Led by conductor Bruce Gerken, the ensemble played arrangements that ranged from light-hearted pieces to more somber tunes and from Latino and Broadway classics to rock and ragtime. The ensemble's instruments include drums, xylophones, timbales, chimes, keyboards, congas, vibraphone and marimbas. Thomas Maher, superintendent of Lancaster district, said that the group is the pride of his community and a prime example of music education. Parents are vital to the group's success.
Music is the gateway to higher performance in the classroom.
Gerken estimated that 90 percent of the musicians are on the honor roll. The ensemble is well-traveled, taking three or four trips a year. They played the 1993 AASA conference in Orlando. It really helps them with their math skills. The group will go to Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and the Kennedy Space Center before returning to Ohio.