Ex-St. Francis Helper Resurrects Monroe Musician Group

13 January 2000

Ex-St. Francis Helper Resurrects Monroe Musician Group

It is intimidating to shower the empty foyers of the John F. Savage Hall of the University of Toledo with music as confessed by Carrie Krueger.

The hall was a very large one and occupied by a multitude of basketball spectators for the Central Michigan University and Rockets game; a place that will scare even well-versed performers—not to mention if the band is relatively neophyte, around three years old in the industry.

The basketball team of the University of Toledo will be playing at home after being away for 44 days and the Monroe St. Mary’s Catholic Central High School band will be playing to welcome them.

The game script and music sheet were provided by officials of the UT and has run down the band’s routine from the beginning of the programme to its end.

“We were very excited and nervous. We had a lot of energy that day,” said one of the pep band’s senior members about their performance last 2 January. “It was the biggest audience we’ve ever played for.”

It was a much applauded performance and another highlight to the revival of the school’s pep band led by Mark Miller (41), who, for the last 3 years, struggled to rebuild the now insignificant musical programme to student’s life.

The band was only composed of 12 members when Mr. Miller was hired in 1997. “I came in here not knowing what the situation was and asked the principal when band camp was held. He told me they didn’t have one”, said Mr. Miller.

Miller used his experience to give something the school didn’t have before: a performing band for the school’s football game. This is just another step for the revival of the school’s band and for the large halls to hear music again.