Herman Knoll was the director of the Marching Woodmen at a pivotal time in their history. He began the legacy that the band still celebrates. Read the story on the Herman Knoll years by clicking here. Alumni from the Knoll years were reunited with their director at the 2017 Greenwood Community Band Festival on August 26. Herman and Sandy Knoll returned to Greenwood at the invitation of Community Band director, and friend for over 50 years, Tom Dirks. Knoll agreed to return to Greenwood and conduct the “Mass Band” in two numbers to close out the festival.

“At the end of the festival, we invite anybody who played in any band to come onstage with us, and we play songs like ‘Stars and Stripes Forever,’ things that everybody knows,” Dirks said.

Knoll was introduced by former Greenwood director Jon Sutton. In an emotional moment, Sutton announced that the Community Band would be playing the Woodmen Warmup in honor of Mr. Knoll. Then Mr. Knoll took the mic and asked Mr. Sutton to remain and called current Greenwood director John Morse to the stage. He spoke about the fraternity of band and the beginning of the Marching Woodmen tradition. Then directed his comments to Mr. Sutton and Mr. Morse. “We celebrate our tradition because of the work of these two men and the students who followed.” he said.

Following the concert, Marching Woodmen from the Knoll years gathered on the stage.

It was a wonderful way to end the festival. You can watch the full video of Mr. Knoll’s portion of the concert below.