At the Palmerton Area High School vs. Notre Dame High School football game on Friday, October 18, 2024, CMS teachers and fellow marching band directors Matthew Blanchard (Palmerton) and Chris Klump (Notre Dame), surprised the crowd with a joint performance of their bands’ “Halloween Special” Pregame Show.
According to the Notre Dame High School Bands Facebook page, “It was initially introduced as a battle-of-the-bands, as the directors teased the crowd with a cowbell-off, but the PAHS Drum Major, Zane Himmelwright, intervened and brought the bands together to R.I.P. or “Rock In Peace!” Together, the Palmerton H.S. Blue Bomber Band and Notre Dame H.S. Crusader Band took the field at Notre Dame’s stadium in Easton to perform “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult, “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr., and the Star-Spangled Banner.
Although their paths had crossed once before, Chris and Matthew said they really got to know each other when they both started teaching at CMS. Chris joined the CMS faculty in March of 2023. He teaches private lessons in trumpet and guitar, as well as group ukulele classes for the City Arts Camp and other Allentown School District outreach programs. Matthew began teaching tuba, trombone, piano, and voice at CMS in December 2023. He also directs the CMS Jazz Band on Thursday evenings. Matthew said, “It’s been great to get to know Chris, and all the kids had a ton of fun!”
Photos are courtesy of Notre Dame’s parent photographer, Donna Fogel.