Historical Project (IN PROGRESS)

The VWHS Bands have a long and wonderful history. We are currently working on the collection of information which may help place the pieces of the puzzle together. If you are in the possession of any information which may help us please email at the address below. And come back soon for the ever-evolving results.

Email r_sloan@vwcs.net with Historical Information

The following list of important dates in the history of the band is by no means complete, and is as accurate as our research has allowed. Most dates have been gathered from Newspaper articles. If you find something in error please feel free to bring it to our attention. We will gladly correct the problem.

1920-1929

1929 March- Leonard Wolf and Superintendent U.E. Diener establish the public school instrumental music program for the Van Wert schools. See a picture of the first VW Band.

(Picture: VW Band- 1929. The band had no uniforms at this point. Mr. Wolf can be seen in the suit just above the "n" in "Band".)

1930-1939

1931 April- The band plays under the direction of Edwin Franko Goldman.

1933 May- The band plays under the direction of Henry Fillmore.

1934 May- The band again plays under the direction of Henry Fillmore.

1936 May- The band travels to Washington DC to broadcast a 30 minute concert from National Broadcast Studios for the National Farm and Home Hour.

1936 Fall- The band marches through football season with new uniforms (perhaps the first time the band had uniforms). The band now had 60 members.

(Picture: "VW" formation- 1936)

1938 May- The band plays under the direction of Charles F. Church (Bowling Green State University).

1940-1949

1942 May- The band plays under the direction of Cliff Bainum (Northwestern University).

1947 May- The band plays under the direction of Mark Hindsley (University of Illinois).

1948 May- The band plays under the direction of Manley R. Whitcomb (The Ohio State University).

1950-1959

1952 Spring- Leonard Wolf, director and founder of the VW Bands retires. Herb Jones takes over direction of the program.

1960-1969

1970-1979

1976 Spring- Director of Bands Jay L. Hall announces his retirement. Anthony Alessandrini takes over direction of the program.

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-2009

2002 Spring- Director of Bands Anthony Alessandrini announces his retirement.