The Music Department at Lake Schools was just one of many areas affected by the tornado that went through June 5.

The high school choir room was the hardest hit area as it sat on the second floor on the western end of the building. The band room, which sat across a small courtyard from where the cafeteria once stood, surprisingly had little damage.

Choir director Jennifer Perry-Edwards said, “The tornado has impacted the vocal (music) side of things in terms of our location. “My middle school classes are relatively unaffected and one of our general music teachers, Barbara Blake, generously offered to share her classroom in the middle school building. My first three periods of the day are spent at that location and from there I travel to the Hangar (the temporary high school building at Owens) for the remaining portion of the day.”

Band director Rick Brimmer added, “The only band instrument that was lost was a marching drum that was at the home of one of our students whose home was destroyed. “The band chairs had already been moved to the field house for graduation and were crushed by the outside wall of the field house when it collapsed. “Fortunately, the choir uniforms and most of the music were stored in the band area and was not damaged or lost.”

Choir Director Jennifer Pery-Edwards with Ashley Greelese and Storm Lutz at the baby grand piano. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton /hehphotos.com

From a Music Boosters perspective, President Amy Mullins said that the tornado “eliminated our ability to have solo and ensemble for the next couple of years until the new building is built. “We had been slated to be the host and we lost the ability to use that event as a significant fundraiser.”

Many of the items that were lost or damaged have been replaced, while the rest will be taken care of during the next few months.

Perry-Edwards noted that she had borrowed risers from Genoa before the replacements had arrived and that she has also borrowed books and music from Genoa, Rossford and Bedford. Many other area directors have called to offer what help they can, she added.

Brimmer said that with the replacement of the lost drum, it became more apparent that the rest of the old drums needed to be replaced, as it is getting more expensive to keep them in good working order. Duke Wheeler, owner of The Butterfly House, raffled a Crystal Bowersox autographed guitar at the annual corn maze event, with proceeds going to the Lake Music Department. The Music Boosters voted that the money be used towards the purchase of new drums.

Another thing that has been purchased with donation money is a used trailer that will help haul band instruments and the choir risers as the van that had transported band instruments was destroyed by the tornado.

In addition, the Music Department accepted donation of two upright pianos and wound up turning away offers for at least 10 more. A special donation was a baby grand piano that was owned by Kathleen Hammitt, donated by her family in her memory. It currently sits in Perry-Edwards’s classroom at the Hangar. Plans call for it to be moved into the auditorium when the new high school building is finished.

In terms of adjusting the class schedule, Brimmer said that because the band room is located in the middle school, the high school band now meets from 7:15 to 8:10 a.m. and then are bused to the Hangar in time for second period. “Asking high school students to be alert and ready to learn that early in the morning is a challenge, but they have been handling it fabulously,” she said.

Perry-Edwards said that for choir, the schedule isn’t so much a factor, but the classroom setting itself has been a challenge as it is located in the loading dock area of the Hangar, which has no ceiling, three garage doors and issues with wasps and bees when it was warm, and now they’re dealing with freezing temperatures.

“The students have been fantastic! “We are thrilled that we are still able to make music every day,” she said. “They are amazing young people.”

From the perspective of a parent of two band members, Mullins said, “the transportation to school done by the parents every morning is a huge deal as the start of band conflicts with the bus schedule, so every parent must provide transportation for their own child to participate in band unless their child can drive.”

She also noted that students who go to Penta have a bit more of a transportation issue after band because of how the bus schedule was worked out.

Brimmer and Perry-Edwards wished to thank Pastor Marty Pennington and the members of Mainstreet Church for allowing all the music programs to be held at the church.

Brimmer added that he would also like to thank Dr. Douglas Mead at Owens Community College for allowing the district to store instruments for Pep Band in the Center for the Performing Arts; and Tracey Pettys and the staff at Northwood High School for allowing the marching band to rehearse at their facility this past summer.

Both mentioned that they had so many offers of help from around the state that they had to pick and choose what to accept. They also said that they wouldn’t be where they are now without the help of the Music Boosters and all of the additional work that they have been doing above what would be the norm.

Ms. Mullins said that the Boosters “have been committed to making sure things stay as normal for the kids and will continue to funnel any donations directly for use in their music education.”

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