmonic balance is the effect of the instrumentation upon
the hearer. Under this heading
the judges will consider the general effect of the different harmonic parts to
each other and to the principal part, the completeness of harmony and the
manner in which shortcomings in instrumentation are counteracted by the
conductor.
Tone quality indicates the beauty of tone emitted by the contesting
band. A raucous tone in forte passages, a lifeless, thin tone in
piano sections, a vibrato in certain instruments that affects the quality of
tone are among the points to be considered under this heading.
Under precision in time and rhythm such phrases as phrasing, attack and
release are to be rated.
Those who count on the Modesto band to win believe that Frank Mancini’s
direction will make up the points lost in instrumentation.
One sentence in the booklet outlining the rules is relied upon by
Modestans. It is found under the
requirements for instrumentation and reads: “This does not imply that a band
with a smaller instrumentation is placed at serious disadvantage because of
this condition.”
The three judges are expected to divide among themselves the six points
to be judged, each taking two, as it is difficult for one person to pay
adequate attention simultaneously to all six phases of a band’s work.
The first national contest was held in Fostoria, Ohio, in 1926.
Thirteen bands representing ten states took part.
The standing and scores of the winning bands were: Joliet, first, 92.6
per cent; Fostoria, second, 92 per cent; Ogden, third, 87.2 per cent;
Louisville, fourth, 86.9 per cent. The
thirteen bands represented 250 organizations, 237 of which were eliminated in
the state contests.
Modesto News-Herald Sunday, May 29, 1927 p. 1
MODESTO BAND WINS THIRD
IN CONTEST National High School
Title Won For Second Time By Eastern City Stanislaus County Group
Survives Trials in Competition With Twenty-Two of Nation’s Best Bands
Modesto High School won third place in the national high school band
contest last night in Council Bluffs, Iowa, according to Associated Press
dispatches.
Joliet, Ill., High School retained its title, winning by a two point
margin from Council Bluffs, its nearest competitor.
Modesto competed against twenty-two bands, the finest that the high
schools of America could produce. In
the elimination contest held yesterday, Modesto was one of the six qualifying
for the finals.
Scores made by the bands could not be obtained last night.
Many of the bands competing represented large cities.
The population of Joliet is 55,000, and that of Council Bluffs is
41,000.
Modesto players were competing under a severe handicap in that they
lacked the required number of instruments.
Interest here was intense yesterday afternoon and evening.
Telephone calls poured into the News-Herald office constantly, and a
crowd of Modestans gathered about the Associated Press telegraph operator
waiting for news.
Modesto represented California in the contest, winning the right to do
so at a state meeting held in San Francisco recently.
The trip east, however, was financed almost entirely by Modesto. More than $6500 was raised in a whirlwind three-day drive
that broke all precedents in financial campaigns here.
The band played under the direction of Frank Mancini, its trainer, to
whom much of the credit for its splendid showing must go. (By Associated Press)
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia., May 28. –(AP)-Joliet,
Ills., high school retained its title as champion of all high school bands in
the country here tonight. Council
Bluffs, Iowa, was second. Joliet
also won the championship last year.
Joliet won from Council Bluffs, its nearest competitor, by two points.
Twenty-Three bands competed with 1,384 youthful musicians taking part.
Princeton, Cal., won the honors in the class B division.
Other class A finalists finished in this order:
Modesto, Cal., third; Nicholas Senn, Chicago, fourth; Lockport, N. Y.,
fifth, and Quincy, Ills. honorable mention.
The Joliet band also won first in the marching contests, and was
awarded a baton offered by the Council Bluffs Rotary Club.
Austin, Tex., and Quincy, Ills., tied for second place with Flint,
Mich., finishing third.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia., May 28 –(AP)-The band from Princeton, Cal., was
announced the winner in class B, in the national high school band contest
closing here tonight. Of the 23
bands, from 20 states, which are competing, the bands from Lockport, N. Y.,
Joliet, Ills., Modesto, Cal., and Nicholas Senn, Chicago, play tonight in the
finals of class A.
A parade of the contesting bands was witnessed by thousands of people,
who were massed along the streets. All
the bands participated in an ensemble concert in a down town park at 5 o’clock
and at the close the 1500 boys and girls were each given picnic lunches.
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, May 31, 1927 p. 2
MODESTO BAND NEAR
VICTORY IN COUNCIL BLUFFS CONTEST Lack of Instruments
Causes Local Players To Lose First Position Mancini’s Proteges Given
First by Popular Sentiment; Organization Will Return Via Tidewater Wednesday
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia., May 30.-(Special)-Inspection of the judges’
score sheets following the national high school band concert here discloses
that the Modesto band, which placed third, would have won first place had it
not lacked in instruments.
The Modesto band had the most perfect score of all in five of the six
points scored. It won in
interpretation, intonation, tonal and harmonic balance, tone quality and
precision, rating near perfection in these divisions, but had been marked down
so far in instrumentation that it placed third when the final average was
taken.
Popular sentiment gave the Modesto band first place.
The applause following the performance of this band was a remarkable
demonstration. The judges
themselves expressed their amazement at the performance.
Hard figures told in the end, however, and the lack of sufficient
instruments of certain classes was too great a handicap to be overcome by
excellence in performance.
The bands that won first and second, Joliet and Council Bluffs, had
taken part in the national contest before and had been enabled to prepare
themselves with the more costly instruments which the Modesto band lacked.
Joliet’s band was the winner of the contest last year.
As a tribute to Frank Mancini, director of the Modesto band, he was
elected second vice president of the National School Band association.
