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Jim Gibson, Director
The CHS Alumni Jazz Band was formed in 1997. Max Treier had been the Director of instrumental music in Cambridge since
1968 and at the end of the 1996-1997 school year had decided to retire. A committee was formed to plan a retirement party.
As the plans began to take shape; the topic of entertainment was discussed. Jim Gibson, class of 1967, had been invited to
be a part of the planning committee and didn’t have the heart to tell the committee organizers that he graduated the
year before Max became Director. Jim suggested that a Jazz Band could be formed of former members. His idea was accepted and
a blanket invitation was extended to all former CHS Band members to participate. The band that performed that evening consisted
of 6 Trumpets, 8 Trombones, 9 Saxophones, 3 Drummers, 2 Bass players, and 2 Keyboards.
The experience was very enjoyable and Jim decided to form a permanent, by invitation, group. The group that was formed
consisted of the Saxophone section of Gordon Hough, Todd Thornton, Shawn McVicker, Steve De Marco, and Trudy Gibson. The Trumpet
section was led by Ron Warren, with Chris DeMarco, Tom Allen, and Jim Gibson. Don Warren, Brent Watson, Mark Watson, and Max
Treier made up the Trombone section. The Rhythm consisted of Bill Armstrong on Drums, Len Thomas on Piano and Dale Brenning
on Bass.
The first public performance of the permanent group was at the Salt Fork Arts and Crafts Festival in August 1998. In the
years following, the group has been a permanent attraction in the entertainment at the Festival and has performed at dances
as fund raising events for the CHS Band Boosters. The Band is a labor of Love for all that are involved with it. It is a living
thing and as all living things, continues to change. Several of the original group have moved on and have been replaced by
others. But the quality has continued as well as the camaraderie. A camaraderie that we all experience from being part of
the wonderful experience we have had as members of the CHS music program.
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