Luther L. Wright pep band bolstered by alumni members

By MEGAN HUGHES

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Ironwood — The Luther L. Wright K-12 School pep band performed at last week’s Ironwood vs. Wakefield-Marenisco varsity basketball game, inviting alumni to join them and play alongside as they revved up the crowd and cheered on their team.

Band director Kirk McBrayer spoke to The Globe during a break in the game, explaining that the alumni band only plays a couple of times per year.

McBrayer said while the pep band plays a majority of the home basketball and football games, the alumni band plays at a few rivalry games during the year.

More alumni band members are always welcome to join, said McBrayer. “We want to really encourage people to come out and participate.”

The remainder of the pep band at the March 2 game was made up of middle school and high school students.

“It is a requirement for high school band students,” said McBrayer, “For them to play at the high school football and basketball games.” He estimated that around 30 to 35 students participated in the performance.

McBrayer said the pep band music is “sort of stuff you would hear on the radio.”

He said instruments can be provided by the school for alumni members who join in.

“Any time they want to play, I am more than happy to let them play. It is a lot of fun hearing their stories from the time here,” said McBrayer.

He said the pep band members also keep busy cheering for their team.

“I am really proud of all the students, the pep band was a lot different my first year here,” he said. “Once they started learning the rules and how the game is played they started to really get into cheering their teams on.”

This time, around five alumni returned to perform with the band, with one non-alumni joining in to play alongside his daughters. Matt Sterbenz joined his daughters, Abigail and Kamryn, in the pep band’s flute section.

“He wasn’t a graduate from Ironwood, but it is great to have him here to support the band, none the less,” he said.