HISTORY OF THE MILTON HIGH SCHOOL BAND
ALPHARETTA, FULTON COUNTY, GEORGIA
(a work in progress)

The Early Years
Contributed by Douglas H. Haney

The Milton High School Band was initiated in the 1949-50 school year by Principal Vic Hansard. The first band director was Alex Leseur, a flutist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He also served as director in 1950-51. Band lessons were initially held in a classroom used by World War II veterans for the study of agriculture, but instruction was later moved to the cannery – a large room used by the community to process meats and vegetables in tin cans. This room contained large vats for cooking and a waist-high assembly-line roller system for ease in moving the heavy containers. Occasionally, band practice was held in the log cabin when the cannery was used by the community during school hours. In the winter months this proved to be a cold experience for the students and director, for the cabin’s only heat was a fireplace.

This was an era when elementary and high school students were housed in the same original school building. The first band was made up of eight 7th and 8th grade students who were all beginners on their instruments: J.W. Burgess (drums); Norman David (e-flat horn, later trombone); Neil Dodd (cornet); Fausteen Hall (oboe); Larae Hall (clarinet); Douglas Haney (trombone); David Harmon (cornet), and Billy Neese (clarinet). The Band’s first performance was before the entire student body where they played “Mary Had A Little Lamb”. The embarrassment of playing such a “childish song” for their peers is still remembered by those first beginning band students, but they played well and thus began the Milton Band’s tradition of EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE!

It is interesting to note that Milton fielded its first football team in 1950 under Coach Gus Letchas and that the team went undefeated in 1952 and became Region 4-B Champions.

Harold Alenius, a violinist with the Atlanta Symphony, directed the band in 1951-52. Under this guidance, the band learned to march. He was replaced by Catherine Hesketh for the 1952-53 year and the Band continued to grow to about 25 members. That same year, 1953, marked Milton’s first yearbook, Aerie (Eagle’s Nest). The winning name was submitted by senior Jean Dildy in a student-wide competition. As far as can be determined, this annual contained the first picture of a Milton Band.

From 1953-57 Paul Pittenger directed the Band. It was in the spring of 1954, that the Band finally got their first uniforms – blue trousers with blue Eisenhower waist-length jackets and blue military visor caps, all with red and white trim. The Band was now uniformed, and this presented the opportunity for performing half-time shows at football games and for marching in local and area parades, including marching down Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

Catherine Hesketh served once again as director in 1958-60 and was followed by David Scese, 1960-67. During that time the Band practiced in a basement classroom, until 1964, when they moved into a new band room constructed, along with a choral room, on the south end of the school. In the fall of 1965 the initial band uniforms were replaced with new ones – blue coats, trousers and hat with a white overlay that could be removed for concert attire.

A significant event occurred in January, 1967 when the Milton Band  performed on the capitol grounds for the inauguration of Governor Lester Maddox.  He saw the Band perform the previous August in Alpharetta at the Old Soldier's Day parade and was so impressed that he vowed, if elected, they would play for his inauguration.  He won and they played!

The “Dixie Eagles” Era
(Contributed by Leon Cole)

Leon Cole began a sixteen-year stint as director in 1967. At that time, Alpharetta was still a friendly small country town and the school district was mostly rural. Milton had about 750 students, with a 1968 graduating class of 120. The Band numbered 38.

It was felt that the Band needed to have its own distinctive name. In the summer of 1969 the American Legion held its annual national convention in Atlanta and our area was exposed to the American Legion-sponsored drum and bugle corps that came from across America to perform in competition and parade at the convention. Influenced by this musical and marching spectacle, the next school year (1970-71) saw the adoption of the name “Dixie Eagles” and the introduction of corps-style marching.

Majorettes had been an important part of the marching band for years, but in the early 1970’s the Dixie Eagles further enhance halftime and parade performances with the inclusion of a military-style color guard and a flag corps which became known as the Southern Stars. In addition, a pep band named The Rebel Rousers was formed to add music and spirit to pep rallies. They also performed in the annual Old Soldiers Day parade.

After each football season, the marching band was converted into a concert band which, generally, played two concerts – a Holiday Concert in December and a Spring Concert in May. Additionally, the Band performed annually at a judged Band Festival sponsored by the Georgia Music Educators Association where they were rated “Superior”, “Excellent”, “Good”, “Fair”, or “Poor”. It is a tribute to the students’ talent and pride that the Milton Band has traditionally gained the coveted “Superior” rating in both performance and sight-reading. Perhaps the most important musical learning activity that a student could choose to participate in was the GMEA-sponsored Solo/Ensemble Festival. The Milton Band always had a high percentage of its students to participate in this event.

