CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HIGH SCHOOL BAND

History

"The Oldest High School Band In America"

The Christian Brothers, a Catholic religious order of teachers, came to Memphis in  November of 1871 and opened a school with twenty-six students. Brother Maurelian, founder and president of the school known as "Christian Brothers College," hired Professor Paul Schneider to organize the school band in 1873. The band's purpose was to take part in community parades and school entertainment. The first band numbered twenty-one players.

From the moment of its founding, the CBHS Band has been a part of Memphis history. In 1876 the band played for the dedication of the fountain in Court Square. At a political reception in 1887, President Grover Cleveland was honored with a CBHS Band performance. The Memphis community called on the CBHS Band in 1892 for the dedication of the old Frisco Railroad Bridge (The Memphis Bridge). It was the first bridge of its kind between St. Louis and New Orleans.

Showing its patriotic zeal, the band participated in the Preparedness Parade in 1916 in honor of those going "over there" to defend democracy in World War 1. The school trophy case displays many honors won by the marching band at Armistice Day Parades during the 1920's and early 1930's. The director responsible for winning many of these awards was Captain Charles Harrison, retired Army officer who directed the Brothers Band until 1940.

In 1940, the baton passed to Brother Joseph Raphael, a Christian Brother who is responsible for the organization of the band as it is today. In addition to directing the band after school, Brother Raphael was busy teaching a full schedule of academics. By 1946 the need for a full time director was evident; so, Brother Raphael brought Ralph Gordon Hale into the CBHS family.

Mr Hale gained national acclaim as a top notch teacher and director. Under his direction the band continued the tradition of community service and excellence in concert. During his thirty-seven year tenure, the band made appearances at the dedications of the Grace Chemical Company, St. Joseph Hospital, and St. Jude Research Hospital for Children. Political dignitaries such as Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, and Edmund Muskie heard the band perform. Mr. Hale also began a tradition of inviting the nation's finest instrumentalists to perform with the band. The band has received superior or excellent ratings at the West Tennessee Concert Band and Sight Reading Festival every year since the festival's beginning in 1946.

Just as Brother Raphael sought his replacement in 1946, Ralph Hale began to search for his successor in January of 1980. Providence guided Mr. Hale to Gabriel Michael Krepper in April of 1980. Under Mr. Krepper's direction the band has maintained its reputation for excellence in concert and competition as well as remaining faithful to the founding principles of entertainment and community service. The band performed for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Thompson Wing of St. Francis Hospital in 1981 and the Church of the Incarnation in the spring of 1985. The band provided entertainment for the 97th anniversary of the founding of St. Joseph Hospital in March of 1986 and the dedication of "The Memphis Bridge" as a National Historic Civil Engineering landmark in October of 1987. In February of 1990 the band performed for a convocation on the campus of Christian Brothers College celebrating the visit of Brother John Johnston, F.S.C., Superior General and former Christian Brothers Band president.

After Mike Krepper's departure in 2000, the Christian Brothers asked alumni Patrick Joseph Bolton to continue the tradition of excellence the band has accomplished in its 130 years of existence.   In 2000 the band was invited to play for the George W. Bush Inaugural Day Festival in Washington D.C. , and the band won first place in the 2001 Veterans Day Parade.  The band also graced the fields of Shiloh National Military Park for the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh.

The band's challenge throughout its over one hundred and twenty-five year history has been to provide musical culture and entertainment to both school and community. Each director has answered the call to duty and has upheld the high standards initiated by the band's founding father, Professor Schneider. By the grace of God the Christian Brothers Band will proudly serve ad infinitum.

CBHS BAND                    Detailed History by Year