Joliet Twp. H.S. band celebrating 100 years of music
September 1, 2011 9:48PM
This is a photograph of the playbill for Marimbist Ardis (Goeken) Garfield during the years she performed in various venues. | SUBMITTED PHOTO
Strike up the Band
2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Joliet Township High School Band program.
The JTHS Band Alumni Association is planning a musical salute and concert to celebrate the proud history, said Lynn Lichtenauer of the JTHS Alumni Relations Office.
Festivities will be July 29, 2012, at the JT Central auditorium. Other activities are planned for July 27 and 28.
Meanwhile, the Joliet Area Historical Museum is preparing an exhibit entitled, “Strike Up the Band” to showcase the JTHS band program from its beginning to 2012. A committee has been formed to assist Heather Bigeck, the museum’s curator, in telling the story of this exceptional music program and its storied history.
Former bandsmen and women and /or family members can help fulfill the museum’s wish list, which includes the following items: recordings/films; a drum major’s uniform; band sponsor uniform; original butcher’s uniform; trophies; any type of band artifact; information on the band of the 1960s and beyond; information on the band’s trip to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City; pictures of the band playing for the troops leaving from Union Station; concert attire both old and new; sheet music of the band’s recordings, and band instruments. Especially important to the exhibit would be pre-1950 film footage of the bands; tape and/or video recordings; and information regarding the relationship/friendship between JTHS Conductor A.R. McAllister and John Phillip Sousa.
The museum has noted that all items for this special exhibit will be catalogued and returned to its owner following the exhibit. There may be space limitations and perhaps not all items lent to the museum will be able to be displayed.
If you have a personal story about the band or a memory you would like to share, contact the JTHS Alumni Relations Office. For information, phone 815-727-6763 or by e-mail llichtenauer@jths.org.
Updated: November 4, 2011 6:04PM
Ardis (Goeken) Garfield’s high school years in the early 1940s were indeed impressive.
She had the distinction of being the first girl to perform as a member of the championship Joliet Township High School Band under the direction of the noted A.R. McAllister.
“I love to remember the life I had with my music,” the now-Cupertino, Calif., resident e-mailed as she answered my questions.
“Years ago there was a rhythm band in the fourth grade. It included cymbals, sticks, etc. — all noisy instruments. Only a one-octave xylophone, like the one we used to buy at Christmas.
“Well, I loved playing it and Mrs. Gray (the leader) told my parents she thought I had talent. Sooooo, they asked me what I wanted — I wanted a big instrument (the marimba).
“My father was a Lutheran minister (the Rev. John Goeken of First Lutheran Church) with a minister’s salary.” (Her late brother, John, founded MCI.)
Her parents went to the Deagan factory. “Fortunately, Clair Omar Musser was there, and smarty (me), played ‘The Lord’s Prayer.’ My father said, ‘We’ll take it. That was the beginning.
“At age 9, I played for the Rotary, Lions, women’s clubs, etc. I even played in a furniture store window because the owner advertised and he thought people would come to see me — and then look at the furniture.
“At that point, I was in Archie McAllister Jr.’s all-boys band in the junior high … Naturally, I went into the high school band — because I was the only person playing the marimba!
“The boys in the band treated me wonderfully and I never felt out of place. I worshipped and idolized Mr. McAllister. I did everything I could to please him. It was hard not to be proud, being in a champion band, with an award-winning conductor.
Her musical career continued as she went on to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, “because it was a great music school.
“It was there I learned to play other instruments — the vibes, tympani, organ, piano, etc. I had great experiences. I played in the Cedar Rapids Orchestra. One summer I toured with the Eastman School of Music group.
Ardis earned acclaim in her own right. The band entered the Chicago music contest and was awarded first-place honors. They went on to district contest and again won first place. The next step up was the state contest where they received top honors. This award led her to enter the national contest where she was crowned National Marimba Champion.
Dr. Harding, who was at the University of Illinois, said her marimba playing has thrilled all who have heard her .
“After college, the war was over. The love of my life (next to music) asked me to marry him. I was so lucky, because he (George) encouraged me to go on with music. So, I got a manager, Mr. Gray, and he booked me two weeks out and two weeks home. That was fine and it lasted about two years.”
She had relocated to California.
“Then, no one wanted to see a pregnant marimba player, so I started to teach piano. I never thought I would like it so much. In fact, four of my old students e-mail me and are teaching, themselves. That makes me proud.
“About then, we became active in church work — the Baptist Church in Los Altos, Calif. Bob Deal was the music minister. He was super duper. I accompanied the choir, I played in the service and did solo work. Believe it or not, the Sunday Night Choir was so good that we toured during the summer.
“During some time in my life I began painting. I did pretty good, I even sold some.
When George died, my family asked me to move closer to them. So here I am at the Chateau Cupertino. The living quarters are too small for all my instruments and paintings, so I gave my instruments to Biola University. I know they will take good care of them and they will be used for The Lord. I gave my paintings to the Art Club, my furniture to the church I was attending.
“I am in a new time of my life.”
Reach Betty Wirth at bwir1@comcast.net
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