Previous Inductees – Marching Band Hall of Fame

Harold Lorenz was a well-respected man with vision and commitment as he worked to bring the WSMA State Marching Band Championships to fruition.  Lorenz believed strongly that there should be a statewide culminating marching event that brings all interested WSMA member schools together to perform on the same day at the same field.  While on the WSMA Board of Directors and principal at Cudahy High School, he brought that belief into reality.  We have reaped the benefits of that commitment for the past 30 years, today and long into the future.

Harold Lorenz was born on September 2, 1928 and attended Cathedral High School in Belleville, Illinois.  He received his bachelor of science in music education from the University of Illinois in Urbana and later his masters of science in music from the University of South Dakota.  Lorenz taught band in Jennings, Missouri and Sioux City, Iowa in the late 1940s and early 1950s.  In 1956 Harold Lorenz moved to the Milwaukee area and taught band at Dominican High School in Whitefish Bay.  Soon after, he became band director at Cudahy High School.  In his 29 year career in Cudahy, Lorenz was band director, assistant principal and finally principal retiring in July of 1989.

During his life Lorenz was dedicated to family, friends, community, music and the marching activity.  His children remember him fondly with all seven participating in band, several under his direction, and one of his sons becoming a band director.  When he was principal, he continually supported the efforts of students to participate in marching band and athletics once even flying students to Wausau from an athletic commitment in the morning to a marching band performance that afternoon.

Lorenz was director of the Milwaukee Lake Band in the 1960s and early 70s.  Under his direction the Lake Band was renowned for its excellence in marching and concert band performance, winning many recognitions locally and nationally including several national championships.  He was a member of the Central States Judges Association and travelled sharing his knowledge and passion for the marching activity through adjudication.  In the community, he belonged to the Cudahy Lion’s Club and was president for two years.

Harold Lorenz was diagnosed with leukemia, but before his passing he was given a testimonial dinner that featured a performance by a band of former students.  Fellow band director Ed Ward from Chicago recognized Lorenz as the best band director that Ward had ever known presenting him a baton owned and used by Richard Strauss.  Harold Lorenz passed away on October 20, 1989.

Dr. Glenn C. Hayes has been integral to the face of marching band in Wisconsin for decades. He has not only directed the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Marching Band for the past 30 years, but he also hosts and helps organize the WSMA State Marching Band Championships at UW-Whitewater. His dedication and contributions to the WSMA State Marching Band Championships help make the event possible.

In his 30^th year as Director of Bands at UW-Whitewater. Hayes’ responsibilities include conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, University Band and the Warhawk Marching Band. His other teaching areas include graduate and undergraduate conducting, graduate music education, wind literature, secondary instrumental music methods, student teacher supervision and marching band techniques. His previous positions include Moorhead (MN) State University, Bowling Green (OH) State University, Greater Muskegon (MI) Catholic Schools and Grad Blanc (MI) Community High School. His primary conducting teachers have been John P. Paynter, Elizabeth A. H. Green and Norman C. Dietz. Hayes earned his undergraduate degree from Central Michigan University and his graduate degrees from Northwestern University.

Under the guidance of Hayes, the UW-Whitewater band program has received regional, national and international acclaim for excellence in performance both in the concert hall and on the marching field. On February 20, 2013, he led the Symphonic Wind Ensemble in the featured performance of the New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall to great acclaim – the first Wisconsin university band to perform in the legendary venue. In addition, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble has performed as the featured ensemble at the 2006 International Wind Festival at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England and the 2014 Chicago International Music Festival. The Warhawk Marching Band has performed 11 times for the Green Bay Packers, three times for the Milwaukee Brewers opening day ceremonies and annually marches in exhibition at the WSMA State Marching Band Championships.

Dr. Hayes has been an untiring supporter of music education through his leadership in WSMA, his service to the state in clinics, workshops and camps, and his leadership of the bands at UW-Whitewater. Students at UW-Whitewater are enthusiastic about playing in the marching band and many come to UW-Whitewater expressly for their involvement in the marching program. Hayes has a natural and genuine love for students and music as well as a passion for musical excellence. The marching band program is home to many future music educators who pass on Hayes’ love of music as well as his love of marching to their own students. Through his efforts with future music educators, Hayes’ legacy is one that will continue to positively impact music throughout the state of Wisconsin for generations to come.