CHS percussion to perform piece just for them

The Comanche High School band percussion section will be performing an original piece of music by a college instructor specifically written for them for the first time in March.

Nick Meyers, director of bands and percussion at East Central University in Ada, wrote the piece for the Indian drumline.

The piece, called “The Day I Left,” will be premiered at the upcoming Oklahoma Days of Percussion at Oklahoma City University either on March 15 or March 16.

“A couple of years ago, our percussion ensemble was invited to perform with his college group and he was very impressed with the level of our kids at such a young age,” said Jack Francis, Comanche assistant director and percussion director. “Our drumline has gotten a reputation of being consistently good and this past summer he said he would like to write a piece for us.”

Francis said he was honored at the request.

“He told me you’re doing a great job down there and I want to feature the kids,” Francis said. “So it was hush-hush for a while and when he started getting to it, I told the kids. I told them it was a big thing when you have a composer write a piece for you.”

It is more than just the honor of being able to play the piece specifically written for them, but it will have a ripple effect that will last for years to come.

“Whenever someone plays that piece, it will always say it was written for Comanche High School,” Francis said. “People can play it in California or anywhere and it is always going to say, ‘written for Comanche High School.’ And the kids will always be able to say when they hear it that it was written for them.”

Francis said he had the piece, but they had not started practicing on it, yet.

The two directors collaborated on coming up with the piece and a title.

“He asked what I wanted to be about and we live in a time that tomorrow is not promised,” Francis said. “I’ve seen a lot of people lose their loved ones and that sort of thing and its centered around that but at the end we all come together. It’s a really emotional, expressive piece.”

The Oklahoma Days of Percussion will feature many of the top high school and college percussion lines in the state.

“There will be schools like Bartlesville, Union, Jenks, Westmoore, Yukon and then little Comanche,” Francis said. “It’s pretty cool we will get to be up there with them and be able to see OSU, the University of Arkansas, Southeastern (Oklahoma), East Central and then little ole Comanche.”

Not only will they get to see those bands perform, but those bands will also see them perform.

“We get to perform the premiere in front of everybody, so I’m nervous but excited.”