Bands Alumni

In 1906-07, a new leader of the band is listed in The Sequel. The article reports, “It is a lovely band, made up of students, with a talented student as leader” (Band, The, p. 89). Burch was still involved with the band and it is unclear to determine if the student leader was just serving as conductor. On December 10 1907, his role was clearly defined in the Secretaries Book: “A called meeting was held in room 27. Mr. Burch acting chairman” (p. 6).Burch continued performing with the band as is listed as a baritone player in the 1907-08 school year. The student leader, Orral Dale Earls, is identified in the 1907 edition of The Sequel as a solo cornetist and a 10th grade student in the preparatory school, which was housed at the Western Illinois State Normal School (Band, The, p. 101).

In the 1906-07 President’s Annual Report of the Western Illinois State Normal School, Earls is listed as hailing from Fandon, Illinois (p. 65). He remained an officer of the band for one year. On January 12, 1907 it was reported: “At the regular meeting of the band (of the band), as the officers had withdrawn, Mr. Earls was elected Pres., F. McCall Vice President and C. Crabb Sec. and Treas” (p. 16). Burch continued teaching manual arts and remained involved in the band meetings until 1908.