The Modesto band went to the Council Bluffs contest well aware that it
lacked certain instruments regarded as essential to make the band a
well-balanced musical organization. The
management relied, however, on excellence of performance to overcome this
handicap. The deficiency existed despite the fact that $1300 had
recently been expended to equip the band with additional instruments.
Many of the bands competing represented large cities.
The population of Joliet is 55,000, and that of Council Bluffs is
41,000.
Interest here was intense Saturday afternoon and evening.
Telephone calls poured into the News-Herald office constantly, and a
crowd of Modestans gathered about the Associated Press telegraph operator
waiting for news.
Modesto represented California in the contest, winning the right to do
so at a state meeting held in San Francisco recently
The trip east, however, was financed almost entirely by Modesto. More than $6500 was raised in a whirlwind three-day drive
that broke all precedents in financial campaigns here.
Twenty-three bands competed at Council Bluffs with 1,384 youthful
musicians taking part.
Princeton, Calif., won the honors in the class B division.
Class A finalists finished in this order.
Joliet first, Council Bluffs, second, Modesto, third; Nicholas Senn,
Chicago, fourth; Lockport, N. Y., fifth, and Quincy, Ills. honorable mention. California was also represented by the Burlingame high school
band. It was eliminated in the
preliminary tryouts.
The actual scores of the three leaders is still in doubt.
A query over the Associated Press wire brought the response that the
score was: Joliet, 2708; Council Bluffs, 2706; Modesto, 2625, but since the
total number of points obtainable under the scoring system announced in
advance was 1200, the figures given are not understood here.
The special dispatch from Council Bluffs did not clear up that matter.
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, June 2, 1927 p. 2
MODESTO HIGH SCHOOL
BAND RETURNS FROM CONTEST Winners of Third Place
in National Meet Parade Through Streets of City
Modesto welcomed home its crusading high school band yesterday
afternoon.
Unwearied by a trip which carried them half way across the continent in
quest of national musical honors, the players poured out of two Tidewater cars
into arms of mothers, fathers, and friends.
Embraces over, the band hurriedly assembled and paraded through the
down-town section, trailed by several hundred high school students.
“I Love You California,” the same tune which had been played in a
dozen cities between Modesto and Council Bluffs, Iowa, the scene of the
national contest, was the last number played as the band disbanded to end a
crusade which had put them in the national limelight.
Only after the echo of the last note had died away did the young
musicians notice fatigue. WELCOME
HEARTY
The demonstration at the depot was hearty, although many people were
not informed of the correct time the band was to arrive.
The train arrived an hour ahead of schedule—at 5 instead of 6 o’clock,
the time it was expected here.
Professor Frank Mancini said he was glad to be home but in the next
breath added he would not have missed the trip for “ten thousand dollars.”
“I heard bands better than Sousa’s,” declared Mancini, referring
to the contest held last Saturday, in which the best high school bands in the
United States competed.
Modesto’s band
finished but 7-10 of a point behind Joliet, the champion.
Council Bluffs was second, 2-10 of a point ahead of Modesto.
The correct scores were explained by Mancini and Howard Chappel,
Modesto high school instructor who accompanied the musicians. WON ON
FIVE COUNTS
Professor Mancini’s band had the most perfect score of all in five of
the six points scored. It won in
interpretation, intonation, tonal and harmonic balance, tone quality and
precision, rating perfect in these three divisions.
It was deficient in but one thing—instruments.
Rules governing the contest specified that each band must have 68
pieces; Modesto had 62. Modesto
was penalized 2 ½ points even before it had played in competition because of
this lack of instruments. Had
Modesto had full instrumentation it would have been ranked first, the judges
told Mancini and Chappell.
Popular sentiment gave Modesto first place.
“Perfect” was the way the judges described the manner in which the
pieces were interpreted. But they
were unequivocal in their stand on penalizing Modesto because of instrumental
deficiency.
Instruments lacking were clarinets, fluegel horns, a bassoon, an oboe
and tubas.
The Associated Press incorrectly gave the scores of the band as first
published in the News-Herald, leaving out the decimal points in the point
totals.
Twenty-three bands were in the contest, 19 being in class A and four in
Class B. Modesto was one of the
six in the finals. PRACTICED
ON WAY
Long hours of practice were put in by the band before the contest.
En route to Council Bluffs Professor Mancini had his band practice
several hours each day on the train.
“From 7 in the morning until 10 o’clock at night we practiced,”
he said.
For placing third in the competition each band member will receive an
individual medal while a trophy and bronze tablet will be presented to the
high school.
Full reports of the judges, containing comment and criticisms, will be
received by Professor Mancini in a few days.
“The trip was a musical as well as traveling education for the band,”
Mancini and Chappel said. Mrs.
Alice Lynn, vice principal, accompanied the band. Kept
Diary
A sketchy diary of the trip by Chappel follows:
“Twenty-three bands competed in the contest, 19 in class A and four
in class B. California and
Illinois were the only states to send three bands each.
Practice before the contest was hard and continuous.
Modesto was twelfth in order in competition. This is the first time in history of band contests that
leading contestants had to play over to decide the winner.
“Six bands selected in the finals were: Joliet, Ill.; Council Bluffs,
Iowa; Modesto; Chicago, Ill.; Lockport, N. Y., and Quincy, Ill.
They finished in the order named.
Between Modesto and Joliet there were only 7-10 of a point difference,
although Modesto had previously been penalized 2 1-2 points for lack of
sufficient instruments.
