Menu
Farwell Band History
Band in Farwell has a long standing tradition!
The old days saw many a time that the Farwell Band performed in the community and at the local park! Not just the school band either!
BAND STUDENTS FROM FARWELL WHO DO/HAVE TAUGHT MUSIC OR PERFORMS/HAS PERFORMED MUSIC AS AN PERFORMING MUSICIAN
BAND DIRECTORS FROM 1945-2023
DRUM MAJORS
- Micah Volz – Music Teacher
- Shane Mittan – Drummer in North Coast Acadamy/Matt Moore Band
- William Manley – Drummer in Virginia Beach
- Danielle Smith – Bluegrass musician
- Kyle Howard – Music Teacher
- Viva (Howard) Anderson – Music Teacher of Children’s Theater/Performer
- Dylan Woodman
BAND DIRECTORS FROM 1945-2023
- 1945 - ? - Harold Collins
- Frank Bagniewski
- Harold Kelly
- Tice
- Frank Piper
- Leonard Klaasse
- Brenda Beck
- Don Brown
- 1967 January - January 1968 - Kit Odmark - (See story below)
- 1968 January - June 1975 Don Volz
- Ed Cunningham
- 1975-1976 - Roger Bradshaw - Student teacher then hired as Don's Assistant
- Merlyn Ewbank Bidstrup
- 1988-1990 - Connie Miller
- 1990-1992 - Mark Van Hoose
- 1992-1994 - Dave Papenhagen
- 1994 Fall to 1995 March - Karen Nenninger
- 1995-March to 1996 June - Don Volz
- 1996 - Current - Paul Shimmons - 1996 - Current
- Seanne Danielak - (Taught 5th-6th Grades with Mr. Shimmons)
DRUM MAJORS
- 2024-2025 - Kallyssa Wetzel and Ava Darnell
- 2023-2024 - Kallyssa Wetzel and Emily Hall
- 2022-2023 - Emilee Wyatt and Cameran Brown
- 2021-2022 - Carter Jones and Emilee Wyatt
- 2020-2021 - Abbigail Bass and Carter Jones
- 2019-2020 - Jenna Wilkerson and Abbigail Bass
- 2018-2019 - Montana Shimmons and Jenna Wilkerson
- 2017-2018 - Adam Torr and Hannah Averill
- 2016-2017 - Jessica Hoberek and Zeke Holley
- 2015-2016 - Aubree Hooper and Jessica Hoberek
- 2014-2015 – Maria Murphy and Taylor Helmer
- 2013-2014 – Tristan Shimmons and Caron White
- 2012-2013 – Tristan Shimmons and Caron White
- 2011-2012 – Greg Shimmons, Ashley Gaskill, Travis White
- 2010-2011 - Larry Marshall and Travis White
- 2009-2010 - Sara Wilkins and Brandon Ziegler
- 2008-2009 –
- 2007-08 –
- 2006-07 – Rebecca Gaskill and Chad Welke
- 2005-06 – Shane Mittan
- 2004-05 –
- 2003-04 –
- 2002-03 –
- 2001-02 –
- 2000-01 –
- 1999-2000 –
- 1998-1999 -
- 1997-1998 - Krista Steffes and Erica Grim?
- 1996-1997 - ?and Krista Steffes
Stories from the past
From Kit Odmark Spring - Who was band director from January, 1967- January 1968 until Don took over. Here's what she says about her experience. "It was interesting how I found the job. I was a junior at CMU and overheard a conversation that one could teach with 2 years of college on a special certificate. I wrote to several school districts within 20 miles of Mt. Pleasant and had the job in Farwell within a week. It was a great experience, helped me financially, ( I think I made $4800 that year) and was able to keep the program together until Don Voltz was hired. I have good memories of that district and my time there."
From Glen Higgins - Don Volz was my teacher a looong time ago... Loved his teaching and enthusiasm... I believe towards the end we had close to 120 band geeks. LOTS OF MEMORIES...
From Glen Higgins - Don Volz was my teacher a looong time ago... Loved his teaching and enthusiasm... I believe towards the end we had close to 120 band geeks. LOTS OF MEMORIES...