*** WARNING: EVERYTHING CONTAINED ON THIS PAGE IS BEING KEPT SECRET FROM MR. STEPHENS. HE ONLY KNOWS THERE IS A CONCERT, BUT HAS NO CLUE WHAT WILL HAPPEN OR WHO WILL BE THERE. ***


Occasion: After 30 years of dedication to the S.P. Waltrip Ram Band as head band director, Mr. Stephens is ending his illustrious tenure. As alumni, it is now our duty to give him the celebration he deserves for having touched the lives of over 5,000 students during his 43-year career as a music educator. May 19th will be the date of that celebration. On that day, many performance featuring alumni will be held, stories will be shared, pictures will be displayed (feel free to send old pictures), awards will be presented, and Mr. Stephens will be honored.
Events:

Numerous events will be held the weekend of May 19, 2012.

Purchase Banquet Tickets
(Deadline Friday, May 4th)

  • Saturday, May 19th - The Retirement Concert will be held in the WHS Auditorium at 6:00pm.
  • Sunday, May 20th - Band Family Reunion Picnic from 12pm to 5pm. (Location TBD)

Check back soon for more details regarding other events.

Special Details:

One thing we'd love to see happen is having atleast one Drum Major from every class since 1984 present on the night of May 19th. If you know the whereabouts of any of the former Drum Majors or you are a former Drum Major, please forward or keep this information and plan to attend on May 19th.

There will probably also be a video or slideshow put together for the concert. If you have any old pictures, feel free to send them.

Scrapbook:

Former Drum Major from the class of 1992, Kathi (Malin) Burnett is heading up a project to create a scrapbook of letters to present to Mr. Stephens the night of May 19th. Here is the information:

Hi everyone!

We thought that it would be nice to present Mr. Stephens with a 
keepsake at his Retirement Concert in May. We're going to put a 
scrapbook of sorts together for him and we need your help. We'd like 
you to write a letter to him expressing what having him as a band 
director and what being a member of the Roaring Red Ram Band has meant 
to you. The letter can be as long or as short as you'd like, but the 
more letters we receive the better. And for those of you that can't 
make it to the concert in May, this will be a way for you to 
participate.

What we need from you is a letter (or email) written to Mr. Stephens. 
Please make sure to include your full name (maiden and married if 
applicable), the year you graduated and what instrument you played and 
any leadership positions you held. Ideally, if you can, an old 
fashioned, hand-written letter would be best. If not, we'll gladly 
accept an email. Please send us any letters you'd like included no 
later than MARCH 31st - that way we've got time to assemble them into 
a book. If you have a photo you'd like to include, feel free to send 
that along as well.

Please send your letters to Kathi Malin at the following address :

Kathi Malin
14366 Bangor Dr.
Sterling Heights, MI 48313

or via email at kathimalin@comcast.net and put Mr. Stephens Retirement 
as the subject line - thanks!

Contact Info:

To send any ideas to make this event more memorable, please contact:

Concert Coordinators:

Any questions regarding Alumni performances, pictures for the slideshow, or info regarding former Drum Majors should be directed to:

Alumni Coordinator:

 
Performances:

At the concert on May 19th, there will be several opportunities for alumni to show their appreciation to Mr. Stephens. One way is simply by being in attendance. Another is by dusting off your instrument and joining one of the three performing alumni groups:

  1. Roaring Red Alumni Marching Band
  2. Old School Alumni Jazz Band (representing classes of 1984 - 1999)
  3. New School Alumni Jazz Band (representing classes of 2000 - 2011)

The Roaring Red Alumni Band will perform at 20-minute medley featuring some of the most memorable songs the Ram Band has performed since 1983. In order to make this a classic performance, numerous rehearsals will be held to make sure the music isn't just playable, but also musical. Remember, this is a grand farewell for one of the greatest band directors HISD has ever known. To make the performance a true walk down memory lane for Mr. Stephens, there will be narration and even a few classic visuals and vocals thrown in.

Rehearsals will be held:

  • Sat. 4/7 - 2pm to 4pm** New Practice Date
  • Sat. 4/14 - 2pm to 4pm
  • Sat. 4/21 - 2pm to 4pm
  • Sat. 4/28 - 2pm to 4pm
  • Sat. 5/12 - 1pm to 3pm (Dress Rehearsal)
  • Sat. 5/19 - Performance

Although there are only five rehearsals, music is available NOW for you to download. That gives everybody THREE MONTHS to dust off their horn, get their fingers back working, and run through the rhythms of the music before rehearsals even begin.

 

>> SHEET MUSIC <<

The Alumni Jazz Band(s) will perform a "Battle of the Bands." The stage will be assembled with both the new school and old school band.

Both groups will open up with "Cut-N-Run", then the groups will battle with "Drown In My Own Tears" with each side having their own sax soloist, then the groups will battle with each side playing a funk tune, then they will close with Footpath Cafe with many solos from alumni and other special guests.

Rehearsals will be held:

  • Friday, May 11th - 7pm
  • Saturday, May 12th - 3:30pm
  • Thursday, May 17th (If Needed) - 7pm

 

>> SHEET MUSIC <<

 

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