An open letter to the Harrison Warrior Command
Dear Harrison Warrior Command:
HAIL! to the Warriors valiant!
Congratulations on your historic achievement! You’ve advanced to the Indiana State Marching Finals! I know this is a big honkin’ deal. As an alum of the Harrison Marching Warriors*, my heart is bursting with pride for you. I know I’m not the only marching alum who feels this way.
We know the dedication it takes to put together a competitive show. We know the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to become the best you can be. Few people understand the dedication, passion, commitment, and heartache required for a solid marching program. We get it. We’ve been there. And we’re overjoyed that you’ve taken the program to a level that we could only dream of.
HAIL! to the conquering heroes!
HAIL! HAIL! to Harrison, the Red, Black, and White
There have been years of feast, including successful shows that brought in the hardware. But there was also a lot of famine. I remember years when we would regularly finish fourth out of four bands in area invitationals. Achieving a Division I+ was a bit of a pipe dream. Advancing to State? I don’t even know if we could dream that big.
Even so, there was still a hint of disappointment when marching season ended. After all, we’d poured our hearts and souls into practicing, rehearsing, and performing. And it all came to a sudden stop. Other area bands continued on and some even made it to State…but our band stayed home.
Yes, we were happy for the other area bands. They got to perform at State. We would create big banners that said “Good luck at State!” I’m not going to lie. It stung a little when we signed those banners. Especially when we had to send them to Reitz#.
Rise up and shout with victory
MARCH ON WITH BANNERS WAVING
I’ve had the opportunity to perform in a lot of places, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. But I never got to march in Indianapolis. My friends and I did attend the State Marching Finals three years in a row. As spectators. We watched in awe as bands like Homestead, Center Grove, and Ben Davis took the field in competition and demanded our attention with their performances. Anderson Highland blew us away with their bagpipe features. It was an amazing celebration of all things marching band. It still is.
We would come home and talk to other band friends about the performances we saw, the old school bands with their classic shows, and the newer Avant-garde shows. We also talked about the new bands who were there and how impressive their shows were.
I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty cool that people are going to go back to their homes all across the state of Indiana and talk about YOU, the Evansville Harrison Warrior Command – the newcomer that took the State Finals by storm!
HAIL! HAIL! To Harrison!
We charge with all our might!
We, the alumni of the Harrison Marching Warriors/Harrison Warrior Command salute you and this historic moment. It’s an amazing accomplishment that is worth celebrating: the first appearance at State. EVER. We are behind you 100% and will celebrate with you before, during, and after your groundbreaking performance on Saturday.
Play your hearts out. March with the precision you’ve shown all season long. Perform with passion. Leave it all on the field. You’ve prepared a long time for this moment. Let it be your shining moment of the season.
We’ll be cheering you on. Some of us will be in the stands. Some of us won’t be able to make it. But we’ll all be there in spirit. We’ve hoped for this moment for you for the longest time. You’re going to shine on the big stage. It’s what you’ve prepared to do. You’re ready. You’ve got this.
You are blazing new trails for the Warriors band family. We are here to watch you shine. And in the end, we will shout “HAIL! to the Victors!” regardless of the final standings.
GO WARRIORS!
Sincerely,
Matt Todd
Harrison Class of 1994
Band Secretary 1993-94
All-City Honors Band 1992-93, 1993-94
Tuba
Co-signed
Class of 1975
Debbie Lankford Oliver
Clarinet
Congratulations!!!
Class of 1985
Lori Cates Hand
All-City Band/Orchestra 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85
Flute and Piccolo
Go Warriors!
Class of 1986
Pete Olson
All-City Honors Band 1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86
Imperial Guard Drum & Bugle Corps 1981, 1982
Baritone
Lu Weil
Tenor Sax
Class of 1989
Jon Merchant
Class of 1989
Trumpet
Class of 1990
Jennifer Simon
Clarinet
Class of 1992
Jason Knight
Clarinet
Class of 1993
Jeff Simon
Band President 1992-93
Bari sax
Casey Bell
Tuba
Dirk Donovan
Drum Major
Saxophone
Gretchen Elizabeth
Flute and Piccolo
Class of 1994
Gary Koch
Band President 1993-94
Tenor sax
Amee Lancaster
Color Guard
Tracy Graham Majors
Percussion and Clarinet
Andrew Brunner
All-City Band/Orchestra
All-City Jazz Band
All State Band/Orchestra
Evansville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Evansville Philharmonic Youth Artist
National Honors Orchestra
Trumpet
Wes Whiteside
Trumpet
Bryan Pokorney
All-City Band/Orchestra
Evansville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Trombone
Congrats and best of luck at State!
Class of 1995
Alicia Shoulders Padgett
All-City Band 1992-93, 1993-94
Flute
Krista Norvell Williams
Color Guard
Heather Boor
Alto Sax
Congratulations on making it to State! Good luck next weekend!
Go Warriors!
Julie Fox Mayse
Clarinet
Go Warriors!
DeAndrea Brannon
Color Guard
Mandy Moore Day
Clarinet and Percussion
Andrea Miller
Flute and Piccolo
Mandy Dwyer Arvin
Flute
Proud mom of a Marching Warrior – Camden Arvin, Trumpet!
