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What started as a solemn occasion — the funeral for a high school band mate — culminated in the rebirth of a group of musicians who were once part of one of the premiere high school marching bands in the state, the Arvin High Crimson Brigade.

Many band members hadn’t spoken since the mid-1980s when they graduated from high school and scattered down separate roads. They were older, but as they reminisced about the glory days — early morning practice drills and Friday night boisterous football games blasting the stands with the Arvin Bears’ fight song — one thing hadn’t changed,  it was still all about the music.

“We all got together — we talked about the band, and we all thought it would be great to perform together again at homecoming games,” said Sheryl (Anama) Rodriguez, a 1985 Arvin High graduate.

With that, the Arvin High Alumni Band began to take shape. After more than two decades, 28 members of the original Crimson Brigade performed together again for the first time at Arvin High’s homecoming in September.

The alumni band has since played at other functions, including an Arvin High alumni basketball game. For the small reunion band, it’s a joy to make music, but more importantly, through fundraising and hard work, they’d like to help this farming community’s music program grow and reclaim the spirit they once enjoyed.

“Our main goal is that we are giving back to the Arvin High music program by supporting the band — high school and pre-high school students — by showing them that they can be the best that they can,” said Barry Thome, the alumni group’s president and a 1985 graduate. “Arvin was once a top marching band in the state, and there is no reason why they couldn’t be once more.”

The Arvin High band currently has about 73 instrument players; quite a bit less than the days when the band claimed top prizes in the county and state. At one time, the AHS band was down to less than 20 members.

The alumni would like to see a major sponsor step in to help finance programs such as band camps to target the area’s junior highs and middle schools.

The group’s Web site — www.arvinhighalumniband.org — invites other Arvin alumni band members and the community to get involved. Membership dues and donations have helped the group already give $250 scholarships to two graduating Arvin High band members. Donations also help purchase costly instruments, which is an out-of-reach expense for many of the families in this community.

“We can help them with money, but encouragement and a positive influence is what children really need,” said Thome, who plays the trumpet. “The scholarships we offer are a good motivation for children to work hard in both studies and music.”

To further support the school’s music program, the alumni group travels to away games and fills in as the school’s Pep Band.

“None of the kids can afford to go to the away games,” said Rodriguez, the group’s public relations spokeswoman and a tenor saxophone player. “We noticed that some of the kids don’t know the Alma Mater or the fight song.”

“We want to help them get the spirit back,” she said.
Alumni members act as advisers during the marching season; some even find the time to give free music lessons.

“We want them to be as good as they can be,” said Luis Alvarez, a drummer and vice president of the group.

In turn, of course, the group’s efforts are appreciated by current-day AHS officials.

“The Arvin High School Alumni Band is important to us because they show students that playing music is something to be cherished long after high school,” said Thomas R. Jones, director of instrumental music at AHS. “The alumni share stories and offer inspiration and encouragement to student musicians at all ability levels.”

“Students realize that band at Arvin High School is bigger than just an individual. They realize that during their four years here, they create and sustain something truly special!”

For more information about sponsorship, membership and fundraisers, visit the alumni band’s Web site or contact Rodriguez at 735-5688.