“The day before the contest the band directors were notified that 95
points would be allowed for complete instrumentation of 68 pieces and that one
point more would be allowed for each additional instrument such as a harp or
wood instrument and that one point would be deducted for each instrument below
the 68 required. Modesto had only
62 pieces. Comparing figures one
can readily see that had we had full instrumentation we would have won by at
least a point and a half. Modesto
will receive individual medals, a trophy and bronze tablet as a reward for its
excellent work. Comments and
criticisms will soon be received by Director Frank Mancini and will be
published later. Town
Advertised
“A thirty-foot banner to advertise Modesto was made on which were
printed the words: ‘ModestoHigh School Band, Modesto, Stanislaus County,
California.’ We played at Cheyene, Wyoming, in Denver, before business
houses and pictures were taken by newspapers.
The band played over radio KOA. The
band also appeared at Salt Lake and other smaller stations along the road.
“Crowds gathered around us and Stanislaus county circulars were
distributed among them.
“Entertainment for the band on the way home was provided by stops at
Denver and Salt Lake, which included a swim at the sulphur baths.
We attended on organ recital at the Mormon church and had a special
train all the way from Council Bluffs to Stockton. The accommodations and treatment afforded us by the railroad
was all that could be desired.”
1928 BAND CONTESTS
Modesto News-Herald Monday, May 14, 1928 p. 1
CHAMPIONSHIP IS WON BY SCHOOL BAND OF MODESTOWay Opened To Compete In National Contest At Joliet This Month COMMITTEE MEETS TO PLAN RAISING FUNDS Nine Thousand Dollars Or More Needed To Finance Trip East
The Modesto High School Band won the California high school championship for the second successive time in a contest held in the Civic Auditorium at San Francisco Saturday night. By reason of its victory the Modesto band, under the leadership of Prof. Frank Mancini, is eligible to represent this state in the national high school band tournament at Joliet, Illinois, on May 25. A sum of from $9000 to $10,000 will be needed to send east the seventy-two players that will be the minimum entry there. They must leave the first of next week. The funds are not now available. PLANS LAUNCHED
To devise ways and means of raising the money and to perfect an organization for that purpose, City Superintendent of Schools J. H. Bradley called together at noon to-day at the Hotel Modesto a committee including L. R. Gallegos, W. A. Harter, Murray Williams, Claude Maze, R. K. Whitmore and George C. nelson. Gallegos was chosen chairman of this group and Harter secretary and treasurer and it began work at once, with the expectation that complete plans will be announced to-morrow. How Others Fared Other results in Saturday’s contest were as follows: Sacramento high school was awarded second place and Burlingame high school third in class A. Princeton high school won first place for class B high schools and Sacramento junior high school won first place in class C. Tuolumne high school won first place for class D. WIN OVER BIG FIELD The Modesto Band won over a large and able field of competitors. Percentage averages were: Class A-Modesto, 97.1; Sacramento, 95.96; Burlingame, 95.46; San Jose, 94.13; Berkeley, 92; Palo Alto, 91.5; Mission, 89.33; Woodland, 87.46; Marysville, 85.51. Class B-Princeton, 96; Arcata, 90.27; Redwood City, 88.17; Coalinga, 87.13; San Rafael Military Academy, 87.21; Willows, 87.17; Willetts, 86.63. Class C-Sacramento Grammar School, 90.5; St. Francis School, Watsonville, 86; Upper Lake Junior High School, 82.58. Class D-Tuolumne, 80.58; St. Ignatius, 77.58. The band went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, last year after winning the state contest for the first time, and took third place in the national tournament. Modesto was voted out of first place by the judges because of one technicality-lack of five instruments. This year the required number has been added and with the successful winning of the contest Saturday, hopes are high that the locals will win the national as well. Eighty-four instruments make up the 1928 band of Modesto high school. Since last October more than fifty new students have been added to the band.
Modesto News-Herald Monday, May 14, 1928 p. 12 EDITORIAL
Triumph For Band And Frank Mancini
Stanislaus County has many things of which it is proud, but nothing that justly deserves more admiration and praise than the Modesto High School Band. Last year the organization won the high school championship of California. Last Saturday, it again was given first honors, so that it is eligible to represent this state in the nation-wide contest at Joliet, Ill., on May 24. Persons competent to judge believe the Stanislaus boys and girls have a real chance to win the national championship. Saturday’s accomplishment not only was a gratifying victory for the student musicians. It was a noteworthy personal triumph for the director, Frank Mancini. Fifty-two of the eighty-four members of the band received their instruments and began their work with the organization after last October 1. Success achieved with a personnel so largely inexperienced brings strongly to mind the brilliant record of the closely allied Stanislaus County Boys’ Band under Mancini’s direction, and suggests that his constant work and peculiar ability place him in a class by himself among school band leaders. To enter the Joliet competition the band must leave Modesto not later than midnight of May 22. Money is needed for the journey-perhaps $9000, maybe more. Every nickel of the sum should be raised within a day, even if it has to be obtained by public subscription. This county has no finer advertisement than this group of its boys and girls and their musical mentor. They deserve many times over every bit of support and loyalty that Stanislaus hearts and pocketbooks can give them.
Modesto News-Herald Monday, May 28, 1928 p. 1
MODESTO SCHOOL BAND WINS THIRD PLACE IN CONTESTPlayers To Return Tuesday Evening; Reception And Parade Planned
The Modesto High School Band placed third in the national contest at Joliet, Ill., it was announced late Saturday night. Joliet High School Band won first place for the third successive time, thus earning the right to retain permanently a huge silver trophy. Senn High School Band of Chicago was second. Gary, Indiana, won fourth place, Hammond, Indiana, fifth, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, which nosed out Modesto to finish second last year, was sixth. To Return TuesdayThe Modesto band will arrive in this city to-morrow afternoon at 5:30 o’clock on a special Southern Pacific train. The high school student body and various citizens are to meet the train and a parade will be held in the business district upon its arrival. Details of the welcome-home celebrations were being worked out to-day. Princeton BeatenClass B championship was won by St. Mary’s Industrial School, Baltimore, Maryland; runnerup was Princeton, California. Twenty-Six of the best bands in the United States competed in Class A. Of this number, six were chosen to play in the finals: Council Bluffs, Senn, Gary, Joliet, Hammond and Modesto. Denver was selected for the next national contest at a date to be announced later. The Modesto band earned the right to compete in the national contest by virtue of a victory in the state championship tourney in San Francisco May 12. The band was sent East by public contribution. More than $9000 was raised, virtually all by Modestans, in a five-day campaign.
