5 minute read
Honoring the First Family of the Delone Catholic Marching Band
by Dana Larkin Sauers ‘74 P’99 P’03 P’03 P’09
Any family who has contributed 118 years of service to an organization has its bragging rights, but the Yealy family is far too humble for that.
This 2024-25 academic year marks a celebration of servant leadership as Delone Catholic High School and all of Squire Country acknowledge the faithful service of Brian Yealy ‘79, wife Lynn ‘84, daughter Jennifer ‘10, and son Christopher ‘12 to Delone Catholic’s Marching Band. Brian served as director for 40 years and handed the baton to Joseph Mummert, a welcomed new member to the DCHS family.
From 1984-2006, the Delone Catholic Marching Band won eight Tournament of Bands Chapter 6 Championships, was selected as an Atlantic Coast Finalist for 19 straight years and finished in the top 10 at the Atlantic Coast Championship 10 times. From 2007 to 2019, the band finished in the top 10 of the Open Class or top 5 of the A-Class at the Cavalcade of Bands Grand Championship every year.
The Delone Catholic High School community celebrated The Yealy Family this fall on J.T. Flaherty Field at the football team’s home opener on Aug. 23, with many alumni musical members attending to congratulate and wish Yealy a relaxing tenure in the classroom since he will no longer be carrying the tuba-sized weight of his former position. The alumni performed with him, and the community held a packed festive evening following the football game at the McSherrystown Knights of Columbus.
Hundreds upon hundreds of musicians have performed and marched over the years. Many of them have much to say about the experience that led them to further character development, musical appreciation and skill, professional performance, and teaching.
Jen Mahone ’99, a System Director for Respiratory Care at Reading Hospital-Tower Health, said, “Mr. Yealy not only instilled in me a love for music and an understanding of how important music is in making a student more well-rounded, but he was instrumental in who I am today. Under his leadership, he taught us that ‘to be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late.’ We were to respect the team we were on and show up for them, respect the uniform. You were in the uniform, or you weren’t, but there was no half uniform. I will never forget these values. He was such an important person in my life, and I was blessed to meet some of my best friends through him including Dan (Bair ‘85).”
Erick Von Sas ’10 who taught music for 10 years and is presently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in conducting from the University of Maryland said, “As a music educator, Brian (Yealy) is with me every time I enter a classroom. His wit, his selflessness, and his dedication are unimpeachable. There are so many things about Brian that speak through me when I work with students. The greatest lesson he ever taught me, however, was that everyone in your classroom is important; everyone can contribute. He also took a big risk in asking me back to come so quickly as a member of his marching staff, but I am forever grateful for the experience that provided me as a young teacher.”
Nathaniel Sauers ‘03 who works with his students at Crossroads in Westminster, Md., finds his musical ability and training a great combination to communicate and build relationships with his students. As a sole performer and as a member of the Ridge Runners band, he is grateful for many lessons but the most practical was his early training on the various sizes and types of settings that are required of a musician. This knowledge has been invaluable to Sauers’s professional performances from the big venues of Baltimore to local clubs, weddings, and private parties. “Mr. Yealy could do it all,” Sauers said.
Recent graduate Isaac Sheerer ’22 had this to say about Brian’s influence, “I have Mr. Yealy to thank for pretty much everything in my musical journey, including what I’m doing in college. He was so good at always getting the best out of you without your even realizing it.”
The robust attendance at the retirement celebration, along with the impromptu testimonials given at the reception, touched the Yealys. Brian noted, “A special thanks to the people who were brave enough to get up and speak at the after-party! You gave us a great gift that night. Many people don’t get to hear what a difference they made in other people’s lives until they are lying in a coffin. We’re happy to be still alive, kicking, and teaching full-time at Delone and her partner schools!”
The Yealys indeed blessed the student-musicians of the Marching Band and their families over the years, but they also felt blessed by the experience. “The best thing about all the years we put into the marching band was meeting and working with so many fantastic students, parents, and staff members. So many wonderful memories! We always felt like the band staff, students, and parents were working together as a team for a common goal,” Brian and Lynn remarked in a thank-you note sent to the participants after the celebration.
