Ninety-six young musicians representing the fourth and sixth grades of the Altoona elementary schools received their first marching experience as an organized band in the Memorial day parade.

The bandsmen were selected from a group of over 250 students of their age level who are presently receiving music training in the public school music program. Instrumental music in the grades is supervised by Charles Redenberger.

Of the 24 elementary schools, only six do not have their own school orchestras. The musicians in these small orchestras number from nine to 32 musicians

The Pleasant Valley School started with four instrumentalists in October and the number grew into a well-rounded orchestra of 24 musicians.

The band pictured above was trained in ensemble playing and marching during a series of four Saturday morning rehearsals in the Senior High school prior to Memorial day.

John Monti, director of music in the district, assisted by several interested and cooperative parents who gave genereously of their time and patience, put the boys through their first paces.

The success of the endeavor was fully realized as the boys played their simplified music with the confidence and poise of their elder brothers in the Senior High band which preceeded them in the line of march.

The little musicians received a nice applause from viewers all along the parade route.

Their cool-looking, new uniforms, of slacks, white belts, T-shirts bearing the school insignia and cruise caps have been adopted as the official dress for the new school organization.

Members of the band include William Acker, Gerald Adams jr., Teddy Alleman, Richard E. Appleman, James Austin, Ronald Bankert, Eddie Barr, William Books, Jeffry Bohn, Jack Briggs, William Buchanan, Kenny Butterbaugh, Terry Cashman, Bobby Clapper, Tommy Creighton, Billy Cross, Pat Dempsey and Terry Detwiler.

Billy deVries, Billy Dibert, David Delinger, Kenny Drenning, Barry Drugg, Richard Dunmire, Charles Ebersole, David Epple, Joseph Filer, Melvin C. Frye, Timothy Fusco, Scott Geesey, Allen Gibboney, Robert E. Glacken, Armando Grozivs, Ronald C. Hershey, Gary Heimbach, Lee Hite, Donald Hollenback, Robert Hollenback, George Houraney, Billy Ioup, Terry Irvin and Fred Ironside.

Garry Kauffman, Teddy Kattouf, George Kaylor, Blair Keagy, Ronald Keller, Michael Knote, Kenneth Kutz, David Lloyd, John Lynn, Fred Lytle, Barry Mallory, Andrew Mash, Frank Marsh, Philip Margush, Benjamin Marks, Frank Martin, Louis Mayor, David McConahy, Jay Mermelstein, Robert Mickel, Jeffrey Miller, David Mock, Gregory Moyer, William Neugebauer, David Orr, Richard Pechter, Richard Picano, Stephen Pollock, Dennis Pompa and John Priestly.

John Quay, Michael Quigley, Albert Rabold, James Russell, Leonard Saks, John Schandelmeier, Kent Sherry, Skippy Sigel, John Smiley, Ronald Starner, Tommy Stephenson, Robin Stewart, Bobby Summers, Harold Thompson, Frank Vongehr, Robert Vipond, Steven Warner, Bill Weyandt, Philip Wineland, Barry Wright and Herbert Yarnell.