A group of 22 Longmont students started a band in 1922, and 100 years later, their legacy continues.
The Longmont High School Trojan Band is performing Wednesday evening in a 100th anniversary celebration, which will include history and memorabilia displays.
Preparing for the celebration has given students and organizers a chance to learn about what life was like for musicians back when the Trojan band was first formed, said David Merrill, director of bands at the school.
“Back then there were maybe 300 — a little over 300 students at Longmont High School, and band music was pretty popular in those days,” he explained. “Students came together and decided to form a band … but it wasn’t like a class or anything like that.”
The band didn’t have uniforms in 1922, so they wore suits and ties, Merrill said. Several years later, the school appointed a dedicated band director.
“It’s just evolved from there, and had many, many years of really great success, and some great band directors who’ve come through over the years,” Merrill explained.
The school created one of Colorado’s first jazz bands in 1953, and added a competitive drum line in 1995 that went on to win 10 state championships, he said. In recent years, the school added a steel band and a mariachi band.
More than 100 students are now part of the Trojan Band, which is set to perform at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Longmont High School Auditorium for the anniversary celebration. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
The band members have been busy preparing for the performance, Merrill said.
“We’ve practiced a lot during our band class — we have after-school practices sometimes, and we have a whole band camp that happens in the summer, as well as other rehearsals that happen in the summer,” he explained.
But the band program also makes sure it’s inclusive of its busiest students, he said.
“There’s something for everyone in our program — whether you’re really involved academically, or involved in sports, there’s always something that kids can do musically in the band program here,” Merrill said.
A committee of students and parents helped to prepare for the anniversary celebration by poring over historical year books and old newspaper articles to gather pictures of the band for the event’s displays, he explained. The committee even dug up old uniforms, banners and trophies.
Former band directors and dozens of alumni band members are planning to attend the celebration.
“It really just shows how valued this program has been to so many people,” Merrill said.
