The History of the medina mustang marching band
The Beginning
The “Mustang Band” was instituted in the fall of 1967 by the newly-hired band director, Joseph McKain, as a means of stemming a declining enrollment and general lack of enthusiasm for the band program at the Medina School District. The first Mustang Band consisted of 32 musicians, 4 drummers, and 4 color guard members. At the same time, a surge in marching band activity was occurring in neighboring towns, under Moses Sherman in Albion; under Richard Roberson in Kendall; and under Ray Shaheen in Holley, which won seven consecutive championships at the New York State Fair. McKain continued to serve as the band’s director for the next 32 years.
Beginning in 1968, students were recruited from the Junior High School to help augment the band’s enrollment. Flags were loaned to the band by Matthew Cizek, then director of the Albion Grey Drum Corps. Drummers carried whatever could be found or fashioned from various pieces of concert equipment.
In 1968, band members sold “REX” detergent to raise money for its first set of marching percussion. In 1970, the band attended its first band pageant (Springville), and in 1972, it entered its first State Field Band competition.
All equipment for all competitions was squeezed into a small, district-owned pickup truck. Today, the band has two equipment trailers that bear the Medina Mustang Band logo. The program has grown over the years. Today, the band competes in the New York State Field Band Conference. In this conference, they compete in up to eight shows every fall. Throughout the years, they competed in the Batavia and Gorham Pageants of Bands in the spring. More recently, Medina has competed in the Sherburne Pageant of Bands, and they continue to perform at their annual Spring Trip.
The Band Boosters
During its infancy, the Mustang Band struggled to secure the financing necessary to build and sustain a full-fledged marching band program.
In the spring of 1969, a group of interested parents gathered informally to offer their assistance. With a toss of one dollar upon the floor, Jim DiGiulio, then owner of the Family Shoe Store, gave birth to the Mustang Band Boosters.
Throughout the band’s existence, the Mustang Band Boosters have provided the bulk of the band’s funding. Extensive fundraising efforts spearheaded by the boosters, such as their fall and spring pizza sales, basket raffle, and spring cash raffle, continue to help defray the cost of the band’s trips and annual band banquet.
Over the years, the band has traveled to the Indy 500; the Kentucky Derby; the Coca-Cola Festival in Atlanta, Georgia; the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia; and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. These trips have not only brought recognition to Medina in the form of trophies and awards, but they have also allowed the members of the marching band program to experience and travel to parts of the country they might otherwise never have the opportunity to visit.
Today, the booster organization is still in full swing, providing funding and support for the Mustang Band.
A Legacy of Excellence
Over the band’s storied history, it became one of the finest marching bands in the country. As a member of the New York State Field Band Conference, the band has been crowned State Champions in 1982, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, and 2021. Medina stands as the second most winning band in New York State history.
In spring pageant competitions, the Mustang Band became a perennial Grand Champion at the Gorham and Batavia Pageants of Bands, and more recently at the Sherburne Pageant of Bands.
The marching band was under the direction of Joseph McKain from 1967 to 1999; of James Steele from 1999 to 2022; of Matthew Jaeger 2022 to 2026; and of Kyla Leno-Denise since 2026. Throughout the years, they have continued the success of the Mustang Band program, as well as the concert and jazz programs at the high school.
Notable Firsts
First Field Practice - Ohio Street Field, September 1967
First Drum Major - Walter Johnson, Class of ’68
First Field Trophy - 1968 Iroquois Job Corps Field Competition
First Booster Meeting - Summer of 1969 at the Family Shoe Store
First Booster President - Oliver Schnackel
First Parade Trophy - 1969 Dogwood Festival Parade, Dansville, NY
First Band Pageant - 1970 Springville Pageant of Bands
First New Uniforms - 1970 by Sol Frank, Antonio, TX, for $10,000
First Band Banquet - 1971 at the Knights of Columbus
First Pizza Sale - Spring 1971 at the Medina Moose Club
First Major Trip - 1973 Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, D.C.
First Fall Festival of Bands - September 1978