By ALIYA MERRIWETHER
Beakon Staff Writer
As the school year gains momentum, Stephanie Chizmar, second-year music teacher, is hard at work putting together a band for Cardinal Mooney.
As many may know, Cardinal Mooney has had multiple successful music programs in the past, but unfortunately, an off-and-on school band. This includes smaller marching bands, choirs, and even drum lines at a certain point that have become smaller and smaller as the years go on.
Though the piano and guitar classes remain, the school has lacked a big, united school band for a very long time, and Chizmar is dedicated to changing that.
“There was a time when the band was a really big thing and a lot of alumni remember when the band was a big thing so I’m excited that we’re bringing it back,” she said.
School bands help get the entire school community up on their feet. At games, pep rallies, and other events, students need the soaring horns and heart-thumping percussion to provide the soundtrack to their high school. Alumni and students want to hear their band and orchestra play the beloved fight song and alma amateur that they love to sing along to.
“Marching bands add to the spirit of the school,” Chizmar said. “The cheerleaders, the fans, it all adds to the experience. The idea of a band and kids coming together and having a common goal brings that sense of the family, and tradition of Mooney.”
The band is a highly visible performing group that promotes school spirit, musicality, and discipline. It takes courage and determination to be a part of the school band. Currently, there are a lot of interested students that want to be in the band but have never played an instrument before.
“In a normal year, when we’re established, we would’ve started band stuff this summer. I didn’t feel like I was able to do that this year,” Chizmar said. “For us it was the beginning of the year. We had to see who all signed up, what instruments we had, who had played before and who hadn’t.”
Although band requires marching techniques, musical skills, and specific music techniques, these are all things that all band students eventually learn. One of the ways that Chizmar is building a successful band program is by having an actual band class in the curriculum. Cardinal Mooney may not have started at the same time as everyone else, but there is significant progress.
“I mean, they are really doing a great job. Basically my entire brass section has not played brass instruments before. We are starting from the ground up,” she said.
Overall, students and Chizmar have been working hard. Their latest task included uniform sizing. The future of the Cardinal Mooney band is bright. As the years go on, the program will improve and grow.
“I feel very lucky that I work in a building where the administration is incredibly supportive and has given me the tools I need without question. They are really behind in terms of how they’ve scheduled things this year to make sure kids can be a part of a band to financially support the program, all of that.” she said.
“The band program is truly going to get better and better as the years go on. Chizmar is doing an excellent job. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the year goes,” said senior Jenna Sadosky.