By: Alexis Cope

On Friday, October 22nd, the Cary High Marching Band and Concert Chorus performed the school’s Alma Mater for the first time in over 50 years. 

The chorus—which included members of the football team, cheerleading squad, and band—performed alongside the band before the start of the school’s final home game of the season. They sang the national anthem, and then, after a brief introduction from Mr. Chris Foster, Cary High’s band director, the Alma Mater.

On the subject, Mr. Ed Yasick, Cary High’s choral director and Fine Arts Chair, writes: 

“Over these many years we knew the words to the Alma Mater, but not the tune.  This summer, as Mr. Foster was researching information about the 100th anniversary of the band, he found an article that said the Cary High School Alma Mater was sung to the tune of ‘Over the Summer Sea,’  which is ‘La Donna e mobile’ from Verdi’s opera Rigoletto.”

With this newly acquired information, Mr. Yasick and Mr. Foster were able to arrange a four-part harmony to the lyrics, which read: 

“Cary! here’s love to thee, 

And we will ever be

Filled with true loyalty 

And with devotion.

Long we will ever claim 

The blessings of thy name,

And may thy spirit reign 

From crest to ocean.

Fond hearts entwining, 

Cease all repining,

Near us is shining

Cary’s bright smile.”

Mr. Yasick and Mr. Foster plan to use the Alma Mater from this point forward to open significant events such as football games and concerts. They hope the song will never be lost again and can become a long-standing tradition for the school once more.