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Elkins High School’s band has a rich, 95-year history

ELKINS -- In recognition of the 95th anniversary of the Elkins High School Band, the EHS Alumni Band is sponsoring a celebration throughout the evening of Sept. 15 during the EHS vs. BUHS football game. To familiarize people in the area to the rich history and traditions of the EHS Band, the band alumni have put together a detailed history of the band, its directors and activities.

Through the years, Elkins High has gained popularity both locally and nationally for an outstanding band program. 'EHS students were first exposed to being members of a band around 1911, when they played with the Odd Fellow's group directed by H.O. Blaker.

Students practiced after school with the Odd Fellow's Band through 1926, when the Randolph County Board of Education hired Philip "Prof" Davies as county music supervisor and music director at EHS.

Davies directed the school orchestra and eventually formed the first school band during the 1928-1929 school year. It wasn't until the following year that the band sported uniforms -- an orange and black cape and "overseas"-style cap purchased by each of the 18 band students. Each member also bought a pair of black pants and put an orange stripe down each side to complete the uniform.

In 1930, the EHS band performed at the first Forest Festival and have been present for each subsequent event.  Davies left EHS in 1934 and later became a faculty member at WVU and also county music coordinator for Monongalia County Schools.

In 1935, Wayne M. Reger became band director at Elkins High School. It was during his tenure as band director that the size and musicianship of the band increased. It was also Reger's idea to create a parent group to help the band. The Elkins Band Auxiliary (today known as the Elkins Area Bands Auxiliary) was formed in 1934-35 to support the band both financially and emotionally. In March of 1938, five EHS Band members were selected and participated in the National High School Band performance.

The elementary school comprehensive music programs also began during Reger's tenure in Elkins. After leaving Elkins, he traveled the world as a cornet virtuoso and clinician. Reger also penned a nationally recognized beginning band book and formed the Youth Band of America, which toured Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1938, Leland Westfall became the EHS band director. He instituted many changes in the band, including a new quick-step marching style and six band "sponsors." Each girl wore a block letter to collectively spell "Elkins." Also during Westfall's tenure, the band changed musical styles from the traditional march to the popular song. Westfall was drafted into the U.S. Navy and left EHS in 1942.

In 1942, Clark H. "Prof" Siedhoff became band director and music instructor. Siedhoff came from Salem College, where he was instrumental in starting the first high school band festival in West Virginia. During the 1944-45 school year, the band only traveled to the Buckhannon-Upshur football due to travel restrictions. These restrictions were part of the rationing program during World War II. After the war, the band continued to grow in size and spirit.

Arguably, the band's most renowned performance occurred in 1953, as the group performed in front of more than 80,000 people at Soldier Field in Chicago. The EHS band was honored and performed (to rave reviews by the Chicago Tribune) at the Chicagoland Music Festival. Two of the band's performance pieces were the famous marches "Americans We" and "Shoutin' Liza Trombone" by march king Henry Fillmore.  The band was fortunate to have had Fillmore as a guest conductor on the selections.  Henry Fillmore was a friend of "Prof" Siedhoff and had sent handwritten notes to Siedhoff with rehearsal suggestions.

In 1954, Siedhoff organized the first Randolph County All-County Band.  The 1956-1957 band performed in the inaugural parade for Gov. Cecil Underwood. The 1958 EHS Band participated in the Lion's Club International Convention in Chicago, where they were one of 135 bands on parade.  Also, in 1958, the group traveled to Akron, Ohio to participate in the All-American Soap Box Derby where they paraded on the green soapbox derby track. The group also performed at the WV State Fair in 1954 and 1957.

In addition to the EHS Band, Siedhoff also directed the ROTC band at Davis & Elkins College. He retired in 1960 and was elected mayor of Elkins in 1961. It was while serving in this capacity that Siedhoff was killed in an automobile accident in 1966.

In 1960, Jack Basil, an Elkins native, took the directorship of the band and led them to a new level of success. Under Basil's leadership, the band represented West Virginia at the New York World's Fair of 1964, the JayCee's Parade in Baltimore, the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., the Sun Fun Festival in Myrtle Beach, the Carolina Dogwood Festival in Statesville, North Carolina as well as many other well-known festivals.