Click here to view page 6 from program Click here to view program Class B trophy Modesto News-Herald Wednesday, May 30, 1928 p. 7
PRIZE HIGH SCHOOL BAND WELCOMED BY MODESTANSParents, Friends And City Officials Participants in Program
Amid the flourish of the shining horns and the rat-a-tat-tat of drums, Modesto’s musical crusaders, the high school band, arrived home at 5:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon by a special Southern Pacific train from Joliet, Ill., the scene last Saturday of the national band tournament in which Modesto placed third. They were welcomed at the depot by 1500 friends, parents, city and school officials and high school students. Parade In StreetsAfter an exchange of greetings, Professor Frank Mancini, director, Mrs. Mancini, Mayor Sol. P. Elias and Councilman Richard Ustick were transported through the business district by automobile to the Courthouse Park. The eighty-two members of the band were escorted through the streets to the courthouse by members of the Stanislaus County Boys’ Band and others from the high school in a long parade arranged by Vernon Hadley. On the courthouse steps the band members gave several yells and then were officially welcomed by Ustick, who paid a tribute to Mancini and the organization. Ustick said that music had been one of the most potent factors in the advancement of the state in the past few years and that Modesto has played a prominent part. Friday night the band members will be guests of H. H. Gould and Walter Roos at a chicken dinner at Gould’s Restaurant. Following the dinner, Fred Lucas, manager of the Strand, will entertain them at a theater party.
1929
BAND CONTESTS
Modesto News-Herald Evening
Edition Friday, May 10, 1929 p. 11
MODESTO
BANDS IN JOINT CONCERT AT COURTHOUSE Organizations Play
Pieces Which They Will Play Saturday In State Contest
Playing the numbers which they will play in the state band contest at
San Francisco on Saturday, the Modesto High School Band, under the direction
of Prof. Frank Mancini, and the Roosevelt School Band directed by James Hogin,
gave a joint concert in the Courthouse Park last night.
The Modesto High School Band was resplendent in its new capes which
were bought by the Band Mothers, and members of the Roosevelt School Band made
an impressive showing in its new white uniforms.
A large crowd enthusiastically received the two bands.
Little Giant by Moon was the opening number by the Modesto High School
Band. The contest piece, A Chant
From The Great Plains by Carl Busch and March Slave by Tschiakovski followed.
The band concluded its part of the program with March Antehs by Gill. The Roosevelt School Band played Expert March, its contest piece, March Heroique by Franz Shubert, and ballet music from Rosamunde by Schubert.
Modesto News-Herald Evening
Edition Saturday, May 11, 1929 p. 1
MODESTANS
WIN SOLOIST HONORS IN BAND CONTEST Local High School
Players Take Four First Places, One Second
Soloists of Modesto High School won four first places and one second place in the solo contests of the Northern California school band tournament at San Francisco to-day. Results of the solo contests are: Flute—John Wing, Modesto, first; Robert Bowes, San Jose, second. French horn—Roy Thomas, San Jose, first. Base clarinet—Margaret Redman, Modesto, first; Henry Seavers, San Jose, second. Clarinet—Harold Bartlett, Modesto, first; Russell Bryang, Burlingame, second. Euphonium—Sam Smith, Modesto, first; (no second.) Tuba—Carl Schwedholm, Berkeley High School, first; Edwin E. Taylor, Modesto, second. Harp—Alice Dillon, Kerman, first. A contest of first place winners for gold medal of “best soloist” was won by Schewdholm. The Modesto High School Band and the Roosevelt School Band are at San Francisco to play in different divisions of the state contest, but the results were not to be announced until this evening.
Modesto News-Herald Sunday, May 12, 1929 p. 6
Modesto’s Winners Of
State Music Contest Honors
Shown here are the two Modesto school bands that played in the state contest at San Francisco yesterday. The upper picture is of the Modesto High School Band, which took first place in the Class A division for the third time in succession in California competition for the state cup offered by the National Association of High School Bands. It played under the direction of Prof. Frank Mancini, its leader and teacher. The band members are shown wearing the new capes provided by the Band Mother’s Club. Below is pictured the Roosevelt School Band, which won fourth place in Class E, the elementary and junior high school division. It was directed by James Hogin and was competing in a state contest for the first time. Although most of its members are Roosevelt pupils, other schools are represented.
