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Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union
Mickey Ratliff (L) keeps an eye on the marching formatiion of the band Monday morning while drum major Luke Lusk directs.
When anyone in the band at Warsaw Community High School talks about the "new" program this year, they're not kidding.
Yes, WCHS has had a band program, and one with a reputation for excellence, for years. But last year Martin Becker, the director of bands, retired.
Mickey Ratliff, assistant director for nine years under Becker, took over as director. Ratliff has a new assistant director, Matt Gratton; a new middle school assistant director, Tammy Keirn; a new drill designer for the marching band; and a new color guard instructor.
Just finishing a 2-1/2-week band camp, Ratliff said he's making changes, but he's making them gradually and "very carefully."
"We changed the marching style for the marching band," he said, and this year the band is doing some contemporary music instead of the classical pieces they used to do.
"You can't change everything overnight," he said. "You kind of have to start setting priorities ... and is it worth doing if we change it now."
Gratton, 27, who came to Warsaw from Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, said, "The history and the feel of the program haven't really changed."
Ratliff, 33, said the students are excited ("they're digging it") and the parents and administration have been supportive.
"When you have new people, there's always going to be change," he said. "Having two new people (Keirn also helps with band camp), that brings around a change in us."
His biggest goal, Ratliff said, is to "raise the level of community awareness and involvement in the band program."
To do that, he plans on doing more community-based performances, and varying those performances. Formerly in charge of the percussion ensemble at WCHS, he liked the opportunity to showcase student talent while entertaining groups of people.
"I'd like to just see that aspect with the whole band or with small groups," he said. "The public needs to know how good (the band students) are at what they do."
While he's working toward that goal, he's changing things - gradually.
"It's a really exciting time for the band program," he said. "If we keep moving in the same direction, we're going to see some pretty amazing things."