The group also performed at the WV State Fair in 1961 and 1969.

Basil phased out the "Sponsors" while introducing the twirling of batons and short pants to the new "Majorette" line. Also, during Basil's tenure, the "Tiger Tones" stage band was first organized.  In 1975, Basil was appointed Randolph County music supervisor. He held this full-time position until 1980, when he became the band director at Elkins Junior High School as well as part-time county music supervisor. He was chosen as West Virginia Outstanding Band Director of the Year in 1984-1985.

Basil lived in Elkins after his retirement in 1985 and continued to assist many elementary, middle school and high school bands in the area. He died in 2016. The EHS Band played at his funeral outside of the First United Methodist Church.

In 1975, Glenn Goodwin became director and continued the "show band" tradition.  In 1975, the EHS band escorted and performed alongside President Gerald Ford during the Forest Festival's Grand Feature Parade, and in 1978 – also under Goodwin's leadership – the EHS band performed for President Jimmy Carter upon his arrival at Wimer Field for the Forest Festival. 

The band also performed at the WV State Fair in 1975.  Following his four-year tenure as band director, Goodwin became an administrator at Elkins Junior High School and Elkins High. He is presently retired and living in Elkins.

In 1979, Jay Moon became director at EHS. Moon was an outstanding jazz musician, and under his direction, the stage band name was changed to jazz ensemble. Although he taught at Elkins High for only one year, many students were influenced by his outstanding musical knowledge. Moon left EHS to accept a position as band director at his alma mater, Allegany High School in Cumberland, Md.  Today, he is recently retired after teaching orchestra and strings in Allegany County, Maryland for many years.

In 1980, Walter Warren III was hired as director and began a move to more contemporary "corps" style marching, while keeping many of the show band themes. After two years at EHS, Warren attended graduate school at WVU.  Later in his career, Warren taught elementary music in Martins Ferry, Ohio.  Today, Warren is retired and living in Wheeling.

In 1982, Don Hershberger became the director and finalized the transition to corps-style marching while introducing a flag corps and rifles to Elkins During Hershberger's tenure, the band entered the world of competitive field performance for the first time, a tradition that is still maintained today.

In 1984, Bob Dunkerley was hired as director of bands. Dunkerley had previously been the director of the Leis County High School Band. During his nine years of directorship, corps style was maintained and the band was recognized throughout the state for creative marching concepts.

In 1989-90, the Elkins High Shieldline was born. Borrowing an idea from the bands of California, eight shields were purchased by local businesses and civic organizations. Elkins High became the first West Virginia band to use shields. 

Also during Dunkerley's tenure, the EHS drumline won state acclaim and produced many fine percussionists. In 1993, the band moved into a new and modern school. 

Dunkerley later became director of jazz studies at EHS.  During Dunkerley's tenure as jazz director, the EHS Jazz and World Music Festival was organized.  Dunkerley went on to be county education director in Tucker County. Dunkerley went on to be county education director in Tucker County. Dunkerley retired from Tucker County Schools and remained active in the community.  Dunkerley died in July 2023.

In 1993, Elkins High was closed and a new school, Forest Hills High School, opened. The Forest Hills Timberwolves Band became the local band. But after one year, the school name was changed back to Elkins High School. Tim Channell, another Elkins native (and former EHS drum major), became the director during the school change and reinstated an updated version of the show-band style. Channel had previously been the director at Elkins Junior High School. 

Under Channell's directorship, the band bleachers were constructed (1996) at Wimer Stadium. These bleachers were named in honor of the two pioneers of the Elkins bands, Siedhoff and Basil. Additionally, a leadership award was instituted to be given each year in honor of Mr. Basil to a student in the band who displays outstanding accomplishment in music, scholarship, leadership and community service. Channell had started this award at EJHS and moved it to EHS.

In 1998, Channell introduced the new "Tigerette" line. Channell became a faculty member at West Virginia Wesleyan College and later the music chair at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Channell is presently the Interim Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Radford College.

