Music, generosity link two bands hundreds of miles apart

SubMittEd by MEGhAn PiPEr School InformatIon offIcer

Just before the holiday recess, a special delivery arrived at Liverpool High School addressed to the LHS Marching Band.

Along with a number of marching band uniforms, the delivery included two large thank you cards, two handmade ornaments, a band photo and a glass plaque from the Waukesha South High School Marching Band.

How did a marching band from Central New York connect with and support a marching band in Wisconsin?

LHS Marching Band Assistant Director Norm Bagley’s explained in an LHS press release what brought these two marching bands together.

“On Nov. 21, 2021, the community of Waukesha, WI, suffered a terrible tragedy when a man drove an SUV into a holiday parade, causing six deaths and dozens of injuries,” Bagley said.

“The Waukesha South High School Marching Band was one of the parade groups devastated by this event.”

Bagley said that the band was determined to return to the field and compete in the 2022 fall marching band season as part of the healing process.

“New uniforms were necessary, but not available until 2023,” he said. “The band was looking at having to perform in polo shirts instead of real uniforms.”

So the band turned to social media for help.

The WSHS color guard director, Kim Gilchrest, is an alumna of the Cicero-North Syracuse Marching Band, and marched there with Bagley, the LHS press release stated. Gilchrest posted a plea for assistance on the CNS Marching Band Alumni Facebook group in August.

Bagley subsequently informed her that the LHS band had an extra set of uniforms in storage from the 2019 season that were not being used – and they happened to be the Waukesha South school colors of black and red.

“The Warriors Marching Programs immediately offered the use of the uniforms for the season,”Bagley said.

“The parents in the LHS Marching Band Boosters quickly cleaned, sized, packed and shipped these uniforms to Wisconsin, accompanied by a photo of the Warriors and cards sharing the band’s love and support. The Blackshirts wore Liverpool’s uniforms with pride this season as they performed in the Wisconsin state marching band circuit. They recently concluded their season by bringing things full circle, allowing some closure to last year’s tragedy by marching once again in the 2022 holiday parade”.

The cards and gifts in the package expressed the heartfelt gratitude from the Blackshirt Band members, parents and staff.

“The Liverpool Warriors take great pride in sharing this bond and connection with them as fellow family members in the marching arts,” Bagley said.

The items, along with Bagley’s story, are now on display in the LHS auditorium lobby.

SubmItted photoS the Liverpool high School Marching band sent an extra set of band uniforms to Waukesha South High School’s band to enable them to return to the field to compete after a man drove into a holiday parade in Waukesha, Wi, killing six and injuring dozens. the LhS band recently received a package containing thank you cards, hand-made ornaments, a band photo and a glass plaque from the Waukesha band.