You are our history.

That might be a really odd-looking sentence when you write it down but it is true. Today in the band program at Chippewa Falls Senior High School we extoll to the students that they are a part of something bigger than themselves - they represent their peers, the school, and the community. We talk about how students today become a part of something timeless that is unique and connecting.

Send us stories, memories, images, video, and media via email to hsband@chipfalls.org.

Mail us stories, pictures, programs, mementos, tapes and more to:
Chippewa Falls High School Band
ATTN: Michael Renneke
735 Terrill Street
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

We need your stories.

We are launching a crowdsourced history project. We want to capture and record your band stories, your memories, old programs, music that you played when you were a part of the band, and more. We know which directors taught when and we have gone through the yearbooks and seen your pictures, but we want your stories. The experience of being in band is what makes our history have meaning, and it is time that we share it with each other.

The Work in Progress:

1930
Chippewa Falls High School Band
1943
Chippewa Falls High School Band
​Names unknown
1961-1963
Woodwind section with names, unidentified band/grade

"The date on the Woodwind section picture was later than 1958. I was in the band in 1961-1963 with these kids, our freshman and sophomore years. 
I recognize most of the names.  I think some in the picture were one year older than me. I played in the brass section, baritone in 
1961-1962, sousaphone in 1962-1963.  In 1963-1964, my senior year, I was in the color guard only.

I believe it was 1961 when the Cardette band was started. Since they are not wearing the Cardette uniform and there is at least one person I am pretty sure was only one year older than me. So this picture was most likely from the 1962-1963 band."
- Paul Almquist '64
October 26, 1961​
"I was lucky to find a link to old High School pictures of the Chi-Hi band!  I just wanted to give you a heads' up on the 1961 picture. The picture in front of the "Instant Lunch" cafe was in Chippewa Falls,  and the band is marching south, towards the High Bridge.  I worked at that cafe for a short time after graduating in 1965." 
- Kathleen E. Martin (Smith), '65
1965
Chippewa Falls Band on the corner of Stanley and Terrill 
- Mary Rouleau, '83
1967
Drum majors, names unknown.
1970
"The attached photo (right) is date stamped September 1970, so was likely Homecoming Parade.

Mr. Elliott was a huge Simon & Garfunkel fan. We would gift him an album after concert performances.

He & his wife would open their home to his students - past & present - after the Memorial Day Parade. There was always a huge turn out."
​- Jane Ketchum, '72
1978
"I remember Howard Elliot (Mr. E) doing his best to remain patient while attempting to get us in step practicing on the West Hill before the Pure Water Days parade in 1978. I also remember marching on the field for football games in formation, playing our "go to" opening number "Another Opening, Another Show", which was, according to Mr. E, the original theme for the old Tonight Show, hosted by Steve Allen instead of Johnny Carson. I was thrilled to be a tuba player as it meant I was exempt from wearing the dreaded "Q-tip hat"!"
- Tom Lea, '80
c. 1980-1983
Pictures from Mary Rouleau '83
c. 1985
"I believe it was the 85-86 school year (possibly 84-85 year). Greenhalgh's second or third year teaching and my second or third year at Chi-Hi. A bit of a memory stretch, but I think we had super old, yellow pants the first year. The red uniform was the first modern "field competition" uniform. My second year at Chi-Hi I got into Drum Corps and Greenhalgh and I became very close and discussed new uniforms for Chi-Hi with heavy DCI influence. He liked the triangle (as we called it) which has since become the Chi-Hi "chevron". He showed me a few sketches and we thought we better change it a bit as the original ideas looked too much like Spirit of Atlanta's new uniforms - the guy in blue in the second picture. I think the Chi-Hi uniform is from 85-86 because I don't think we had gauntlets the first year of these uniforms.
Scott Kauphusman, '86
1987
​Marching Cardinals bio from the program at Merrill, WI competition
Jennifer Kuehl (Faherty) '90
March 22, 1988
​Program from the Collage Concert
Jennifer Kuehl (Faherty) '90
October 15, 1988
​Marching Cardinals picture at 4th Annual State Marching Band Championships
Jennifer Kuehl (Faherty) '90
1992
​"The wooden chevron necklaces were started in/around '92. Mr. Schmick made the first ones in the wood shop. His son, Jason, was in band then and so that might've been part of the reason he did it. I think it started with just a few, and within a few weeks we all had one.

The Firebirds logo was designed by G for the '92 or '93 season. Up until then; we were announced at shows as the Chipppewa Falls High School Winterguard. The first show we did as the Firebirds was the Firebird Suite.

G and Mrs G made all of the flags for the color guard and we always had the most unusual ones. These included some on curved poles that we flipped up over the ground, and called, "dolphin flags."
Heidi Lucas (Bergquist) '94
1999
​CFHS Jazz Band at the "Festivals of Music" in Washington
2000-2003
​Drumline photos from the Wisconsin State Championships
2002-2003
​Director Doug "G" Greenhalgh at the piano