From 2000-2004, the band was directed by Jeff Caplinger, another Elkins native and another former EHS drum major. Caplinger had previously been the director of the Philip Barbour High School Band. 

In 2000, the EHS Shieldline was reborn, having been disbanded with the Forest Hills name change. It was under Caplinger's direction that the band qualified for its first ever Tournament of Bands (TOB) Atlantic Coast Championships (ACC). The EHS Band qualified for the TOB ACCs in 2001 and 2002.  In 2002, the EHS Band, along with several other WV bands, sponsored the TOB Chapter 8 Championships at WVU Mountaineer Field. It was also during this time that the band was nicknamed "The Spirit of the Mountains" (2000).

In 2001, the band performed on parade in the Magic Music Days at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida in EPCOT and MGM Studios.  In 2003, the "Spirit" performed in front of a national television audience in the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. 

In addition to the band program, Caplinger directed the jazz ensemble and was instrumental in keeping the Jazz and World Music Festival going. In 2004, the EHS Salsa Band was organized and patterned after the WVU Salsa Band. Caplinger left EHS in 2004 to take an elementary music position at Jennings Randolph Elementary School. 

The band was directed by Rebecca Whittaker from September 2004 until June 2005. During this time (2005), the band again performed at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Drew Aires served as director from 2005 until June 2007.  During Aires tenure, the band went through many changes with school scheduling issues causing the band membership to decrease.

In 2007, Caplinger returned to EHS as director of bands. During his second tenure, the band won it's first TOB Chapter 8, Group IV Championship (2008).  In addition, the "Spirit" qualified for the TOB Atlantic Coast Championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2008, the band also performed in the parade on Main Street USA at Walt Disney World.  In 2010, the indoor percussion group was organized under the direction of percussion coordinator Chris Newsom. 

In 2010, Caplinger moved to the Charleston, South Carolina area where he was director of bands at Berkeley High School for four years. In 2020, Caplinger returned to Randolph County and was director of bands at Tygarts Valley High School for two years. He is presently retired and owns several tour and group travel companies. Currently, Caplinger is the director of the EHS Alumni Band.

Joe Bowen came to EHS in 2010 after teaching at Taylor County Middle School and also serving as director of the Tucker County and Tygarts Valley High School Bands. 

Under Bowen's leadership, the band continued to receive accolades for it's creativity in performance. The 2012 and 2016 bands again performed on Main Street USA at Walt Disney World.  In addition, the 2014 and 2018 bands performed in New York City and participated in "Lion King" and "Wicked" Broadway workshops. 

During Bowen's tenure, the indoor program was expanded with an indoor guard group being organized. Bowen left EHS in May 2019 to become the band director of the Philippi Middle School Band.  He is presently an assistant principal at Philip Barbour High School.

 In June 2019, Seth Blake was hired as the new director of bands at EHS.  He is from Buckhannon and is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College. Blake moved to EHS having previously taught elementary music at Midland Elementary School. 

In 2019, the EHS Band won the TOB Region 13, Group IV Open Championship. In May of 2021, the EHS Band participated in the memorial service for John "Superfan" Zirbs at the old Wimer Field. In addition, the band (along with the alumni band) helped to officially retire Wimer Field after the memorial performance. 

The 2021-22 band performed at Walt Disney World. In 2021, the EHS Band was the first ensemble to play at a home game at the "new" Elkins High School. In 2022, the EHS Band was the first ensemble to perform on the new turf field at Tiger Stadium. Earlier this summer, the EHS Band participated in the World Association of Marching Show Bands Championships Parade of Nations in Buckhannon.

For 95 years, the Elkins High School Band has been one of the most active bands in West Virginia. With just 16 directors in school history and a tradition of excellence, the band has been an inspiration for other bands nationally and the Elkins community.

Registration for the EHS Band 95th anniversary celebration on Sept. 15  is open until Sept. 8 at 12 p.m. Any former member of the EHS Band is invited to participate in this event. Participants must be registered to attend the festivities. To register and for more information, please visit the EHS Alumni Band website at ehsalumniband.org.