CUMBERLAND — Allegany High School’s marching band is embracing uniqueness and individuality with its “Wildflower” show this fall season.
The show utilizes choreography and wildflower imagery to tell the story that is intended to be interpreted in many different ways, band director Ken Pfromm said.
“I like the different ideas that go around with it,” sophomore snare drum player Connor Sheehe said. “As with most shows, it can be interpreted in many different ways, and I feel like that’s just a really nice thing about marching band is it’s not just about the music or just about the color guard, it’s about the ideas that it brings up.”
The performance begins with “AYO,” by an African-American composer named Katahj Copley. The song is a “curious and upbeat” song that kicks off the performance.
“This one specifically, I think, is about being different, being a wildflower,” senior drum major Elias Trexler said. “It’s definitely very challenging for guard and band, which is good because it kind of proves our musical ability.”
The band is made up of approximately 60 musicians and about 20 color guard performers.
“We try to keep the idea a little bit vague, that way we can have multiple interpretations,” Pfromm said “That’s the whole thing this year with wildflower, is you’re talking about the plant. Also if you were to talk about a person who’s a wildflower, it’s someone trying to find their way. They’re not part of just a group, they are their own individual.”
The next song they perform is called “A True Passion” by Lorne Balfe, which Pfromm said has a somewhat pop sound to it.
“I think a big word with all of this is connected,” sophomore flute player Rylie McCullough said. “We are all very connected, especially in our band, and I think that’s the beauty of it all with music, is that we take something so uncontrollable and different and we put it together and make something beautiful, and we need each other to make it that amazing.”
Allegany High’s band will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and Pfromm, who has been director for five years, is dedicated to fulfilling and continuing its legacy. Throughout the history of the nearly century-old band, there have only been nine directors.
The previous director, Larry Jackson, was with the band for 26 years, and before taking the job, Pfromm got to know Jackson, and admired his work as a director.
Pfromm is originally from western New York. Since moving here, he’s fallen in love with the area, the band program and the community.
“There’s just been a lot of love and care, especially as an outsider …” he said. “For me, being an outsider, I can offer insight I’ve seen between living in New York, living in West Virginia, now living in Maryland, but also honoring that legacy and trying to encompass it altogether.”
Some Allegany band students agree that the connections made while being a part of band makes all the difference.
“I like how I can make so many friends, because I’ve met so many people throughout marching band that I thought I would never talk to,” sophomore percussionist Anabelle Morehead said. “I like how we’re able to all connect because we all have something in common that we love to perform.”
Not only do they connect with each other, they like to connect with students in other bands at games and competitions.
“The other groups and the other bands, even though for competitive we’re going against them, we’re still friends with them,” Sheehe said. “I think it’s nice to learn about the people in the community.”
During their performance during a game on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Allegany’s band and Frankfort’s band came together to perform the national anthem.
Their final song in their show is called “Dances of a Shimmering Spirit” by Robert Shelvin. The song is fast-paced and high-energy.
The band students agree the community and parent support is very important and helpful to their band.
“The community definitely helps us out because we have someone who has consistently gone to Allegany marching competitions and before the show starts, he yells, ‘Allegany rocks’ consistently for over 20 years,” Trexler said.
Sheehe said the challenges and growth that come with band are part of the reason that the students enjoy band.
“There’s kind of been this resurgence of what is your why? And for me, the kids are my why,” Pfromm said.
“There’s nothing better than seeing a kid work on something and it could take them a few days or it could take them four years, but seeing that moment when all of a sudden they get something, it finally clicks and that’s the cool thing about what we do.”
Natalie Leslie can be reached at 304-639-4403.