Modesto News-Herald Sunday, May 19, 1929 pp. 1 & 2
$3000
NEEDED TO SEND MODESTO’S BAND TO CONTEST All Known
Sources Drained; Final Appeal For Funds Is Issued
On the donations made Saturday and Monday depends the success or failure of the campaign to send Modesto High School’s band, five times state champion, to the national contest at Denver. With every known source of funds virtually drained, W. H. Murray, head of the campaign committee, announced at noon yesterday that only $5000 was in sight, and that only about half of that amount actually was in the bank. $3000 Needed Donations late Saturday and on Monday must amount to $3000 if the band is to be sent to Denver for Monday night is the dead line and a total of $8000 is required to purchase the needed tickets. The high school band and probably that of Roosevelt School will give a concert Monday night at 8 o’clock in the courthouse park in the interests of the drive. Murray urged that every Modestan attend. “It matters not if you already have contributed some,” he said yesterday in a last appeal to the citizens of Modesto for donations to the fund. “The fact remains that $3000 is needed. If you have given and can still give more, by all means do; if you have not contributed, do not let your inaction prevent the band from competing for national honors it has an excellent chance to win.” Murray discounted the possibility of material help from sources other than Modesto. “We have been taught in the past to expect little or nothing except what we raise ourselves. If this band is to be sent, we must send it.” Pupils Sell TagsPupils of the Roosevelt School on Friday sold “On to Denver” tags. Yesterday the tags were sold throughout the city by members of the Band Mothers’ Club and by interested women. The high school band paraded through the principal streets of the city yesterday, stopping from time to time to play. (list of contributors)
Modesto News-Herald Wednesday, May 22, 1929 p. 1
Modesto High School Band Off For Denver In Quest Of U.S. TitleState Championship Organization Given Stirring Sendoff At Station By Enthusiastic Friends; Finals To Be Played On Saturday
With Denver its destination and the band championship of the United States its goal the ninety-four piece Modesto High School Band left at 12:01 this morning with the cheers of scores of its enthusiastic followers ringing in its ears. More than 100 are included in the party which left on a Southern Pacific train, made up of five cars—two sleepers, a diner, baggage car and observation car. The band is accompanied by R. L. Ustick, who assists in the business management of the organization; Miss Helen M. Garvin, head of the Modesto High School music department; Prof. Frank Mancini, director, and Mrs. Mancini; Mrs. H. J. Shirley and Mrs. Riffenberg, band mothers, and Mr. Blaylock of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Besides the enthusiastic relatives and friends at the station last night were members of the high school band alumni who aided in making the send-off a rousing one by playing a number of selections. The trip will be made over the Southern Pacific and the Union Pacific lines. The return will be made on the Santa Fe. Shortly after noon yesterday, W. H. Murray, leader of a small army of campaigners, announced that the entire $8000 needed to send the band to Denver had been pledged. Success of the drive just ended means that for the third successive year Modesto has raised by public subscription funds needed to enter its band in the national contest. In the two preceding years, the local musicians placed third. This year, with Joliet, Ill., out of the contest, chances of victory are believed brighter than ever. The right to represent this state at Denver was won by the Modesto players at San Francisco on May 11, when they defeated Sacramento, their closest competitor, by more than two points, and made the exceptionally high score of 97.84 points out of a possible 100. Immediately after the band returned a committee composed of Murray, R. L. Ustick, Grat Hogin, Vernon Handley, Frank Thompson and R. K. Whitmore started plans for the money drive that ended in success yesterday. Pupils EnthusedA stirring send-off was given the band and its leader, Prof. Frank Mancini, by more than 1200 pupils at a rally in the Modesto High School auditorium yesterday morning. Mancini was given ovation after ovation. His appearance was greeted with several minutes of cheering and vigorous handclapping marked every mention of his efforts in training the band. Under his direction, the band played one of the contest pieces. Ustick spoke of the value of band work to the pupils, and J. H. Bradley, city superintendent of schools, told what a championship band means to a school and a city. Overman ConfidentAt the rally, E. E. Overman, principal, expressed confidence the band will play as well or better at Denver than it did in the state contest at San Francisco. Reach Denver ThursdayArriving at Denver at 2:30 o’clock on Thursday, the Modestans will play in an elimination contest on Friday and, if successful, in the finals on Saturday. They are expected to arrive in Modesto again Monday night. Additional donors to the band were announced Tuesday as follows: (donor list)
Modesto News-Herald Wednesday, May 22, 1929 p. 14
Editorial Pride In Modesto’s Band Again Proved
For the third time in as many years, Modesto’s pride in her champion high school band has been proved by a difficult test. Stanislaus people again have subscribed, all in a few days, a large sum of money to send the organization to a national competition beyond the Rockies. Gratification in the success of the drive for contributions is doubtless as general as was the response to the call; the band has been given its supreme chance to win the national championship and will carry with it to Denver a whole-hearted community loyalty that cannot but be inspiring. The campaign leaves behind it, however, as in other years, a feeling that much less of the financial strain should have been allowed to fall on the two comparatively small cities, Modesto and Princeton, whose school bands are the California champions, eligible to represent the whole state at the national meet. An effort to get state aid for them failed when the attorney general held it unconstitutional. No help was forthcoming as a result of the state contests, which might conceivably be made to yield some revenue for the use of the state’s entrants in the country-wide competitions. Too little money cam from any source, in fact, but from Modesto pockets. Whether or not the band takes first honors at Denver, however, the cost of sending it there will be justified. Because of their splendid record the boys and girls richly deserve the opportunity given them to compete. At the worst, they are only being accorded a recognition they merit. At the best, they are going to win a signal honor for their city, themselves and their admirable director, Frank Mancini. And the persons most familiar with the band’s work this year expect nothing less than victory.
