DCHS Music

DCHS has a tradition of musical excellence that began in 1919 when Principal C.W. Smick introduced music into the school's curricula. A lot has changed in 100+ years, but the tradition that is DCHS Music has not.

For 42 straight years, DCHS has either hosted a regional or state music festival in the spring – with three exceptions - 2009 when Regionals were canceled because of weather so DCHS hosted its own festival, in 2020 when covid cancelled all regional and state music festivals, and in 2021 when KSHSAA held virtual contests. Rather than an in-person festival, students sent in video tapes.

Since 1975, with the exception of three years in the early 1980s and then in 2020 and 2021, DCHS has hosted a music festival; that’s 46 festivals in 51 years.

This year, the Regional Music Festival is April 5 - once again at DCHS.

The annual regional festival, called "Districts" at one time, started in 1938, which was a two-day event in Norton that included grade school students as well as high school students, marching bands, baton twirling, vocal and instrumental solos and ensembles, and large vocal and instrumental groups.

Before then, DCHS music students participated in the Western Kansas High School Music Contest held at Hays State Teachers' College, which began in 1919. As a contest, schools competed against each other - playing or singing the same selections - for placings and a first-place loving cup or trophy.

Festivals, on the other hand, are not competitions. Instead, musicians perform for a rating. Today, they aspire for a I rating, or superior. In 1938, their goal was the top rating of “highly superior.”

DCHS started attending the Hays music contest in 1923. That first year, Harold McKay (pictured) won first place in in the baritone solos, Kathleen Heitmann won second in the alto solos, and the Girls’ Glee Club placed third. The Girls’ Quartet received an Honorable Mention.

“That is the amount of winnings by the Decatur crowd, but considering that this is the first year for Decatur students to contest, that showing was not so bad” (Oberlin Herald May 10, 1923).

“On account of the muddy conditions of the roads, a number of car owners who had figured on making the trip backed out Thursday and did not go. A few cars started, however, and reached Hays in time Friday for the contestants in solo singing and instrumental music to compete. Cars carrying the glee clubs started Friday noon and reached Hays that night” (Oberlin Herald May 10, 1923).

In 1926, Tom McKay (Harold's younger brother) placed first among 29 tenor soloists, and the Boys’ Quartet (Ralph Stowell, Cadet Gierhart, Tom McKay, and Ward Claar – pictured) also took first “among 15 contesting quartets, winning a silver loving cup and a cash prize of $15” (Decatur Yearbook 1926).

The DCHS Band and Fausta Vernon (out of 39 alto solos) placed second. As a school, DCHS was 4th overall (Decatur Yearbook 1926).

In 1927 and 1928, DCHS won the sweepstakes' cups at the Hays Music Festival.

In 1927, “Decatur was awarded the 14-inch loving cup for making the greatest number of points in the music contest at Hays, May 4-7. Fifty-five of the 57 schools in this district were entered, and over 1,000 students competed. Decatur won first place in boys’ quartet, boys’ glee club, and mixed chorus (pictured); second in band and third in alto solo (Fausta Vernon), making a total of 53 points. Garfield High School was second with 48 points.” DCHS also won $110 in prize money (Decatur Dictator May 16, 1927).

Pictured are the 1927 Mixed Chorus, who won first place at the Hays contest, and the four trophies DCHS won: Mabel Fair, Aileen Vernon, Pearl Henningson, Marjorie Stevenson, Aileen Morrison, Charles Hinchee, director; Lona Bates, Margaret Eiler, Lillian Claar, Vergie Anderson, Ellanette Gierhart; (second row) Bernice Gillette, Frances Eiler, Nola Brunk, Edith Anderson, Alice Francis, Della Fletcher, Gladys Griffith, Carl Nicodemus, Francis Cevely, Lucille Torluemke, Mary Benton, Myrtle Peterson, Marjorie Coldren, Fausta Vernon, Mable McKay; (back row) Elmer Armstrong, Dale Bates, Tommy McKay, Virgil Harmon, Dale Lenon, Adolph Ratzlaff, Ward Claar, Kenneth Slocum, Claude Kelley, Cadet Gierhart, Dale Wilbur, Eldon Peterson, LaVelle Sears, Stewart Francis.

