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Since 1966, musical and marching excellence has been a tradition of the Winston Churchill High School Charger Band. The band's performances have varied from pep rallies to adding dignity to the arrival and departure of British royalty. The Charger Band played for Prince Charles during his visit to San Antonio and in 1990, performed at the Alamo for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.
The Charger Band performed the first of its many concerts in the courtyard on August 30, 1966, under their original director, M. E. Rodman (1966-1971). Past directors also include W. B. Shelton (1971-1972), Tony Esquivel (1972-1984), Darrell Gan (1984-1987) and Ferd Vollmar (1987-2000). The Churchill Charger Band's current director, Albert Lo, joined the faculty in 2001.
On staff with Albert are assistant directors Alan Sharps, Christopher
Reshulte, and Sam Woodfield. Mike Sloan is the Colorguard Coordinator.
The Churchill Charger Band's accomplishments in UIL competitions are so impressive that the band became known as the "Show Window of Winston Churchill High School." The Charger Band made history by winning two back-to-back Bands of America Regional Championships in the fall of 1997. The band followed this with back-to-back first and second places in Band of America regional competitions in 1998. In its first national competition in 1998 , the Charger Band placed 9th in a field of 80 competitive bands at BOA Grand Nationals, held in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1999, the Charger Band returned to "Grand
Nats" and again placed 9th out of 80 bands. The band closed out the 2000 marching season by finishing 3rd in the Texas 5A State Marching Contest. The 2001 season was highlighted with third place finishes at both the San Antonio and Houston BOA
Regionals.
Individual excellence is also a Churchill tradition. In its long history, the Charger Band counts numerous All-State Musicians among its alumni. In 1998 alone, Churchill fostered five All-State, 19 All-Area, 48 All-Region and 72 All-District musicians. Churchill band members received over 100 Blue Ribbon Division I ratings for Solo and Ensembles, about 80% of all of the band's entries.
This represents a typical year for the Charger Band. Churchill also boasts an excellent jazz band, with two full Jazz Ensembles.
Recent Charger Band Performances
- 1990 La Fiesta Mexicana, March to the Scafford, Variations on a Korean Theme
- 1991Stravinski's Firebird, Verdi Requiem
- 1992 West Side Story (Leonard Berstein)
- 1993 American in Paris (George Gershwin)
- 1994 Phantom of the Opera
- 1995 Sentimental Journey (50th Year Tribute to 1945)
- 1996 Candide by Leonard Berstein
- 1997 Images by Shostakovich
- 1998 20th Centery Reflections (Samual Barber)
- 1999 The Power and the Beauty (Puccini and Respighi)
- 2000 Abstraction (Prokovief and Stravinsky)
- 2001 Under Construction (Adams/Sharps/Mairs/Bolcom)
- 2002 The Musical World of Anime (Higginbotham/Kevin Ford)
- 2003 Toxic (Stephen Melillo/Mike Stevens)
- 2004 Blueprints (Higginbotham/Mike Stevens)
- 2005 E/FX
- 2006 Deception of Perception (Vincent Persichetti)
- 2007 Letters Home (Copland/Bartok)
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Since 1984, the Color Guard of Winston Churchill High School has undergone many changes. Orginally called the
Flags, all were volunteer band members. In 1987, volunteers were first sought from outside the band. This small
group of girls was then known as the "Honor Guard." As band concerts become more competitive, the Churchill Flag
program increased in popularity and size. In 1988, the Flags consisted of sophomore members of the Pep Squad.
During the 1990-91 school year, the Flag members once again became a part of the Charger Band. Under the artistic direction of Mr. Todd James (1991-1997), the look of the Churchill Flag program began to change considerably. Spectacular choreography came to he foreground. In 1992, with the addition of sponsor, Ms. Donna Harrington (1992-
1997), the "Churchill Flags" became the "Theatrix Color Guard" to better reflect the complexity of their performances.
