This family marches to its own musical legacy - Gainesville Times

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This family marches to its own musical legacy

Five members of Merck clan earn Sousa high school band recognition

Five members of the Merck family have won the John Philip Sousa award over the years. It’s a national award that a high school band director may award to one of their students, recognizing superior musicianship, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation. This year, Katherine Merck, center, from East Hall High and Noah Merck, left of Chestatee High won the award. Chestatee High band director Daniel Merck, back left, won the award while a student at East Hall in 1987, and Terry, right, and Mike Me

07292018 SOUSA 2.jpg — Five members of the Merck family have won the John Philip Sousa award over the years. It’s a national award that a high school band director may award to one of their students, recognizing superior musicianship, dependability, loyalty, and cooperation. This year, Katherine Merck, center, from East Hall High and Noah Merck, left of Chestatee High won the award. Chestatee High band director Daniel Merck, back left, won the award while a student at East Hall in 1987, and Terry, right, and Mike Me

It all started when Mike Merck was in fourth grade. He didn’t like playing sports with other kids, but he enjoyed playing the snare drum. It’s a unique instrument to specialize in, with origins tracing back to military use.