Five members were inducted into the Caledonia-Mumford Music Department Hall of Fame. The inaugural award ceremony took place during the middle/high school spring choral concert on May 21, 2003.

   Cal-Mum Vocal Music Teacher Mr. Todd Walker conceived the idea for the Music Hall of Fame to acknowledge the deep musical tradition and rich history in the Caledonia-Mumford School and community. In addition, Walker said the Music Hall of Fame illustrates to our students, music’s lifetime significance and role in their lives. Nominations are accepted for alumni, community members, educators/employees or professional musicians who have made significant contributions, had great accomplishments, or have been lifelong music participants.

   Mr. Walker presented this year’s inductees: Donald Pullyblank, Tim Kelley, J. Normal LeBlanc and in memoriam, Rose Caulfield Freeman and Bernice Emery.

   Donald Pullyblank graduated in the Cal-Mum Class of 1954. While a student at CM, Pully participated in band, dance band, all county band, all state band, brass sextet, brass quartet, chorus, boys’ chorus and played football, basketball and baseball. He started playing the trumpet in 4^th grade and has continued to play for over 50 years, performing with the Cal-Mum Variety Show, Just Playin’ Folks, Kelley’s Heroes, and The Sportsmen.

   Tim Kelley is a 1977 Cal-Mum graduate. His love of the trumpet began in elementary school. While at Cal-Mum he participated in band and solo fests and went on to play in the jazz band at Alfred Tech. He has played for numerous community and church events. For the past 19 years, Tim has played with the Skycoasters. He 1992, he founded Kelley’s Heroes, Caledonia’s premiere marching band. They have performed in numerous concerts and parades including the perennial favorite, Toronto’s Santa Claus parade.

   J. Normal LeBlanc came to Cal-Mum in 1953 to direct the band. A graduate of the Eastman School of music, Mr. LeBlanc began the arduous task of building a concert band. Over time, his bands achieved the highest ranking possible in competition, Grade 6-A, and became one of the premier high school bands in Western New York. His students excelled in individual performances at solo competition and two of his superior concert bands were recorded for sale to the community. It was not unusual for the Senior Band concerts to be complete sell outs. Mr. LeBlanc instilled in his students the ethics of hard work, personal commitment and team play. The Cal-Mum Senior Band was the pride of the school and community. For health reasons, Mr. LeBlanc left Caledonia in 1963 and moved to Arizona.

   The late Bernice Emery embraced music as a part of her life from childhood. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Bernice participated in her school chorus and sang with her musically talented family. Soon after she married, Bernice moved to Caledonia where she shared her musical talents by singing in the choir at First Presbyterian Church. She is best known for her more than 30 years of performing with the Cal-Mum Variety Show Association. Bernice took her roles in the shows very seriously. Her daughter recalls her practicing her songs in the kitchen while preparing supper for the family. A CMVSA mainstay and an audience favorite, Bernice’s performances would light up the stage. Bernice was also a school bus driver at Cal-Mum for nearly 30 years and a swim instructor for Caledonia Recreation for 20 years.

   The late Rose Caulfield Freeman came to Cal-Mum as a vocal teacher in 1945. She married Social Studies Teacher Robert Freeman and embarked on a life-long career of musical service to the Cal-Mum community. Rose served as the choir director, organist and vocalist for St. Columba’s Catholic Church for over 40 years. In the late 1980’s she did the same for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She also played in "Rose and the Three Thorns" was the Cal-Mum Variety Show accompanist for 20 years. Rose taught piano to hundreds of area children and adults for over 30 years. Through her efforts, the community gained an appreciation for music, either as one of her students or as a listener to one of her musical groups.