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The US Youth Band Movement in the mid-20th century

Town Of Lake Youth Band--a Brief History

To “have fun with music” was the principle on which the Town of Lake Youth Band was founded by a cadre of parents and director George Cerwin in 1953. The band’s first appearance, at the South Milwaukee Spectacle of Music, saw the group in uniforms of white sweat shirts, blue jeans, straw hats, red bandanas and white Keds. Playing their signature tune, “Land of the Pharaohs,” which was taken from a film of the same name and originally arranged for the group by Cerwin, the band of young people ages 13-21 made a strong impression. Not long after that inaugural season, the group got its red and gray uniforms and became known by a shorter name: The Lake Band. A junior band for upper elementary students was formed several years later, directed by Sharon Awe and Douglas Los.

Cerwin left the band in the early 1960s and was succeeded by Alan Gaukle, who held the post for two years. Harold F. Lorenz became the third director in 1962. It was under Lorenz that the band made greater strides in competition, winning championships on both the state and national levels. During that time, the band performed for over a million people annually and travelled as far west as Portland, Oregon, as far east as New York City, south to New Orleans and north into both Toronto and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. Fielding a group of 125 performers, flag twirlers and two national champion baton twirlers, it took three buses and a large equipment truck to get everything and everyone from place to place. In 1971, Lorenz kept the structure of “Pharaohs” but rearranged the voicings and some of the rhythms. It was Harold Lorenz who coined the band's motto: "Champions in Every Way." He often followed that motto with "And dignity above all."

The band was governed by a board of parent directors, sponsored by the local American Legion and VFW posts, and funded by fundraisers on the part of parents and members. Tuesday night was rehearsal night during the school year, meeting at the Town of Lake Water Tower for two hours weekly. It took a great deal of dedication from all stakeholders given that during the summer, there were three rehearsals a week as well as competitions every weekend, save one, from June to August.

Lorenz left the band in 1972 and was succeeded by Robert Awe, who took the band to the next competitive level in a changing summer market. Over the years, membership in the group inspired at least eight other former members to take up the baton as band directors themselves. In later years, the changing social order and the sliding economy in the Midwest also changed the youth band movement. The Lake Band was eventually disbanded in 2005 after a final financial setback.

For a more detailed history check out the following: Waxse, Bennett, "Our Fourth "B" Is For Bands" The Milwaukee Journal, October 20, 1969 https://bayviewcompass.com/11492/