PCS ALUMNI, STUDENTS, PERU COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AND ENJOY THIS UNIQUE EVENT (see below). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ……………………………………………….... DATE: March 26, 2014 FROM: Cheryl Breen Randall, PCS Alumni, Class of ‘66 RE: Mr. Wilke’s Opus – A Community Concert in Tribute to Retired Music Teacher It all started on social media when several people who posted about their experiences growing up in Peru on the Facebook page “You know you’re from Peru if . . .” started reminiscing about Mr. Lynn Wilke, the high school music teacher and band director for 33 years at Peru High School from the mid-50’s to the mid 80’s. From there a seed of inspiration to honor the man grew, and as a result many of those individuals will be traveling from near (Peru) and as far away as Georgia to pay homage to him and participate in “Mr. Wilke’s Opus” on Saturday, April 12th at 7:30 p.m. in the Peru Jr.-Sr. High School auditorium. Under the direction of Kirk Wilke, Lynn Wilke’s son and director of the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra in Fredericksburg, VA, former students will gather together for a concert to sing and play their instruments for the man who instilled a love of music and a lifetime of memories in them. Now in his ‘80s and still the organist for St. Augustine’s Church in Peru, Lynn Wilke was known for his passion of the opera, and his creativity in producing half-time shows for the Peru football team; extravaganzas the likes of which were never seen before in all of Section VII sports or seen since Mr. Wilke was the band director. Under his tutelage, Peru High School developed a marching band that was the envy of the North Country. His marching band was invited to and marched in the opening day parade of the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City before the President of the United States, the Quebec City Winter Carnival, the opening of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, the FISU games, and dozens of Saranac Lake Winter Carnival parades and battle of the bands. Mr. Wilke’s concert band played in Montreal for Expo ’67 audiences and at the Ottawa Music Festival where the band’s performance was given a superior rating, the best that could be achieved from three highly acclaimed conservatory band directors. In addition, Peru music students and choral members performed in more than 20 musicals and operettas under his direction. Mr. Wilke’s Opus is free of charge and is opened to the public, community members, alumni, current students, and the media. # # # #
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 04:41:21 +0000
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