Kurt Hutchison
Trombone
John Lutz
Trombone
Laura Nicholas Hupach
Alto and Tenor Saxophone
Lori Simon Kixmiller
Drum Major 1994-95
Percussion
Class of 1996
Joni Prihoda
Flute
Jenny Kinney
Keyboard and Clarinet
Becca Lloyd Myers
Color Guard
Brandi Kolb Fenwick
Color Guard
Emily Brumfield Brunner
Drum Major
All-City Band/Orchestra
All State Band/Orchestra
Evansville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Clarinet
Sarah Tremper Sullivan – in Memoriam
All-City Band
Clarinet
Susan Lankford
All-City Band/Orchestra
All State Band/Orchestra
Evansville Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
Clarinet and Mellophone
Heather Ratliff Jamison
Color Guard
Lori Norman
Color Guard
Lee Bruner
Tenor Saxophone
Julie Bornefeld Rizen
Clarinet
Brandon Barbee
Harrison Class of 1996
Trumpet
Nicki Ogg
Color Guard
Raymond Clark
Drum Major 1995-96
Trombone
Sara Hard
Alto Saxophone
Ann Corbett
Drum Line
Class of 1997
Kevin Todd
Drum Major 1996-97
All-City 1993-94
Baritone
Alicia Richert
All-City Band
Color Guard and Clarinet
Laura Oliver Steger
Flute
Go Warriors!!!
Alex Boenigk
Trombone
Julie (Lamb) Catlin
Flute
Aaron Distler
Drumline
Class of 1998
Sarah Thurman
Drum Major 1998-97, 1997-98
All-City Band
Flute
Amanda Gidcumb – in Memoriam
Clarinet
Kate Hudson Rawdon
Clarinet
Class of 2000
Kellie Forney
Color Guard
Mackenzie Greer
All-City Band/Orchestra
All State Band
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra
Flute
Class of 2007
Brittany Mayes
Section Leader 2005 & 2006
All-City Band 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07
Alto and Tenor Sax
Class of 2008
Marc Hubbard
Honors Band 2007
Honors Jazz 2007 and 2008
1st Trumpet, Purdue All-American Marching Band
Trumpet
Class of 2010
Sara (Collins) Gentry
Color Guard
Others
Jami Drewry Carlson
Very proud mom of three Warrior Command members:
Austin Tenbarge, Saxophone
Allison Tenbarge, Guard
Alex Carlson, Pit Member and Percussion
Michelle Forche
Reitz Class of 1988
Current Warrior Command Parent
The Trempers
Former Band Parents 1992-96
Amy Sims Simon
Color Guard Instructor 1992-1996
Heather Ota-Watson – in Memoriam
Color Guard
Tom Brunner – in Memoriam
Band Parent 1978-1991
Booster President
Hoagie Chairman
Band Truck Driver
PS: I know your performance doesn’t impact other bands’ performances, but if you happen to beat Reitz, I wouldn’t be sad about it.
*That’s what they called us back in the day.
+That’s basically the equivalent of a Gold rating today.
#Nothing personal against Reitz. You know. It’s the whole East Side vs. West Side thing. People outside of Evansville probably don’t understand. It didn’t help that their instrumental music program was so.stinkin’.good. It just intensified the rivalry. On our end, anyway. Not sure if the Reitz band members really cared all that much. I have no idea if this rivalry still exists, but it used to be strong.
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Charles Towler
Class of 1986
Band Captain 1985 & 1986
Donna Crowe Hansen
Central HS Class 1982
Four years in Marching Band Guard
Three years All City Orchestra
Two years All State Orchestra
One year EYPO
Cello
Mother to a Marching Warrior
I’m excited for Harrison. I currently march for evansville north green brigade and I remember when we made that achievement 4 years ago. The feeling of making school history is unreal. The feeling of walking on that field is the most memorable thing I’ve come to experience and I’m so proud they get to experience it as well. What’s also historical and amazing is Harrison, North, and Reitz are going to state. First time in history are 3 Evansville schools going to state in the same year. North has seen some rivalry from reitz in recent years. But I love how we all support each other. Not only are we improving our schools music programs but the city as a whole. Cant wait to see Reitz and Harrison take the field at Lucas oil with North.
Congratulations, Ethan, and the North Brigade! We’ll be cheering for you Saturday, too!
Sarah Scott (Knight)
Harrison graduating class of 95’
Clarinet
My daughter marches for North and I know how excited she was when they went to state for first time and she was a 7th grader. I’ll be cheering Harrison on too as an alumni.
Jim Love
Harrison Class of 1986
All-city honors band 1982-1986
All-city honors orchestra 1982-1986
All-city jazz band 1982-1986
All-state concert band 1985-1986
Honorable mention, McDonalds All-American band 1986
Tuba
Andy Hirsch
Harrison Class of 1985
All-City Honors Band
All-City Honors Orchestra
All-City Jazz Band
All-State Concert Band
Trumpet
Congratulations to the Harrison Warrior Command!!!!! I have seen your show several times. Your band sounds like a much bigger band than the numbers you have on the field. Good luck at Lucas Oil Stadium! I will be watching!!!
Mary Fillingim
Class of ‘69. (Yes, 69 😊)
Band Vice President
All City Band-4 years
Clarinet
Onward Warriors!
I hope the Harrison alumni that are coming to state competition let us band parents and grandparents know where you are. My son is an alumni and my grandson is part of the sax quartet solo in our show. He’s excited but already sad the end is near for it has been quite a ride! I can’t thank you enough for reaching out to support the band. History to be shared by all! Go HWC! WE BELONG!
Hey Kathy! Be sure to have your son out our unofficial alumni facebook group: Recovering HHS Band Geek Association. It’s a small group, but we’re pretty vocal supporters.
Hopefully everyone will be able to hear us tomorrow as we shout out our Warrior Pride.