The following year, DCHS won the sweepstakes cup again and $110 in prize money by scoring 71 points. LaCrosse was second with 32. “A special honor to Decatur’s band came Thursday evening when it was asked to appear in a concert with the college band. 'I want to show Hays and my band what a high school band can do with proper support,' said Walter Emsch, Hays College director” (Decatur Dictator May 14, 1928).

“If we had the money, I should take them to the national contest in Illinois,” said Julius Pillar, Decatur’s band director (pictured). “We’d place anyway” (May 14, 1928).

“Seventy-three contestants were successfully transported to and from Hays besides drivers and chaperones all without a single mishap of any kind. . . It would have been impossible to make the trip had it been necessary to pay any form of carfare.

"The only pay those who furnished cars will receive is the satisfaction of having helped win the prizes and in the knowledge that the Oberlin school was first out of 57 entries” (Oberlin Herald May 14, 1928). Oberlin was the only school to enter a contestant in every event.

"In addition to the band’s first place, the girls’ glee club, under the direction of Charles Hinchee, also placed first. According to the Oberlin Herald, one judge said, "The outstanding performance by high school students for the week was the singing of the Oberlin girls' glee club" (May 14, 1928). The chorus and the boys’ glee club came in second.

Also placing first were Billy Langmade (pictured), flute; Edwin Hitchcock, saxophone; Virgil Odell, trombone; and Wayne Bone, clarinet (May 14, 1928).

In 1929, DCHS placed second in the sweepstakes at the Hays Music Contest, in which 2,000 students from 75 schools participated; DCHS lost to Russell by just four points.

However, two contests were held at Hays in 1929 - the annual Western Kansas Music Contest and a state band and orchestra contest, which the DCHS band won. Their first-place finish qualified them for Nationals in Denver -- even though they placed second in the Western Kansas contest. (The rules and judges' scoring were different in the two contests.)

Also placing first at the state contest and qualifying for nationals were Virgil Odell, trombone; Earl Walton, sousaphone; Curtis Steele, cornet; and Harry Murphy, trombone.

"Much credit is due Julius W. Piller, instructor of instruments and director of the band and orchestra. Prof. Piller is a graduate of the Vienna School of Music, Vienna, Austria, and a classmate of Fritz Krisler, noted violinist. He has taught music for 35 years, two of which have been spent in Decatur. He was an army band leader both in Europe and America and has taught in Hungary, Austria, Canada, and America" (Decatur Dictator, 1929 Senior Edition).

The Commercial Club, which is now the Chamber of Commerce, voted at a special meeting to give the band $300 for trip expenses.

DCHS was the smallest band in the national contest with 36 members; the band closest in number had 47. Because of its small size, they were subject to a 15 percent deduction and did not place.

Fourteen cars, loaded with band students and instruments - some of them borrowed from the city band - made the trip to Denver.

The following are members of the 1929 Band: Francis Cevely, Curtis Steele, Roy Campbell, John Peters, James Young, Max Brock, Bill McMullen, Harold Dyer, Ray Votapka, Junior Metts, Merlin Zimmerman, Bernie Rubendall, Junior Howard, Cordette Cevely, Harrison Francis, Mabel Wickham, Milton Nitsch, Herbert Dyer, Harold Lohoefener, Harry Murphy, Wayne Herzog, Howard McClure, Hilgert Odell, Lowell Francis, Velma Fleming, Virgil Harmon, Virgil Odell, Earl Walton, Ernest Wilson, Gladys Griffith, Marjorie Dryden, Vera Reeves, Nila Gill, Dan Wilson, Bill Langmade, and Gustave Lippelmann.

1929 was also the year that DCHS, under the direction of Charles Hinchee, DCHS vocal instructor, and Principal C.W. Smick, started a Class B music contest for smaller schools in Northwest Kansas "without well-organized music departments."

The contest was sponsored by the Oberlin Chamber of Commerce and DCHS (Oberlin Herald April 25, 1929).

The contest pieces were the same selections used by B class schools at the Hays music contest. All contestants who participated in the Northwest Kansas Contest could also compete at the Hays contest. Medals for first and second place were presented by D.G. Addleman (pictured) and the Oberlin Chamber of Commerce at the conclusion of the contest (Oberlin Herald April 18 1929).

