Sheri Divelbiss, marching band member from 1979 – 1984, played the clarinet and was a majorette for 2 years, becoming the Head Majorette her senior year, the last year for majorettes at FHS.
Much like today’s flag corp, majorettes are highlighted by twirling batons while the marching band performs. As Head Majorette, she was in charge of making up the routines and running practices beyond full band.
Divelbiss was also one of the people who accepted awards at contests, along with the Field Commander and Band President. Her favorite memory as Head Majorette was when she was accepting awards at a contest in November her senior year. She didn’t have the string to tie her cape around her uniform, so she had to stand in the sleet and wind in only her majorette uniform, which she described as “basically the same thing as a bathing suit.” She did decline her Director Thayer’s offer of his coat.
Divelbiss had a passion for twirling before becoming a majorette because she mentioned a time that she was twirling her clarinet like a baton and then dropped it. She broke the mouthpiece only hours before a football game. She became a majorette the next year.
Divelbiss wanted to return for the bands’ Alumni Night to see if she remembered how to play her instrument after over forty years. Her favorite part of the night was hanging out with her friends who were part of the band when she was. Some advice she has for current members is to never get rid of your instrument because you never know if you’ll want to play it again in the future.
Sheri would also like to thank the Band Directors and the Band Boosters for making it a great evening for all the Alumni.