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, May 23, 1929 p. 8
BAND PRACTICES DURING TRIP TO DENVER CONTESTFinal List of Contributors To $8000 Fund Announced By Committee
Somewhere in Nevada, aboard a Southern Pacific train that is carrying it to Denver, the Modesto High School Band on Wednesday practiced for the national band contest to be held in that city on Friday and Saturday. The band, which left Modesto at 12:01 o’clock Wednesday morning, will arrive at Denver Thursday afternoon and will play in the contest preliminary Friday. If successful, it will play in the finals on Saturday. Given Send OffA large delegation witnessed the band’s departure. More than 100 persons are making the trip, including ninety-four band members, R. L. Ustick, who assists in the business management of the organization; Miss Helen M. Garvin, head of the Modesto High School music department; Prof. Mancini, director, and Mrs. Mancini; Mrs. H. J. Shirley and Mrs. Riffenberg, band mothers, J. Blaylock of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The final group of donors who contributed to the $8000 fund required to send the band to the contest was announced by the drive committee Wednesday as follows: (List of donors)
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, May 23, 1929 p. 8
Modesto Soloist Entries In National Band Contest
Pictured here are the soloists who will represent Modesto High School in the national contest at Denver on Friday and Saturday. From left to right are pictured: Dorothy Shirley, cornet; Samuel Smith, baritone horn; Margaret Redman, bass clarinet; Edwin Taylor, base horn; John Wing, flute, and Harold Bartlett, clarinet. (Artcraft photos)
Modesto News-Herald Friday, May 24, 1929 pp. 1 & 2 MODESTO BAND SCORES HIT ON ARRIVAL IN DENVERPretty Girls In Their Natty Uniforms Are Object Of All Eyes 31 AGGREGATIONS TO COMPETE IN CONTESTBoth Mancini And Ustick Are Confident Of Winning Championship
DENVER, Colo. May 23-(Special)-A clash between the East and the West for championship honors in the fourth annual national high school band contest was predicted here to-night as thirty-one aggregations from all parts of the country were keyed to high enthusiasm for the event which begins to-morrow morning. Arriving here in late afternoon the high school band of Modesto, Calif, ninety-four strong, indicated it would offer stiff competition to all contestants, particularly Nicholas Senn High School band of Chicago. The latter group of 120 members arrived simultaneously with the western champions. Good naturedly, like friendly fighters about to engage in the battle of their lives, the two groups eyed over each other speculatively at Union Station. Modestans ScoreThen there was a rush from newspaper photographers and reporters. Modesto won the first round here. Its pretty girls in their snappy uniforms were the object of all eyes, cameras were clicking busily for many moments. Next they were taken in charge of Mrs. Ledoy Hafen, wife of the Colorado state historian, who is sponsor for the Modesto group. The Denver Parent-Teachers Association is arranging housing and care for nearly 3000 young musicians here for the contest. On the eve of the “battle of melody,” Richard Ustick expressed confidence in his group. “We are prepared to do our best,” he said. “All stood trip splendidly.” “We have a fine chance of taking the championship,” said Director Mancini. “Every member of the band is on his toes for the contest.” Contest officials last night said the championship “on paper” probably would be between Modesto and Senn high schools. Senn Modesto Rival“But it’s very likely some ‘dark horses’ will appear,” said Joseph E. Maddy, New York, assisting in arrangements here. “Predictions are risky—but Modesto and Senn appear logical opponents for first place in class A group.” Preliminaries start at 9 A. M. Friday in City Auditorium for class A groups. Modesto is pitted against thirteen crack aggregations. Class B preliminaries start at same time in another auditorium. Modesto’s tryout will be about 3 P. M. Finals in class A scheduled to begin 7 P. M. Saturday night. At 10:30 P. M. winners will be announced and awards made. Class B final contest will be held at 9 P. M. to-morrow night. Keen InterestTremendous interest in Denver over the event and packed houses are expected in huge auditorium seating 12,000. Saturday all bands will march one mile through the city streets to civic center for a mass band concert. Virtually all Denver will declare a holiday to see the best high school bands of thirty-seven states perform. In to-morrow’s preliminaries all entrants will be allowed their own selection for “warming up” number. Then they will play assigned composition, Chant of the Great Plains. The third number to be played is one of twenty compositions chosen by a committee of music supervisors of the national conference. “We met Lion Frank Mancini and the band. All arrived in splendid shape.” These few words, received last night in a telegram by Maurice Philleo, secretary of the Modesto Lions Club, told of the safe arrival in Denver on Thursday afternoon of the Modesto High School Band. The telegram was from Bert W. Kelly, secretary of the Denver Lion’s Club, and was in response to one sent earlier by Philleo. Philleo’s telegram to the Denver club follows: “B. W. Kelly, Secretary Lions Club, Denver, Colorado. “Greetings to your club from the Modesto Lions Club, not near Los Angeles. Frank Mancini, leader of the Modesto High School Band, five times state champions, will arrive on special train with our band Thursday noon, May 23, to compete for national honors. We shall be highly honored if you could arrange for a delegation of Lions from your club to meet our much beloved Honorary Lion Frank and Band Manager Richard Ustick. May we hear from you on their safe arrival. “MODESTO LIONS CLUB, Maurice G. Philleo, Sec.” The reply, received yesterday, follows: “Maurice Philleo, Secretary Lions Club, Modesto, California, “We met Lion Frank Mancini and the band. All arrived in splendid shape. Bert W. Kelly”
Modesto News-Herald Saturday, May 25, 1929
BAND FINALISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN DENVER
TO-DAY
Modesto And
Senn High School Likely To Contest For Championship
The Modesto High School Band is regarded as virtually certain to enter the finals of the national contest at Denver to-night, dispatches to The News-Herald indicated last night. The dispatch said that the officials had refused to announce the results of the preliminaries held yesterday but would do so this morning. C. M. Tremaine, New York, in charge of the contest, said that the five survivors in class A and the winner of the class B contest, held last night, would be announced at a meeting of the National Band Association at 9:30 A. M. to-day. Princeton In RaceThe dispatch stated the Princeton band had won a place among the first five in class B. It competed for the championship last night. The officials gave as their reason for refusing to announce the results last night the fear that the band eliminated would not attend the meeting of the band association or participate in the parade and mass concert at the civic center this afternoon. Both Prof. Frank Mancini, director of the Modesto band, and R. L. Ustick, its manager, expressed confidence last night that Modesto has placed in the surviving five bands. Many who heard the preliminaries, the dispatch indicated, feel that Modesto will face the Nicholas Senn High School organization of Chicago in the finals. ‘Crowd Goes Wild’When the Modesto band played Marche Slav the large audience in the auditorium literally raised the rafters on the auditorium with applause, the dispatch said. It further stated that the local musicians gave a splendid performance in the preliminaries. They played as a warming up number, Little Giant, and then swung into Chant Of Great Plains, the latter number being the selection assigned to all aggregations in the contest. Bands from Belvidere, Ill., Hobart, Ind., Lansing, Mich., Wasatch High School, Heber City, Utah, and the Joint Union High School, Princeton, Calif., played in the finals of class B of the national high school band contest last night. Finals in class A are scheduled to begin at 7 P. M. to-night. At 10:30 P. M. winners will be announced and awards made. The class B contest will be held at 8 P. M. to-night. One thousand folders advertising Stanislaus County are being distributed to other bands at Denver by members of the Modesto High School Band. The folders were sent with the special train by Hugh P. Donnelly, secretary of the Stanislaus County Development Board.
