02/27/2026
It is amazing the York High Alumni Band has made it to the 50th year!! It is quite an accomplishment for a high school alumni band, and everyone who has ever participated should be proud. We thank everyone who has marched and performed with us, supported us, and cheered us on over these 50 years.
The committee has decided it is time to go out with a bang for our 50th Year and make this our last year. It is very sad- but with fewer members and less consistent participation, it seems to be the right decision to go out after this milestone year.
We hope to see a great turnout at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Band Night and the York Halloween Parade to celebrate this milestone of 50 years!!
Since 2026 will be the last year we participate in the York Saint Patrick’s Day Parade- please join us on March 14, if you are able to march- now is the time!! All of the parade info is in the pinned post.
We would never have been here without Tom Gibbs and those who helped him with starting the alumni band. Tom had said that in the beginning, there were those who thought we wouldn’t get beyond 10 years and here we are at 50. He also said they always knew from the beginning, there would someday be an ending. Tom and each person who served on the committee over the years kept the band going and helped to provide us with this experience to celebrate our alma mater in a way that most people are never afforded.
We are also thankful for the participation of the York High Band and Bearcub students and the support of the York City Music Department. Thanks to Kevin Crawmer for his involvement in our committee meetings, constant support, and help promoting the alumni band to his students.
If we had not had the participation of the York High and Bearcub bands for the St. Patrick’s Day parade and had not combined bands for the Halloween Parade in recent years, there would have been many times we would not have been able to put a band on the street. Our committee has lost several members over the past few years, and we have only gained one new committee member in over a decade.
This decision did not come easy, was not taken lightly, and was made by some who have been participating for the total of these 50 years. As Tom once said, "The York community has remembered us big, mighty sounding and proud." 50 years seems a suitable ending for "a great legend in York County History.” It is sad and bittersweet but seems to be the right decision to go out after this milestone year.
Thank you again to all of you who have marched and participated with us- as we would definitely never had made it this long without all of the band alumni!
Thank you!
Keith, Jill, Amy, MaryRose, Sue, and Kevin.
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