Eleven schools and 238 students from McDonald, Rexford, Norcatur, Selden, Lenora, Jennings, Clayton, St. Francis, Gem, Brewster and Bird City participated in the contest. Music instructors from Norton, Hoxie, and Atwood judged the contest. St. Francis won the most points.

Participating schools showed a great deal of interest. "It will be a big thing for Oberlin if this spring contest for B schools is made an annual thing," said Principal Smick (Oberlin Herald April 18, 1929).

Nearly 200 students competed in the second annual Northwest Kansas Music Contest the following year. "The contest which was to have been held 10 days previously had been postponed on account of the prevalent epidemic in Oberlin. [The Oberlin elementary school was closed for two weeks because of measles and scarlet fever.] It was hurriedly rearranged only after the extent of the entrants' disappointment became known" (Oberlin Herald May 1, 1930).

Fourteen school had originally planned to attend the contest, and all but four made it. Grinnell won the sweepstakes, but had an advantage over Lenora of only two points until the last number, the mixed chorus.

"The Oberlin Chamber of Commerce made this contest possible by taking care of the financial end of it. Their cooperation with the local school in arranging the affair, together with the splendid spirit of the contestants and their accompanying directors and school officials made this contest one of the most interesting ever held in Oberlin" (Oberlin Herald May 1, 1930).

At the 1930 Western Kansas Music Contest in Hays, DCHS won the sweepstakes again -- for the third time in four years. DCHS beat Norton by three points. The DCHS band and orchestra both placed first. Also placing first were Nila Gill, French horn; Virgil Odell (pictured), baritone; and the boys' quartet.

"This year, local students have repeatedly won honors, calling for well-deserved commendations, until accounts of them have used all of the words of credit as well as synonyms. . . It is also highly probable that the splendid backing which Oberlin people have given school enterprises has contributed much toward making their winning possible" (Oberlin Herald May 3, 1930).

For the fourth time, DCHS won the sweepstakes at the Hays music contest in 1931. The mixed chorus, the band, and the orchestra all won first place. Junior Howard (pictured) also won first with his French horn solo.

"Drivers of cars had no trouble making the trip to Hays, except three who went by the way of Hoxie and Grainfield and found the mud between those two points very, very sticky.

"Those making the trip later were directed by way of Gem and Oakley and had gravel all the way after passing Dresden" (Oberlin Herald May 7, 1931).

Because of the Great Depression and the expense, competitions were limited in 1932 and 1933. The only DCHS music competitions in 1932 were the district marching band contest in Colby and the Western Kansas Contest in Hays with only six DCHS soloists attending.

Of the six, four of them placed at Hays - Leora Rezner (pictured), second in French horn; Ray Votapka, second in clarinet; Arthur Dowling, second in oboe; and Bob Redman, third in trumpet.

"After the school heads and the parents of the students active in the musical organizations discussed the matter, it seemed advisable to decline the invitations to compete on a large scale this year. No group of music students competed in any event" except for the district marching contest (Oberlin Herald May 5, 1932).

"Five bands contested Friday afternoon at Colby in a contest featuring street marching and ability to play while on the march." Norton won the contest with 67 points, followed by DCHS with 66. Atwood was third with 65 points.

"The bands were judged on six points, the first having to do with their appearance while on the march, and the sixth - their ability to play."

The comparative score of the Norton and Oberlin bands is below:

• 10 points - Even spacing of players in line of march: Norton - 9, Oberlin - 5
• 10 points - Alignment of marchers - Norton - 9, Oberlin - 10
• 10 points - Marching in step - Norton - 10, Oberlin - 9
• 10 points - Carriage of players - Norton - 9, Oberlin 10
• 10 points - Position of instruments in players' hands - Norton - 9, Oberlin - 8
• 25 points - Playing - Norton 21, Oberlin - 24

"This comparative score shows that in appearance, it was a standoff between the two bands except in the one point of even spacing of players in line of march, in which Norton had a 4-point advantage.

"But in playing ability, the Oberlin band had a 3-point advantage, and in the minds of most people, playing ability is what really counts.

"All of the other five bands present had better uniforms than does Oberlin; the Norton band especially having very pretty uniforms and naturally they make a finer appearance while on parade, but we will back the Oberlin band in playing ability against any of them" (Oberlin Herald April 14, 1932).