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, May 28, 1929 pp. 1 & 2
Modesto Band Is Warmly Greeted On Arrival HomeMore Than 2000 Persons Gather At Depot And Cheer Wildly On Appearance of Organization; Ustick High In Praise of Conduct
Amid the thunderous cheering and enthusiastic welcoming of more than two thousand persons, the Modesto High School Band, second place winner in the national high school band contest held at Denver, Colorado, last Saturday, arrived home at 8:48 o’clock last night aboard a special Southern Pacific train. As the train pulled slowly into the station, the large crowd of parents and friends warmly greeted the band members, and shouting and bursts of applause saluted Prof. Frank Mancini when he appeared on the Pullman steps. Rally Is HeldA parade was organized, and with the Roosevelt School band leading the official car in which were Prof. and Mrs. Frank Mancini and Miss Helen Garvin, followed by the Modesto High School Band, it proceeded from the depot to the Courthouse Park, where a rally was held. There the band was officially welcomed and congratulated by W. H. Murray, president of the Modesto Chamber of Commerce. “The band gave a splendid performance in the finals of the contest,” said Mancini, “and gave all that was expected of it. We were given a fine reception in Denver, and received fine service on our trip.” The national contest next year will be held at Flint, Mich., or Hammond, Ind., Mancini said. Both cities have made a bid for the contest. The contest number for next year will be the Egmont Overture by Beethoven. “The contest was great and some wonderful bands competed,” stated Richard L. Ustick, band manager. “Modesto made a fine showing.” He also commented favorably on the service rendered on their trip. Busch Praises Band“The band played without mistakes in the finals,” and, according to Miss Helen Garvin who accompanied it to Denver, “Carl Busch, the composer of the contest piece, A Chant From the Great Plains, said that he liked Prof. Mancini’s interpretation of his piece better than his own. He gave Prof. Mancini 100 per cent on interpretation. “Will Earhart, supervisor of music in Pittsburgh, Pa., and an authority on school music, stated that the playing of the Modesto Band was the most artistic he had ever heard and that the band had as much power as the other bands when needed. “The local band made a fine impression in Denver, and in the parade marched as well as it has ever marched. A policeman in the union station at Denver who saw all the bands arrive praised highly the appearance of the Modesto band.” “Eight judges were used in the contest instead of six as expected. Three of these gave Modesto first place, while one put Modesto fourth and Council Bluffs first,” Ustick declared. Council Bluffs was fourth in the contest. 2000 AT DEPOT TO GREET BAND ON ITS RETURN
Courthouse Park Scene Of Big Rally; Mancini Given Rousing CheerThe bands played in the order named by the committee and Modesto received the advantage of playing last. A large audience, hearing five other bands play the contest selections, listened attentively while Modesto played, Ustick said. “Seven hundred bands competed throughout the United States in state contests, and the bands which competed in Denver for the national title were all outstanding. The opportunity of hearing all the fine bands that participated was an inspiration to all the Modesto bays and girls and I feel,” Ustick declared, “that they got a lot out of the trip. Their deportment was excellent and their appearance second to none.” Plans for a dance in honor of the high school band to be held at the Mancini Hall on Friday evening will be discussed at a meeting of the Stanislaus County Boys’ Band Alumni at Mancini Hall this evening at 8 o’clock.
Modesto News-Herald Wednesday, May 29, 1929 p. 16
Editorial Appreciation Won By Modesto Band
The warmth with which the Modesto High School band, winner of second place in the national contest at Denver, was greeted on its return from the Colorado City was a merited recognition of worth. While the complete victory for which its well wishers ardently hoped was not won, its showing none the less was one of which Modestans have reason to be proud. The bands that competed at Denver were the pick of some seven hundred that took part in preliminary contests throughout the nation. Among those select organizations, Modesto’s boys and girls placed second, and in the opinion of three of the eight judges, should have been adjudged first. They richly carried a right to the greeting their fellow townspeople so cordially accorded them, and to full appreciation of the fact that they gave their best, and that best was very good indeed.