In the mid-1970’s a Stage Band was created to give selected students the opportunity to gain experience in the performance of a variety of popular music styles – from the blues to the big-band sounds of the 1940’s to rock. Named “Harmony Grits”, they performed in concert and for other school and community events. From this group there evolved a jazz trio – “Three over Easy”.

As a service to the community and school, in March of 1968 the Band organized and sponsored a non-competitive school-wide talent showcase, The Milton Follies, which proved to be a great success. Each “Follies” had its own theme and band students devoted many hours in preparing the stage and auditorium to fit the theme. A sample of themes include Hee Haw, A Childhood Fantasy, Song of the South, Showboat (’77) It’s a Small World (’78) Fiesta (’79) and Song of the South (’80).

Another activity created and organized by the Band was an annual “Spaghetti by Candlelight” supper held each fall in the school cafeteria prior to a home football game. It proved to be a very popular community social event.

In 1974 the Band received a U.S. Government Bi-Centennial grant to form a music group to celebrate the 1976 two hundredth birthday of our nation. This resulted in the creation of “THE COLONISTS”, a musical ensemble of ten elementary and high school band students who played period music on instruments popular in the 18th century. They performed extensively for two years in the Atlanta area, culminating in two 1976 concerts at the Music Educators National Conference convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Annual spring performance trips occurred most years, including several to Florida for performances in St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Panama City, and Disney World and to Jamestown, Virginia. In December, 1973 the “Dixie Eagles” presented a halftime show at the Tangerine Bowl. This Bowl, usually held in Orlando, was moved that year to Gainesville, Florida due to construction at the Orlando stadium. The theme of the Band’s show was Christmas and Hanukah and it was unique in that teens from the Gainesville synagogue were used to dance the Hora and boys from the Florida Sheriff’s Boys Ranch (for troubled boys) were used to help decorate a Christmas tree formation with ornament props. It was 27 degrees, and falling, when the game started!

In March, 1979 the Band made its first performance trip to a foreign country - Mexico. The Governor of Georgia, George Busbee, proclaimed and designated band members as “Official Ambassadors of Good Will”. The Band performed at the 8th Annual Invitational Mexican Band Festival in Mexico City as well as presenting concerts at a shopping mall and a bullfighting arena.

In March of 1981, 27 of the 105 band members were selected to be in Kenny Rogers’ TV movie, “Coward of the County”. Set in a small southern town at America’s entry into World War II in 1941, it was filmed in Crawfordville, Georgia All participants were required to “look the part” in attire and grooming, which meant haircuts for the boys and proper hair-dos for the girls.

Beginning with the 1983-84 school year, Fulton County Schools were restructured to include middle schools (grades 6 – 8). Mr. Cole left Milton to assume a position as band director at Crabapple Middle School. John Mote replaced him at Milton for that year.

The Zervakos Years
(Contributed by Peter Zervakos)

Peter Zervakos served as the band director of Milton High School from 1984-1990. During his six years as director, the band program increased in scope and numbers reflecting the tremendous population growth of the North Fulton area. In addition to the marching band, the school offered Symphonic, Concert, and Cadet Bands - which consistently received Superior ratings at district band festivals – as well as two Jazz Ensembles, a Full Orchestra, and Woodwind Ensemble. It was due to America’s changing political climate during this period that the name “Dixie Eagles” was dropped.

Prior to 1986, Fulton County band directors had split their teaching-time between several elementary schools and a high school. In that year they became full-time high school directors which enabled the addition of music electives such as music appreciation, music theory, chamber music, jazz lab, and guitar class.

During this period, the band performed for President Reagan, performed in the Democratic National Convention, was featured in the 100th Anniversary Celebration and parade for Coca-Cola, appeared in halftime of the Hall of Fame Bowl and at an Atlanta Falcons game, and performed in the Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival. Most seniors continued to participate in band at the collegiate level, with the Milton Band being represented in 26 college bands.

Mr. Zervakos left Milton in 1990 to assume a position as a Fulton County Schools administrator. Gill Estes became director for the 1990-91 school year, being followed by Will Henderson (1991-97). Randal Coleman, the present Milton band director, began his service in 1997. Milton High School moved to its new campus in 2005.