LCC grads show their love of music with WSC Marching Band
WAYNE — “What football game? I’m here for the band.”
Kristie Martin donned a custom t-shirt she had made for the days that her son Cody, would be marching with the Wayne State College Marching Band.
She had been expecting to wear it this fall as she sat in the stands at the Wayne State College football games.
However, due to COVID-19, this year there won't be any football games for the NCAA Division II Wildcats.
Despite the halt in athletic competitions, the WSC marching band is still producing a show and performing for the public, though.
Most recently it was during the Wayne Chicken Show at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
There are currently five alumni from Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School participating in the WSC marching band. Abbie Bloom, Michael Kurtzhals, Cody Martin, Kaden Swanson, and Ethan Williams are all members this year.
Bloom and Martin are Music Education majors, Kurtzhals is an Earth Science major, Swanson is a History Education major, and Williams is an Elementary Education major.
Each student gave credit to major influencers in their musical upbringing for choosing to participate at the collegiate level.
“Claudia Dvorak instilled a love for music inside of me from an early age,” Bloom said. “I took voice and piano lessons from her for a long time. I’ve always known I wanted to do something with music, and now I am so glad I am in Music Education.”
Kurtzhals got his love of music from another LCC instructor.
“Patti Beyeler, my high school music teacher, taught me that music is more than the notes on a sheet. It’s what is in the heart. I am in band because it means community to me — people coming together to do what they love,” he said.
Martin said Beyeler had a major influence on him, as well.
“Mrs. Beyeler has been the driving influence in my life to pursue music education. I loved marching band in high school and continued on because it was so much fun,” he said. “She has inspired me to be a music teacher.”
Swanson said music has always played a big role in his life. Playing in the WSC band was just a natural fit, he said.
“I have always had a major love for music. It has always been a passion of mine. When offered to do it at the college level, I couldn’t resist.” said Swanson.
Williams agreed.
“I’m doing marching band because it is fun. I always enjoyed it in high school, so I choose to continue to do it.”
Wayne State College will hold an exhibition of the band on Saturday, Oct. 17. That was the day originally slated for Homecoming, but all those activities have since been modified or cancelled.
The band will play on, however..
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