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, June 6, 1929 p. 7
SCHOOL SOLOIST RATINGS LEARNEDList Of
Percentages, Placings Received From Denver By Mancini
Ratings of the Modesto High School soloists who played in the national band contest at Denver recently were received here on Wednesday by Prof. Frank Mancini, director of the band. The soloists, their instruments, the places they won, and their ratings are: Dorothy Shirley, cornet, eighth place 91 percent rating; Harold Bartlett, clarinet, eighth place, 90 percent; Edwin Taylor, Sousaphone, sixth place, 91 per cent; Sam Smith, baritone, fourth place, 80 per cent; John Wing, flute, fourth place, 91 per cent; Margaret Redman, bass clarinet, third, 90 per cent.
1930 BAND CONTESTS
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, April 24, 1930 p. 8
School Bands To Clash Saturday At Sacramento
More than twenty high school bands, comprising about 1100 youthful musicians, will compete in the Northern California School Band Contest at Sacramento on Saturday. In addition to deciding the championship of the northern part of the state, the contest will also determine which bands will go to the national contest in Flint, Mich., May 22-24. The Modesto High School band, directed by Prof. Frank Mancini, now holds permanently the trophy for the class A bands and therefore will be ineligible to compete. It will, however, be an honor guest. The Roosevelt School band of Modesto will be a competitor. The contest will be held under auspices of the Northern California Band Masters’ Association under the rules of the National Bureau for the Advancement of Music, which will award prizes to bands winning in each class. In addition a silver cup will go to the band winning the marching contest. Preliminary to the band contest a solo competition will be held the night of April 25.
Modesto News-Herald Thursday, May 1, 1930 p. 6
LARGE SHARE OF SOLOIST HONORS WON BY
MODESTO
Mancini
Pleased With Showing Made By School Band Players
Satisfaction with the showing made by Modesto High School soloists at Sacramento in the state band contest was expressed on Wednesday by Prof. Frank Mancini, coach of the Modesto school band. Five soloists of the Modesto school won first places in contests conducted for their respective instruments, Mancini pointed out. Winners ChosenJohn Wing placed first in the flute solo contest. Max Denny won the clarinet solo contest. Other winners are: Melvin Phillips, trombone; Sam Smith, baritone horn; and Margaret Redman, bass clarinet. Miss Redman won third place in the national contest at Denver last spring. Other members of the Modesto High School Band to place in the contests include: Berdine Thompson, second in the clarinet solo contest; Robert Bell second in the French horn solo contest; Thomas Clinkenbeard, second in the bass clarinet solo contest; Eddie Taylor, second in the sousaphone solo contest; and Mary Hough and Charles Thompson tied for second in the oboe solo contest. Wins Gold MedalFollowing the contest for the various instruments, a gold medal finals was held in which all the winning soloists competed. Max Denny, solo clarinetist of the Modesto band, won first place and the gold medal in this contest. John Wing, flute, placed fourth in the finals. Sixty-two soloists participated in the final contest.
Modesto News-Herald Saturday, May 10, 1930 p. 8
SCHOOL BAND TO GIVE CONCERT AT SAN
FRANCISCO
Modesto
Players To Have Record Made Of Contest Piece On Sunday
The Modesto High School band has been invited to play at the San Francisco Civic Auditorium on Sunday evening at 9:30 o’clock, it was announced Friday. The invitation has been accepted. “We consider this an unusual honor,” Prof. Frank Mancini, director of the band, declared. The Modesto band will play at a special program honoring mother’s day and the American Legion. It is to be a part of San Francisco’s observance of music week. “There will be no admission charge, and we hope a large number of Stanislaus County people will attend,” Mancini said. The band will go to San Francisco earlier in the day and will have a phonograph record made of its rendition of this year’s national contest piece, Eggmont.
Modesto News-Herald Tuesday, May 13, 1930 p. 2
MODESTO
BAND HEARD AT S. F. Concert Given
In Bay City Auditorium As Part Of Music Week
The Modesto High School Band, directed by Prof. Frank Mancini, played before an audience of several thousand people in the San Francisco Civic Auditorium Sunday evening in the final music week program for that city. Records of the band’s rendition of Eggmont, this year’s national contest piece, also were made during the day. Modesto schools will hold their music week program this week, and one of the features will be a concert in the courthouse park on a day to be chosen later.
Modesto News-Herald Sunday, May 18, 1930 p. 3
PRAISE WON BY MODESTO BANDNew York
Couple Comes To This City Because Of S. F. Concert
The other night in San Francisco Mr. And Mrs. Henry Reiss of New York heard the Modesto High School Band play. Prior to that time they had never heard of Modesto. Mr. And Mrs. Reiss are now visiting here. “We came to Modesto because we wanted to see what kind of a town it is that could produce such a marvelous band,” they said. “We have never heard a junior organization that can compare with it. Prof. Frank Mancini (the conductor) is a real master.” Modesto’s band, three times state champion, could not compete this year because it had won the trophy given for three consecutive wins.
Modesto News-Herald Sunday, May 25, 1930 p. 1
NICHOLAS SENN HIGH SCHOOL BAND CONTEST WINNERJoliet Takes
Second Place In Class A; Hobart, Indiana, B Winner
FLINT, Mich., May 24.-(AP)-The Nicholas Senn High School band of Chicago, 1929 champions, took first honors in the national high school band contest to-night by winning the class A championship. Second place went to Joliet, Ill., and Hammond, Ind., placed third. The Central High School band of Flint was fourth, Glennville of Cleveland, fifth, and West Tech of Cleveland, sixth. The Hobart, Indiana, High School band won the class B contest. In class C, first place honors went to Nicolet High School of West Depere, Wis. A drill contest late to-day was won by the Vocational High School of Lansing, Mich. The forty-two bands taking part in the contest marched in a street parade this afternoon, and later played in mass under the direction of three noted leaders. |
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