Missing trombone returned to Northland high school after four decades

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They say great music is timeless.

That holds true at one Northland high school, where a relic from the past has been returned to its home. A trombone that was missing for at least four decades is back in the hands of Winnetonka High School’s music program.

Music directors at the high school believe the King 3B trombone went home with a student during the early 1980’s and never came back when the student graduated.

Don Long, a Winnetonka graduate of that era, found the horn at an estate sale last summer. He paid $50 to get it. Long said the trombone looked pretty beat up. He recognized it by its case and Winnetonka High School music tag.

“As a Winnetonka graduate from 1985, I knew I had to have that trombone,” Long smiled on Friday.

Nowadays, Long works with Meyer Music in Kansas City, coordinating music programs with metro high school band directors. Long contacted Band of Angels, the Kansas City area nonprofit that collects old, used instruments and repairs them with students in mind. FOX4 is a proud sponsor of Band of Angels.

“It had kind of a funky orange lacquer to it. It was a little strange. It wasn’t bright by any means, but you don’t see it today. There were some bends — bent areas. It needed to get cleaned up,” Long added.

Band of Angels spent hours getting the horn cleaned up. Winnetonka High School celebrates its decorated music programs. When musicians at the school played the repaired horn on Friday, music coordinators commented that it sounded great.

“Any kid in band who opens up this awesome opportunity, not only to life-changing experiences, but you find lifelong friends, and you have lifelong relationships from music-making,” Jeff Siasoco, Minnetonka’s director of bands, said.

Buying this horn new would cost around three thousand dollars, according to Long. The horn will be returned to the school’s supply of musical instruments.

There’s a chance you’ll hear that trombone being played this Wednesday, when Winnetonka High School hosts its final jazz concert of the school year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.