Senate Resolution No. 1883

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the
Sherburne Pageant of Bands

WHEREAS, Festivals empower communities to attract new visitors while
capitalizing on local commercial and cultural value; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
support events of significance which contribute to the entertainment and
vitality of the communities they serve and which exemplify the history
and development of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Sherburne Pageant of Bands on
Saturday, June 1, 2024; and

WHEREAS, The oldest pageant of bands in New York State commenced in
1949 as the Sherburne Band Festival; Albert Whitney, a local business
owner, and Frank L. Miller, a former Sherburne music teacher, initiated
the pageant; for their pioneer endeavor, both men were inducted into the
Sherburne-Earlville Central School District's Wall of Fame in 2010; and

WHEREAS, That inaugural year the high school bands of Earlville,
Gilbertsville, Greene, Hamilton, New Berlin, Norwich, Oxford, and West
Winfield competed; Norwich placed first in both the parade and the
concert-band contest; and

WHEREAS, This band/musical exhibition, sponsored by the Sherburne
Fire Department, is a free competition which is open to the public;
hosted by Sherburne-Earlville High School annually, this event is part
of a three-day festival, attracting tens of thousands of visitors the
first weekend of June; and

WHEREAS, High school bands from Central New York are evaluated by
professional judges, competing for ratings and trophies; jazz ensemble,
small ensemble, concert, parade, color guard, drum line, and drum major
performances take place on the Sherburne-Earlville Central School
District campus in the village of fewer than 1,400 residents; and

WHEREAS, These performances culminate into the main event, a parade
featuring dozens of marching bands through downtown Sherburne; on this
final day of competition, the Awards Ceremony is held at the high
school's stadium; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those organizations that have brought entertainment and cultural
enrichment to the citizens of the State of New York; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Sherburne Pageant of Bands; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Sherburne-Earlville High School.