Starting in the Novice division (1992-1993) of the Texas Education Colorguard Association (TEAC), their dedication paid off with a first place at the State Competition. In 1997, the Winter Guard took first place in the TECA open field division with the show, "Damn Yankees."
Since 1997, the group has been know as the Charger Band Color Guard to better relect their importance as an integral part of the Churchill Charger Band.
1966-67 Vincent Hoechten
1967-68 Bob Shepherd
1968-70 Steve Kosub
1970-71 David Jeter
1971-72 Matt Williams
1972-73 Ross Hengst
1973-74 Rich McIver
1974-75 Terry Giese
1975-76 Wayne Gondeck
1976-77 Robbie Copple
1977-79 Dave Loveland
1979-80 Keith Kothman
1980-81 Bryan Dietert
1981-82 Jeff Moczygemba
1982-83 Frank Heyde
1983-85 Roy Trawick
1985-86 Chris Nevins
1986-87 Mike DePonte
1987-88 Paul Ryan
1988-89 Kevin Kleck
1989-90 Mike Davidson
1990-92 Jason Rinehart
1992-93 Darin Northam
1993-94 Jason Decker
1994-95 Stephen Lair
1995-97 Steven Dojahn
1997-98 Peter May
1998-99 Joe Gerfers
1999-00 Steve Lecholop
2000-01 Russell Morton
2001-02 Andy Krenz
2002-03 Daniel Valdez
2003-04 Jessica Powell
2004-05 Kyle Robertson
2005-06 Nathan Trevino
2006-07 Chris Elizondo
2007-08 Scott Duncan
2008-09 Stephanie Hestilow
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In 1966, the newly built Churchill High School was awaiting the first day of class. The new Northeast School had created a lot of media attention, as it was the only public school in San Antonio that was not named after a famous American figure. Across town at Robert E. Lee High School, M.E. Rodman was preparing for his new job as the Band Director of Churchill. A substitute teacher at Lee told Mr. Rodman of her father who had been a guard at Buckingham Palace in England, and that he would be moving to San Antonio later that year. Mr. Rodman remembered that conversation and later contacted Mr. William Dunne to help train the Drum Majors of the new Charger Band. At the time few probably realized the dedication Mr. Dunne would give to the Churchill Drum Major Program. For 14 years he trained every Churchill Drum Major from Vincent Hoechten in 1966 to Jeff Moczygemba in 1981. Mr. Dunne knew Winston Churchill personally and said "...that's why I took the job at the school..." despite requests from other local high schools to teach their programs.
William Dunne was born in Ireland on January 15, 1897, and served in the British Army (Punjab Regiment) where he developed the "swinging" Drum Major style. He was a fighting infantryman in World War I. He trained Drum Majors in India and even trained his only son, Patrick, who was later killed in battle during World War II. "I was the first swinging Major in the British Army," he said with twinkling eyes. "I made up my own style and even passed that training to the Punjab Regiment which, as far as I know, still does it today." Mr. Dunne was the Drum Major of the Royal Fusiliers and worked for Buckingham Palace. His style, known as "swinging" Drum Majors, is still used today at Churchill High School.
During the early years, the band highlighted the Drum Major with traditional songs that the leader would march to for a salute or ending. Originally, the mace twirling was relatively basic because in England the mace can be twirled but is never allowed to leave the hands. The young Churchill Band students added their own "twist" though, and soon the traditional high throw was invented and the twirling known as "shoulders" developed into "doubles" and "triples." Drum Major Bob Shepherd is credited with the first high throw in 1967. In the early 1970's, the uniform for the Drum Major was all white until the present Buckingham Palace duplicate was made. A key part of the uniform was a "Blood Sash" won in battle by Mr. Dunne and given to the Drum Major Program. The sash, given to British wartime heroes, was the equivalent to the American Purple Heart. Queen Victoria presented it to Mr. Dunne after World War I.