The DCHS band participated in just one contest in 1933 - again the district marching band contest. DCHS placed third behind Atwood and Norton, who won for the second year in a row.

"Oberlin band members, as well as many Decatur County folk in Colby for the contest, were somewhat disappointed when the announcement of the placings was made, giving the Decatur band third place. Marching third in the line of parade, the Oberlin band, clad in the new red capes, presented a most attractive picture as they marched eight abreast through the long lines of spectators.

"However, it is believed the eight-abreast line of marching had something to do with their rating in the contest. The other bands marched five and six abreast, which made it easier to maintain straight lines through the crowded street.

"Altogether, it was rather an ill-fated day for the Decatur aggregation. Enroute to Colby, one of the cars carrying band members was wrecked, injuring one member of the band. Two of the girl members also fainted while standing in line waiting to march" (Oberlin Herald April 13).

Only three soloists made the trip to the Hays music contest in 1933. Ray Votapka (pictured), was rated superior in clarinet; Robert Redman - excellent in baritone and very good in trumpet; and Leora Rezner - very good in French horn.

This year the music contestants for the first time were rated "highly superior," "superior," "excellent," and "very good" - rather than ranked first, second, third.

Oberlin music students continued to bring back honors from the Western Kansas Music Contest in Hays. In 1934, Richard Bowles (pictured) received one of only three "highly superior" ratings given at the music contest. His rating was in the trombone solo contest.

The following year, "The Hays music contest was rather of a disappointment to the people who entered. The judging this year was especially strict. No ratings were given in the boys' glee club, French horn solo, brass horn solo, and out of 28 cornet soloists who were entered, not a one was given a rating. This meant that ratings that were bestowed were doubly appreciated and gave the winner a distinction that he does not have in a contest where they grade more easily" (Oberlin Herald April 28, 1935).

Roy Cody (pictured) earned a "superior" with his trombone solo, Elaine Van Vleet, an "excellent" on her saxophone solo; and Bernie Rubendarl, a "very good" on his clarinet solo.

A few DCHS musicians also competed at a music contest at Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma, with four of them earning a "superior" rating. "This is a fact to be proud of since the contest included 38 bands and some four thousand persons" (Oberlin Herald April 11, 1935).

Receiving "superior" on their solos were Lorene Harger, piano; Carl Frickey (pictured), bass horn; Roy Cody, trombone; and Elvera Cox, who was awarded the only "superior" ranking given in the cello contest.

First and second places were not given in this contest, but the two best in each contest were awarded the title of "superior."

By 1936, DCHS music groups could travel again. Band students with their director Bert Hostinsky returned to Enid, this time for the Tri-State Band Contest, which included 4,400 students from 41 schools in three states. The bands were divided into three classes according to enrollment - A, B, and C. DCHS competed in the B class and came home with the highest honor of first place.

"According to rules, the marching contestants were judged on military appearance, playing ability while marching, neatness of rank and files, drum major's control, maintenance of tempo, and cleverness of stunts and general effect. Their promptness in marching onto and off the field also counted" (Oberlin Herald April 9, 1936).

Six DCHS soloists were also ranked first - Aileen Wenger (pictured), alto vocal; Myrna Raymond, string bass; Gertrude Morris, flute; Don Dryer, baritone; Lloyd Reist, trombone, and Leonard Wegener, clarinet.

"When you consider that our local band was competing in a group of 4,400 youngsters from three states, against bands which had spent as much as $6,000 for their uniforms, and that most bands from high schools with enrollment of Decatur Community High School are located in towns of 5,000 or more, Oberlin's band and Mr. Hostinksy indeed deserve hearty congratulations" (Oberlin Herald April 9, 1936).

Mr. Hostinsky thanked all of the Oberlin people who made the trip possible by taking the contestants in their cars as well as the band directors from Herndon and Norton for the use of a few pieces of equipment, which were borrowed from them.

Nearly 125 band and vocal students from DCHS participated in the annual Hays music contest. This year, the judges used five different ratings - superior, excellent, good, fair, and poor.

Gertrude Morrish (pictured) was the only DCHS musician to earn a superior rating; she received it on her flute solo. The DCHS marching band placed second, behind Ellis.

KSHSAA organizes festivals.