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 NOW TEACH MUSIC OR PERFORMS/HAS PERFORMED MUSIC AS A PROFESSIONAL
BAND DIRECTORS FROM 1945-2023
DRUM MAJORS
- Aubree Hooper - Music Teacher
- 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
BAND DIRECTORS FROM 1945-2023
- Harold Collins - 1945 - ?
- Frank Bagniewski
- Harold Kelly
- Tice
- Frank Piper
- Leonard Klaasse
- Brenda Beck
- Don Brown
- Kit Odmark - January 1967 - January 1968 (See story below)
- Don Volz - January 1968 - June 1975
- Ed Cunningham
- Roger Bradshaw - Student teacher then hired as Don's Assistant 1975-1976
- Merlyn Ewbank Bidstrup
- Connie Miller - 1988-1990
- Mark Van Hoose - 1990-1992
- Dave Papenhagen - 1992-1994
- Karen Nenninger - Fall of 1994 - March 1995
- Don Volz - March 1995 - June 1996
- Paul Shimmons - 1996 - Current
- Seanne Danielak - (Taught 5th-6th Grades with Mr. Shimmons)
DRUM MAJORS
- 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 -
- 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 –
- 2005-06 – Shane Mittan
- 2004-05 –
- 2003-04 –
- 2002-03 –
- 2001-02 –
- 2000-01 –
- 1999-2000 –
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...