History, Horns and Hornets is designed
- to raise money for the Richland Community Performing Arts Council
- by bringing direct involvement to youth in music and
- to help re-establish the public profile of the oldest high school band in the nation
- while also providing instruments to schools and scholarships to students.
This musical event will take place in the City Auditorium (Performing Arts Center) as a part of Center Color Fiesta. We are looking to involve at least six local area high school bands in the inaugural year.
Here is why History, Horns and Hornets is so important to us and to our community.
1st Municipal Auditorium
The Richland Center City Municipal Auditorium was built in 1912. The Women’s Federated Council pushed the city council to be progressive and establish a place of culture and governance. This is the first municipal auditorium that housed (both theatre and government offices in one setting) in the state of Wisconsin. The dream is to fully renovate and restore the building.
The Richland County Performing Arts Council
The RCPAC was established to lead the restoration project of the nearly century-old City Auditorium in Richland Center. When completed, the 800-seat auditorium will reopen as Richland Center’s Performing Arts Center and will play host to a multitude of plays and performances by the local theatre troupe and other groups. Currently, the facility houses Auditorium Antiques, which raises funds for the restoration, as well as serving as the offices of the Capital Wealth Advisory Group and the Capital Wealth Advisory Group Foundation.
The Richland High School Band is believed to be the oldest continuous-playing public high school band in the United States. It celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. Memories of the past decorate the school’s band room. The History Room is also the archive of the band where old uniforms, instruments, photos and other documents are stored and where historian Carletta Heide has been digging for documents related to the band. Artifacts include a trumpet played by A. Kieth Brewer, whom the library is named after, and the band’s first bass drum, made in 1863 and used in Civil War rallies prior to its service with the high school band. There is a brick from the band room at the former high school, trophies from competitions and banners from 2003 and 2006 trips to Walt Disney World. Photos from decades ago show bands of about 30 boys. Today, the band is a mix of farm and city residents, boys and girls. About 90 take part.
The band’s current director, Jeff Behrens, hired in 2007, is hopeful the karma from the alumni rubs off on his students. “It was something that was real special for them and 60, 70 years later it’s still special and they look back on it with fond memories,” said Behrens, who spent 19 years as a band director in Boscobel. “I want (my students) to look back and think this was a rewarding and special experience for them.”
As a side note, Jeff Behrens
was selected as a "TOPNOTCH" teacher by Channel 3 WISC-TV who began airing the segment on January 10th, 2011. Mr. Behrens was nominated by several students, staff and parents for the honor!
We are currently discussing History, Horns and Hornets with Culver’s and Burnstad's as potential founding sponsors.
For more information on History, Horns & Hornets or any other program of Richland Rejuvenates, call Mick Cosgrove at (608)-647-8842, or e-mail us at RichlandRejuvenates@mypaf.org.
