One St. Patrick’s Day many years ago, Marian Catholic High School director of bands Greg Bimm said he decided the students should play “Danny Boy.” To this day, that performance chokes him up.
“It was magnificent. The only people that got to hear it were the students and I. It was a truly special performance,” Bimm said. “It came from just that day, that time, those students. There have been many, many things like that over the course of my time.”
While competitions and performances are the most memorable part of his 46 years as director of bands, Bimm said he equally enjoyed rehearsals.
“Certainly there were some incredibly inspired performances in really big venues, whether it’s the Rose Parade or national championships or the state championships, but there were moments in rehearsals that were equally profound,” Bimm said.
“In rehearsing, it’s an immediate interaction with students and I. It’s a constant state of learning and perfecting and striving, and that’s what’s really rewarding,” Bimm said.
Bimm will retire in June, but he won’t leave the school community. He will continue in an emeritus role in the advancement office, as a consultant to the band program and write shows, according to the school.
“Greg is a recognized trailblazer in high school and college marching bands, but he will never tell you that,” said School President Vince Krydynski. “It’s always been more than producing beautiful music, mastering complex maneuvers or winning awards. For Greg, it’s always been about teaching young people to take responsibility for their decisions and to constantly work to be better tomorrow than they are today.”
Bimm was hired in 1977, school officials said, and under his tenure the band program grew from 70 students to 300 students at its peak, and earned national recognition.
The school earned first place in its class at the Illinois State Marching Band Championships every year since 1980, officials said.
When competing in various Bands of America competitions, Bimm led the marching band to win seven national championships, five summer national championships and 23 Class AA national championships.
The marching band has also performed in two Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the 2001 Presidential Inauguration Parade.
The school’s symphonic band was undefeated at the State of the Art Catholic Band Competition since 1981, officials said, and was named honor band in its class at the University of Illinois Super State Concert Band 10 times.
“Marian has always been so supportive of me, the band, and the arts in general,” Bimm said. “When you combine that support with intelligent, hardworking, upward-looking students and dedicated parents, you get a real recipe for success and a recipe for a very happy home for a band director.”
Bobby Lambert, former assistant director of bands at Marian Catholic, said Bimm is well respected in the band world.
“He revolutionized student leadership and student care to a level unseen before. The vast majority of band directors employ systems or standards organized by Greg,” Lambert said.
Assistant director of bands Jeremy Turner, a former student, said he never stopped learning from Bimm.
“Bimm’s legacy is the lessons taught about empathy, humanity, responsibility and the relentless pursuit of excellence, lessons all taught through music, dance and art,” Turner said. “Carrying on that legacy will always start with continuing to build good people.”
Outside of his emeritus role, Bimm said he hopes to continue writing shows for school bands, serving as a guest conductor and visiting band rooms.
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But, he is very thankful to the students, parents and school staff that he taught and interacted with during his time at Marian.
“I have often said over the years that I didn’t make any of the music. All the music that the people heard of the Marian band was students playing their instruments. I didn’t play any of those instruments. I didn’t make a sound. I just waved my hands sometimes,” Bimm said. “I can’t imagine, and I couldn’t have imagined, a better career.”