Music at McDonogh - Part 1

Prior to entering McDonogh, I had been playing the clarinet since 3rd grade. I decided that I didn't want to join the band because I wanted to march with the rest of the guys. In 7th and 8th grade, we had Shelby Creagh teach us music. Because I did so well in his class, Mr. Creagh recommended to Mr. Wilson (Head of Music in the Upper School) that I receive free music lessons ( a deal that the school gave to scholarship students but didn't publicize). When I visited Mr. Wilson, I told him that I already played the clarinet. So, I ended up receiving free saxophone lessons. Part of that deal was that I play in the band and orchestra. I enjoyed the orchestra, but marching in the band wasn't much fun although I did get out of competitive drill which was a particular drag as a ninth and tenth grade private. I can't remember what days of the week we had band practice, but it wasn't bad. When I played clarinet, I usually sat near Richard Hepner, who was about the most serious musician in the band (I think he was Captain of the band at the beginning of 1970-1971, but like half of the officers in the class of '71, I think he did something to lose his bars and Don Walters took over at the end of the year.).