WARWICK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER RETURNS

Original Score by Ken Durland, '46, and Stella Bogdanski Mileski, '45
August, 2010 - The graduation ceremony of the Warwick Valley High School Class of 2010 included a special feature - for the first time in many years the high school’s alma mater was performed by the WVHS Meistersingers. Guest director was Ken Durland, Class of 1946, who was already familiar with the song, since he co-wrote it as a WVHS student.

History, Tradition All In the Family

The high school held a contest in the fall of 1943 to select an alma mater, or school song. The winning entry was a collaborative effort, with music written by Mr. Durland and lyrics by Stella Bogdanski Mileski, Class of 1945. The song was first performed by the Glee Club at the school’s Spring Concert in 1944, and the tradition continued for many years before gradually fading away.

Mr. Durland was particularly pleased to lead the performance since his grandson Ben, son of Garrett and Rachel Durland (Class of ’78 and ’79, respectively), was a member of the Meistersingers and the graduating class.

Warwick hopes to continue this resurrected tradition by having the song taught in elementary and middle school music classes. As students grow up singing their alma mater, the song will become a special part of the Warwick school experience.

Click on the PLAY button below to view the performance.

Alma Mater co-writer Ken Durland, Class of 1946, conducts the WVHS Meistersingers at the June 2010 Graduation Ceremony.

Some Interesting Pieces of History

Click on the links below to view the original program from the WVHS 1944 Spring Concert, at which the Alma Mater was first performed, and the original score of the song.

1944 WVHS Spring Concert Program (pdf)

Original Score (pdf)