Ypsilanti High School Boys Band and the Ypsilanti Community Band
Author: Lois Katon
Professor John F. Barnhill, Head of the Michigan State Normal College Math Department, came to
Ypsilanti High School on his Wednesday afternoons off in 1925 to organize a Boys Band. He believed
that “any boy who can whistle can play in a band.” He taught the fundamentals of various
instruments and drilled the boys in precision marching. They played in all Ypsilanti parades and
major parades throughout Michigan, and as early as 1927, gave Summer Band Concerts in Prospect Park.
A very memorable occasion was playing in a massed band performance under the direction of John
Phillip Sousa in Flint. In the 30's, new uniforms were ordered from the Craddock Company in Kansas
City, MO. They were navy blue with gold trim & braid. Red epaulets and black leather belts set
off the uniforms. Summer Concerts in the Park continued to be popular in the 1930s until Professor
Barnhill died in May, 1941. After his death, The Barnhill Memorial Band was organized with help from
Ernest Chappelle and the Ypsilanti Kiwanis. Harold Goodsman was appointed the new Director of the
band.
Some of the young bandsmen still remembered in Ypsilanti today are: Bernard Baer, Willard Clawson,
Lionel Fulton, Harry Gillett, Clarence & Harold Goodsman, Lavern Howard, Rernard Hughes, Lorne
Kennedy, George Moorman, Ed Morhous, Art Smith, Don Stadler, Ralph Stitt, Bob Taber, Edmund Terrall,
& Ken Thayer. After the interruption caused by World War II, the band resumed Summer Concerts in
the Park under several different conductors including Allan Townsend, Don Racine, and George
Cavendar. In 1979 Lynn Cooper was Conductor and it became known as the Ypsilanti Community Band.
Later Paul Stanifer and Charles Lee served for a short period of time, then Ken Bowman was Conductor
for a few years.
When Jerry Robbins came to EMU in 1991, he joined the band as a trombone player and was Assistant
Director from 1993 ‘til he became Director in 1998. He remains in that position today. The
Community Band performs about eight concerts a year including the Memorial Day Concert at The Yankee
Air Force, The Ypsilanti Heritage Festival at Riverside Park, The Christmas Concert at Washtenaw
Community College, and others at WCC and Recreation Park.
Some of the longtime members still active in the YCB today are Harold Goodsman, Lorne Kennedy, Wayne
Jahnke, and Tom Warner.
