Albion band remembers ‘Mr. B’

Contributed Story Posted 12 May 2014 at 12:00 am

Provided photo

ALBION – The Albion Marching Band made its season debut on Saturday at the Lilac Festival in Rochester. The band is wearing decals in memory of Wayne Burlison, the assistant marching band director who died from colon cancer at age 36 on March 26.

Burlison taught elementary music at Albion for 12 years and also was involved with the marching band, jazz ensemble and pit orchestra.

This year the band’s show is “Love.” Burlison arrnaged the first number in the band’s routine set to “Somebody to Love” by Queen.

Saturday’s parade wasn’t a competition. It was a 3-mile parade that is a good experience to start the season, said Mike Thaine, the band director.

“It’s a huge crowd for the whole length of the parade,” he said.

The band has about 80 students. Thaine said they performed with heavy hearts on Saturday for Burlison, but also with excitement in wanting to honor him.