Rockford East High School opened in 1940 during the same year as Rockford West High School (now the name of a middle school). The name E-Rabs stands for East Red & Black. The band uniforms are red and black and all these pictures from 1987 to 1999 are the same uniforms. Rockford East, along with the other four high schools, are in the process of raising money to purchase new uniforms. At the time of the 1999 Memorial Day Parade, only Jefferson High School received their new uniforms. Scroll down to see images of the Rockford East High School Marching Band from the 1999 Memorial Day Parade and a sample of E-Rabs bands from earlier years.
[Here is Rockford East High School in 1999]
[East High School Marching Band
Directed by Mr. Richard Nolting
Memorial Day Parade
Faust Landmark, State Street and Seventh Street
Rockford, Illinois
May 31, 1999]
[Band Director Richard Nolting is ready to use his whistle.
Hint! He is in the background and not carrying pompoms!]
"BAND MEMBERS HAPPY WITH THEIR LONG AWAITED UNIFORMS
After the long wait and the hard work, Band members finally had smiles on their faces when the new uniforms arrived. The overlays came just in time for homecoming. The hats were a week late, but the band was able to march in them at the playoff games. "I was so excited when the uniforms finally arrived. I couldn't wait to wear them at the homecoming game. I just wish the hats had been here too," commented Amy Mikels, junior. "Opening night" for the uniforms was a memorable one as Band marched happily through the rain. "Everybody was so hyped up and ready to show off their uniforms that it didn't matter if we were sloshing through the mud and rain. It just made it more fun," stated Tod Vrolick, junior. Band members have been raising money for the uniforms for six years to reach the total cost of $9000. "I've been working to raise money for them since my freshman year and I'm really glad they finally came before I had to leave," said Jared Fewell, senior. Mr. Doug Hoffman, director said, "The uniforms are 1000 percent better than what we had and everyone is really excited about them." Besides being excited about the uniforms, Greg Sjogren, junior, and Gigi Garwood, senior, were excited about being chosen for All-State Band. "It was really a surprise that Gigi and I both went down state. I couldn't believe it," stated Greg. Greg has been a member of Symphonic Band since his freshman year and plays the euphonium. Gigi has been in Symphonic Band since her freshman year and plays the clarinet. Gigi said, "Music is one of my main interests and I'm really honored I was chosen." Mr. Hoffman added, "Gigi and Greg are talented musicians and this is a great opportunity for them to play with the best musicians in the state."
--From the Rockford East High School Yearbook, 1987, p. 70.
Courtesy of the Board of Education, Rockford Public Schools
[Here are some images of Rockford East Band Members in the new uniforms for 1987 and some of the following years:]
[Troy Culp, Brad Walker, Andrew Walsh playing at halftime]
(Not everybody in the picture is identified in the yearbook)
VARSITY BAND
[1ST ROW: Jeremy Johnson, Laura Yunk, Leon Webster, Chris Bergman
2ND ROW: Brian Carlson, Shelley Gulick, Cathi Turner, Terri Morales, Andy Walsh, Doug Hagstrom
3RD ROW: Jeremy Jeffery John Stehman, Bret Ingram, Holly Davis, James Plantz, Jamie Ehresman, Liz Erickson, Caryn Asprooth, Aaron Whitmire
4TH ROW: Pam Shirley, Jerel Pincham, Jason Newcomb, Jennifer Baerwapard, Jennifer Haldeman, Mr. Hoffman]
[The band is performing at a football playoff game
Corey McManus and Greg Damon are drum majors and Mr. Doug Hoffman is the band director]
The marching and concert bands performed at all the home football games, basketball games, pep assemblies, Fall Concert, Winter Band Concert, Memorial Day Parade, graduation, All-City Band Festival, and played at a Rockford Lightening basketball game for E-Rab Night.
--From the Argus '87, the yearbook for East High School.
VARSITY BAND
FRONT ROW: Kim Johnson, Emily Derr, Sharotte Burger, Ammi Brien, Kris Pearson, Brittany Quiggle
2ND ROW: Valerie Strommer, Margie Larson, Nicholas Strapko, Chris Buetch, David Levernz, Staci Mead
3RD ROW: Jason Witmire, Kame Cuppini, James Plantz, Andy Davis, Bob Harris, Brian Houd, Mr, Hoffman]
[Band members anxiously awaiting the football game]
RABS BAND
[FRONT ROW: Effe Livas, Julee Johnson, Dan Johnson, Lesly Garcia, Alton Shelvin, Michael Smith, Chris Samuelson, Becky Arwood, Mark Tonione
2ND ROW: Cheri Gist, Elana Schelling, Debbie Larson, Laura Goodin, Janice McCarren, Kim Aughenbaugh, Julie Fyhrlund, Therea Zito, Paul Wallschlaeger
3RD ROW: Noah Castillo, Cara Myers, Dan Nelson, Nicole Moscinski, Tracy Pauley, Greg Heeren, Shawn Johnson, Renee Kirby, Cory Williams
4TH ROW: Steve Mirable, Nathan Griffith, Doug Clark, Darrell Messer, Ryan Regan, Bill Marks, Terry Hart, Denise Johnson, Mr. Hoffman]
To commemorate the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, the band performed a show called Olympic Fanfare for the halftime of the football games. "The 'Olympic Fanfare' was difficult to put together because of the five Olympic rings we did. It took a lot of patience and time to perfect it," said Freshman Shane Theiss. The band also performed at the Winter Concert, Fine Arts Division festival, Labor Day Parade, dedication of the new playground at Gregory Elementary School, and the Memorial Day Parade. The students also sold grapefruits and oranges for one of their fundraisers.
--From the article, "Marching Season Successful" in the Argus '89, East High School Yearbook, p. 84.
Courtesy of the Board of Education, Rockford Public Schools
"E-RAB BANDS ADD EXTRA SOMTHING TO SCHOOL'S ENTHUSIASM
The scheduling for the bands was a little different this year. Before, all of the other classes started at 9:15, one band class was held at 8:20. Because of the shorter day, many students who wanted band could not otherwise have found time for it...Varsity was composed of sophmores, juniors, and seniors who had room for band in their schedules." The Rabs Band is usually formed by freshmen. Symphonic Band is for more advanced students to play in concerts. For the 1989-1990 school year, there were five band concerts. Varsity, Symphonic, and Rabs all combined for the marching season which included all the home football games and the Memorial Day and Labor Day Parades.
--From the Argus '90, East High School Yearbook, p. 120.
Courtesy of the Board of Education, Rockford Public Schools
[VARSITY BAND
1ST ROW: Cheri Gist, Noah Castill, Mike Smith, Carri Baker, Julee Johnson
2ND ROW: Val Strommer, Tracey Pauley, Steve Mirable, Dan Whitehead, Mar Maschke
3RD ROW: Laurie Johnson, Greg Heeren, Rob Harris, Denise Johnson, Mr. Hoffman]
RABS BAND
1ST ROW: Christy Miniemayer, Jerry Dalton, Kim Nguyen, Sonya Perez, Janis Betts, Derek Hunter, Kim Pauley
2ND ROW: Madonna McFarland, Gabe Castillo, Kristin Jones, Amy Hodges, Mike Brown, Jenny Johnson, Nicki Schnaufer, Andrea Stricker
3RD ROW: Brian Buetsch, Ryan Gordon, Steven Smice, Fernando Perez, Ryan Peterson, Jeff Dulmage, Lisa Brandenburg, Mr. Hoffman]
Copyright 1999 Rockford Public Schools. All Rights Reserved. All images are the property of the Rockford Public Schools and may be used only with permission.
