“A Baton and Band Good Time at Music Festival” is the headline in The Millinocket Herald for May 7, 1941. The feature story tells that the festival sponsored by the Northern Maine Music Festival Association was held in Millinocket for the first time and it gave “the citizens a real treat as batons twirled and bands played.” The final event of the festival was the parade which included the Stearns HS band and majorettes. There were three majorettes: Elizabeth Perrow, Winifred Michaud and Patricia Harrigan.
The festival was attended by over 2500 people. Student participants numbered over 600 plus 14 supervisors. A special train from Aroostook County Northern brought the students and friends to watch the gala event. Participants were from high schools in Presque Isle, Caribou, Fort Fairfield and Houton. Other student groups came from Lee Academy, Lincoln and East Millinocket to join with the students from Millinocket.
The bands from the participating schools met in the morning and performed at the SHS gymnasium. Vocal groups sang at the Congregational Church and the orchestras competed at the Armory. All judges for the competition came from Massachusetts. Stearns students earned “superior” ratings in all their auditions. Angelo Tsika, head of the Stearns music department, was thanked for his efforts in organizing the festival. He was the director of the band and orchestra. Miss Myrtle Erickson was director of the Stearns’ glee club.
The parade began at 2:30 PM. The participants received another rating as they passed the reviewing stand in parade formation. A highlight of the parade was “the musical selection and drill presented by the Houlton “19 majorettes.” They received loud applause. The parade ended at the park with speeches by Earle Wingate and William Marr. A short concert by the various groups was followed by an exhibition by the drum major from Fort Fairfield. His skill at twirling was enjoyed by all.
The three SHS majorettes also performed and were applauded by the crowd. “They were quite an attraction and are to be commended. The six supervisors from Stearns High School should feel well pleased as the praise they received shows the citizens of Millinocket appreciate the efforts they have made to give SHS the three outstanding units coming from the student body.”
After the festival, the students enjoyed dancing from 4 to 6 in the gymnasium with music by the Stearns band. The other bands also played a few numbers. A banquet for all the supervisors was held at the Great Northern Hotel. During the festival, visitors had the chance to tour the Great Northern paper mill.
The festival marked the beginning of National Music Week “in the Magic City.” On Sunday, all the churches presented special musical performances. On Tuesday evening, the Junior Philharmonic Club presented a program at the Congregational Church. It had instrumental presentations and vocals. On Thursday evening, the Philharmonic Club presented a “miscellaneous” program at the Congo Church.
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