By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Music which came up at the close of the annual band awards night Wednesday in the Union High School cafeteria juxtaposed "West Side Story" and "Romeo and Juliet."
If you listened closely you could hear something else - another tradition being born.
Director Josh Bartz used the sneak preview to his advantage to create excitement among musicians and parents alike and a tinge of regret among the seniors that they wouldn't be around to write this next successful chapter.
Moods were already running high in the afterglow of the spring break bus trip to Orlando to perform at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
The audience had already been treated to the clip the band recorded to the animated Disney movie "Tarzan" as part of a workshop, with Bartz and Director Tom Stansifer furnishing "jungle sounds," including monkeys, to the amusement of their musicians.
Stansifer, who came in 1975-76 and plans to retire after one more year, "has been teaching a lot longer than I've been alive," teases Bartz, who was born in 1982.
Bartz presented the Chieftain Spirit Award to juniors Jacob Crowl and Jessica Bailey-Blank.
Jeff Comfort created the honor to recognize individuals who best represent what the Dowagiac band "family" is all about.
Percussionist Danielle Stanton, who didn't join band until her junior year, won in 2004.