A new era for the Wooster High School Band began with the arrival of Jack Emig as director in 1956. Director at WHS for eight years, Emig helped hundreds of students in Wooster to enjoy and produce music through participation in band.
By the time I joined the band, playing sousaphone, the 110 member Wooster High School Marching Band sported brand-new blue and gold uniforms.
Emig utilized his training at Ohio State University to usher in a new era of "precision marching". The band began venturing to distant performance venues and received much acclaim.
I played the sousaphone because parents did not have to buy those instruments. I ended my Senior year being the First "O" in Wooster.
After high school, I began playing acoustic guitar, hand drums including djembe, congas and bongos and bass guitar.
I still play bongos.