Mr. Dunne trained at the High School until 1980 when his health would no longer permit. Mr. Dunne passed away on March 11, 1982 leaving behind a legacy that is respected and still observed today. After his death, the traditions of the Drum Major Program were handed down student to student, year after year. Jeff Moczygemba, the last Drum Major to be trained by Mr. Dunne, has voluntarily continued the training of the Churchill Drum Majors in Mr. Dunne's "swinging" British style.
Ms. Edie Cardwell at Sol Frank designed the current Drum Major uniform. Her design was impressive enough to win an award. The mace and sash must be specially ordered when they need to be replaced. The uniform, hat and mace
are passed on from Drum Major to Drum Major. Each Drum Major is allowed to keep his own gloves. While this traditional uniform is still worn by the Drum Major on special occasions, the year 2000
saw the debut of the "modern" all black Drum Major uniform. |
RECENT CHARGER BAND PERFORMANCES
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2nd Place BOA Regional Finals, Outstanding General
Effect, Houston |
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4th Place BOA Super Regionals, San Antonio |
| 2006 |
Deception of Perception, featuring
the music of Vincent Persichetti |
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3rd Place UIL Texas State
Marching Contest Finals, San Antonio |
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3rd Place BOA Regional Finals,
Houston |
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Outstanding Visual Performance
BOA Regional Prelims, Houston |
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7th Place BOA Super Regional
Finals, San Antonio |
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10th Place BOA Grand Nationals,
Indianapolis |
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| 2005 |
Tournament of Roses Parade,
Pasadena, CA |
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| 2005 |
E F/X! |
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6th Place BOA Super Regional
Finals, San Antonio |
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2nd Place BOA Regional Finals,
Arlington |
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1st Place BOA Regional Finals,
Houston |
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Outstanding Music Performance
BOA Regional Finals, Houston |
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Outstanding Visual Performance
BOA Regional Finals, Houston |
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Outstanding General Effect BOA
Regional Finals, Houston |
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| 2004 |
Blueprints |
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4th Place BOA Regional Finals,
Huntsville |
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1st Place BOA Regional Finals,
La Joya |
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Outstanding Music Performance
BOA Regional Finals, La Joya |
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Outstanding Visual Performance
BOA Regional Finals, La Joya |
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Outstanding General Effect BOA
Regional Finals, La Joya |
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2nd Place BOA Super Regional
Finals, San Antonio |
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1st Place UIL Texas State
Marching Contest Preliminaries, San Antonio |
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5th Place UIL Texas State
Marching Contest Finals, San Antonio |
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| 2003 |
Toxic |
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4th Place BOA Regional Finals,
Arlington |
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5th Place BOA Super Regional
Finals, San Antonio |
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Outstanding Music Performance
BOA Super Regional Finals, San Antonio |
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| 2002 |
Anime |
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5th Place BOA Regional Finals,
Arlington |
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5th Place BOA Regional Finals,
San Antonio |
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4th Place UIL Texas State
Marching Contest, Waco |
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10th Place BOA Grand Nationals,
Indianapolis |
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| 2001 |
Under Construction |
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3rd Place BOA Regional Finals,
San Antonio |
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3rd Place BOA Regional Finals,
Houston |
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| 2000 |
Abstraction |
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2nd Place BOA Regional Finals,
San Antonio |
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6th Place BOA Regional Finals,
Houston |
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3rd Place UIL Texas State
Marching Band Finals |
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| 1999 |
The Power and the Beauty |
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1st Place BOA Regional Finals,
San Antonio |
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4th Place BOA Regional Finals,
Houston |
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9th Place BOA National Finals,
Indianapolis |
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| 1998 |
20th Century Reflections |
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1st Place BOA Regional Finals,
San Antonio |
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2nd Place BOA Regional Finals,
Houston |
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6th Place UIL Texas State
Marching Band Finals |
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9th Place BOA National Finals,
Indianapolis |
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