Interview with Thomas Stelling

Member 1964, 1965, 1966.

I was a member of the Hilltoppers Drum Corps, a standstill and parade corps located in     Richmond Hill.  My father worked at the Department of Highways.  Also working there was Bill Simon, Brian Madden and Dave Parker.  The boys, as my dad called them, had asked my dad if I was interested in attending a York Lions practice, as the corps was moving from Jr. B to A and there were openings on the line.  One Sunday in the late winter of February 1964 I attended a practice and had the opportunity to sit in on the line. I played baritone at the time and remember sitting next to Al Burgess.  Al played French Horn with the unusual ability to play out of the side of his mouth.

The corps that I marched with had 20 or so horns, with only half playing at any one time.  At the York practice 36 horns played all the time, and the sound was overwhelming.  At the end of practices I was invited to join, and told that I would need a release from the Hilltoppers before I could join York.

At the next Hilltoppers practice when I asked the corps director/drum major for my release the reply was a definite no.  The next Sunday I sat in again with York, and played along with the corps were I could - this corps was great.  But I was reminded that I needed that release.  My dad came to the Hilltoppers practiced with me on the following week, he spent a few minutes talking with the corps director/drum major and I had my release and was on my way to YORK.