Brad Ratliff has fond memories of watching the Turkey Tussle between Pasadena High and John Muir High over the years, but this year he will be a part of it — in a musical sense.
On game day, Ratliff, the third-generation Muir High School graduate and former President of the Tournament of Roses (2016-2017) will be presenting a check to his alma mater’s marching band for new uniforms. The Turkey Tussle takes place on Oct. 31.
“My foundation, which I started it right after I was the Tournament of Roses president, will be presenting a check to the John Muir High School Band for $3,720,” said Ratliff who with his wife Susan started the Oboe Foundation. “The band has been playing for the last several years in a blend of older and new uniforms.”
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The Muir music roots run deep for Ratliff. Even Ratcliff’s Rose Parade theme, “Echoes of Success,” started with the Muir music teachers under whom he studied.
“I’m a musician, I graduated from John Muir High School in 1978 and my wife graduated in 1977 and we were part of the music program,” Ratliff said. “Back then, John Muir High School had the premiere music program on the West Coast. Things have changed over the years. With all the stuff that goes on with public schools, they make cutbacks as you know, there are serious challenges.
“When I finished my years as president of the Tournament Of Roses, I felt, ‘OK, I need to pay forward all the stuff music has given me,'” Ratliff said. “The foundation is about all the good things music puts in front of kids.”
Muir music teacher Karen Klages and Ratliff played together when they were at Muir. He said the school is to be congratulated for sparking so much interest in music that over the last few years the size of the band has doubled, from 18 band members to 40. But with that comes growing pains.
“They’ve done a good job creating outreach and music for the kids,” Ratliff said. “What we did was we said we want to get these kids in brand new uniforms.”
A presentation will take place during a break in the game at the Turkey Tussle with Rose Boel video board recognition. Ratliff said the interest in instrumental music at the school is so strong, it is also starting a strings program.
“Our foundation was created to advocate for and support instrumental music in public schools,” Ratliff said. “The Muir Band program has seen a doubling in its participants over the last year and has started a strings program. ”
As part of the foundation’s mission, the group has helped start the strings program in conjunction with the Harmony Project. The foundation has worked with Marshall High and with Arcadia High School.
The foundation supports other groups and produces an annual jazz experience for the PUSD kids each year.
Ratliff said it was a team effort to raise the money and he said a round of thanks goes out to all involved.
“With the help of some alumni and other folks and the Oboe Foundation, we raised quite a bit of money. There’s $1700 from different folks and my foundation will contribute $2000 to make up that total amount. It’s specifically for the uniforms they so badly need and in recognition of all of the great things that Muir is doing,” Ratliff said. “Our foundation sees a tremendous value for what they’re doing for our students at Muir.
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