Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Sunday, May 27, 2001 Ursuline band rebounds to become top-notch unit Once down to a handful of members, the band has been rebuilt into award-winning status By Susan K. Virgalitte YOUNGSTOWN – The Ursuline High School Band has had a banner year for its 2000-2001 season, winning first place and Judges Choice awards in regional competition. That would not be extraordinary for area high school bands, except for the fact that 10 years ago the Ursuline Band was near extinction. After years of dwindling numbers, the band was down to 14 musicians in 1990. John Peplowski became band director at Ursuline in 1992. With the help of the school’s administration, band parents and, mostly, the students themselves, he built the band up to its current 71 members — 57 musicians plus a danceline and flagline. In spite of the band’s small size in 1992, Peplowski said he had no problems with morale when he first took over the band. “I still look back at that as one of our big accomplishments, because that group was inspired even though they were small and not very good,” he said. “They still performed with a lot of pride. That was the key. The band continued to get bigger every year. Success breeds success. The kids now have no idea what it was like then. We don’t even talk too much about it. But, we try to remember where we came from.” Jim Bellavia, president of the Ursuline Band Boosters, remembered the rebuilding process. “We built it from the core of kids we had,” he said. “We tried to instill a positive feeling to get the kids to believe in themselves and the program. Our motto was ‘Small but mighty.’ Those students stayed in the program and inspired friends to join. Once we started having success in retaining our students, it took off.” Jason Rotar, a senior who plays trumpet in the band and also serves as band president, said he actually remembered those earlier days when the band was small. An older brother was part of the Ursuline band when Peplowski first became band director. “I was actually around quite a bit when I was younger,” he said. “I knew there were struggles. That didn’t really affect my coming into the band. I just enjoy music. It was something I wanted to do.” Katie Hoskins, also a senior, plays flute in the band. “We have grown a lot,” she said. “When I started, we had 30 to 40 band members on the field. Now we have 60 to 80. We are becoming a lot better musicians.” Miss Hoskins said being part of the band has been a very rewarding experience. She plans to major in music at the University of Akron after graduation this spring. One of the problems a Catholic high school may have in building its band is that the students come from several different elementary schools with widely varying music programs. A successful high school music program inspires the “feeder” elementary schools to improve their music programs. “The more successful the high school bands become, the more the elementary schools will start to develop programs,” Bellavia said. “It’s kind of hard to get a kid interested in music if there is no end result. If you have an active high school program, it makes it easier for the younger students to get involved. They can say, ‘I’d like to be out there when I get to high school.’” Both Peplowski and Bellavia said the success of Ursuline’s band program is directly attributable to the support of school administrators. In 1992, unwilling to allow the band program to fail, Father Daniel Venglarik, then serving as principal, instituted a music scholarship program that offered up to $500 to any student who took lessons and played in the band for the entire school year. Band is now a part of the curriculum at Ursuline, not an after-school program. “[The administrators] let it be known to all the other organizations that they all have to work together and share the students,” Bellavia said. He added that band members play a variety of sports and participate in drama and speech in addition to being part of the band. Organization leaders are expected to negotiate the time they need with their students and not demand that students choose between a sport they love and being in the band. Bellavia said, “When a new coach comes in and says to a student, ‘You have to make a decision between band and this sport,’ the administration steps in and says, ‘You can’t do that here.’ The students can pretty much spread themselves out over several activities. It’s unbelievable how talented these kids are and how involved they are. They work, they play sports, and they are involved in their parishes.” “The band is more of a family,” Miss Hoskins said. “We have grown with each other. We are more than just a band, because we are always together.”   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2001   Second graders pray for ‘our lamb Carl’   Serra Club of Stark County third chartered in diocese   New awards, insights on family life at Charities’ dinner   TV producer: Building solid neighborhoods takes real work   Book reviews   Commission formed to study athletics in diocesan high schools   Veterans Day Mass draws hundreds to cathedral   Explosive growth of lay ministry focus of convocation   Collection for religious set at diocesan parishes this weekend   Entire parish helps revive Vienna youth group   Walsh event highlights domestic violence in Stark County   Chance meeting with C.S. Lewis helped encourage vocation   Catholic radio program debuts with familiar voice   Statue of Mary defaced at Warren St. Joseph parish   Retiring Charities’ director plans to serve needy   RFR co-chair, 90, still serving others in need   ‘Guild’ speaker: Pro-life movement making real strides   Boardman St. Charles to mark 75th with Nov. 4 liturgy   In aftermath of attacks, evil has led to much good: Bishop   Diocese sets new guidelines for funeral ‘words of remembrance’   Sept. 11 changed American society, Red Mass dinner told   Peace forum, prayer vigil at Walsh mark Oct. 4 efforts   Schools respond ‘in light of faith’; students work to assist victims   Vienna parish to dedicate hall/classrooms Oct. 7   Diocese sets Oct. 4 as ‘Day of Reconciliation and Peace’   Diocese responds to terrorist attack with prayers, services   Bishops’ document on ‘Real Presence’ basis for diocesan study   Brewster parish rededicates renovated church Sept. 16   Canfield parish signs ‘handicap-accessible’ pledge   Jesuit seeks help for HIV-infected children in Africa   Msgr. Siffrin assumes new role as state K of C chaplain   Enrollment holds steady at diocesan elementary schools   Walsh offers scholarships, reduced tuition to Catholic community   Parish honors Mary Lally for 30 years of service   John Paul II Cultural Center: Something for everyone   Charities’ executive director to retire   Connection with El Salvador continues to grow in diocese   Walsh prof’s skills with plants are a lifelong passion   Youth Congress challenges teens to ‘stand up for life’   Deacon Santiago, spouse leaving diocese for Puerto Rico   Francis, Clare come alive in author’s pilgrimage of faith   Children’s book on moonlight teaches lessons   Bishop OKs chalice for distribution   ‘Alsatian’ independent living facility to be dedicated   Celebration at St. Columba honors 209 married couples   Former Yo. pastoral musician creates Marian hymns CD   Speakers: ‘Noah story’ more complex than most believe   Son continues father’s tradition of glass art excellence   Tom Welcsh to retire from education role   Meningitis scare closes four Catholic schools early   Essential gifts   Schools superintendent heading to Chicago   Diocese ordains two who ‘traveled different roads’   Two priests accept pastorates, four others assigned   Walsh University president dead at 57 of apparent heart attack   Pilgrimage to Carey shrine is ‘grace-filled day’   ACTION speaker: Reclaim Youngstown area for God   Coaching regimen, family life keep Central teacher busy   Charities’ Family Advocate program is post-prison ministry   Teaching in Catholic schools is Rozzo family tradition   Ursuline band rebounds to become top-notch unit   Manuscript collector shares knowledge with YDCCW   Thiel Forum studies Lutheran/Catholic ‘step forward’   TV anchorwoman: Catholic schools were ‘a great gift’   Stark Consortium adds Hispanic ministry to collective efforts   Diocese to honor 16 priest jubilarians May 21 at Boardman St. Charles   Fifth ‘Night to Honor Mary’ draws 600 to cathedral   Diocese to honor 16 priest jubilarians May 21 at Boardman St. Charles   Canton woman’s ‘Interfaith Caregivers’ group making a difference   Prayer vigil for planned execution of inmate hears positive news   Chrism Mass brings Church unity, priesthood to fore   Grounds at Conneaut parishes owe ‘look’ to couple   Cousin of Martin Luther King, Jr. brings message to Louisville   Catholic university mission critical, theologian tells Walsh gathering   New members took different paths   Massillon K of C to mark 100th with dinner Apr. 1   Interfaith speaker: Encourage young to continue the dialogue   Perseverance of two Ursulines helped make YCS a reality   First meeting of Catholic/Lutheran commission sees possibilities   Speaker: Dedication to Christ must undergird Religious life   N. Canton parish gives woman handicap-accessible van   Renovated Austintown St. Joseph to be dedicated on Mar. 19   Make Sunday different and restful, liturgist tells gathering   ‘3-D’ dialogue sessions link three Conneaut denominations   Ohio bishops: Improve outreach, solidarity with migrant workers   Colombian priest visits diocese, seeks help with project   Bishop marks fifth anniversary with low-key celebration   Building bird feeders for the elderly   Book reviews for February 16, 2001   Priest’s trip to Haiti opens eyes to ‘absolute poverty’   February’s Catholic Press Month   Speaker: Gospel of Life all-pervasive task for believers   Canton parishes help Nicaraguan orphanage   Parish Financial Forgiveness program ‘tremendous success’   YSU students form pro-life group, march in D.C. event   Cards, Irish fans root for same team…what gives?   Diocese closes Jubilee Year with celebration at St. Columba’s   Boys from same street end up as diocesan deacons   ‘Celebrate Catholic Schools’ Jan. 28-Feb. 3   Former Niles resident trades in passport for priesthood   Priests share vocation stories with potential candidates   For missionary from Youngstown, work in India brings joy   Diocesan high schools welcome 2,900 students   Past Articles From 2000