Music

Alumni Needed for Maryland Basketball Pep Band 12/14-1/19

Maryland Band Alumni!

This is an 'all call' for your participation with the basketball pep band.  Beginning December 14th, we are making available all Men's and Women's Basketball Games for Maryland Band Alumni to come, bring their instrument, and perform with the the Pep Band.  This window is for limited time, so take advantage.  We will have to close the window after January 24th!  We do have a new routine upon entry to the Comcast Center, so please call ahead to get that information - phone 301-405-5543.  We need at least two days notice in order to get your name on the roster to be checked in at the door.  

Homecoming will be October 15, 2011, Maryland vs. Clemson.  Make sure to Save the Date now!!

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Dekelbaum Concert Hall

On Wednesday evening, April 6, the Maryland Community Band will present a special trio of trumpet performers with a unique tie to the UM School of Music.  Faculty member and trumpet professor, Chris Gekker, will be joined by his teacher, Prof. Emeritus Dr. Emerson Head, and his former student, Musician 1st Class, Brandon Almagro, of the United States Navy Band, in Agostini’s “The Three Trumpeters.” The performance is part of a concert presented each semester by two special outreach groups formed by the UM Band program; the all-campus University Band, Eli Osterloh, conductor, and the Maryland Community Band under the baton of John E. Wakefield, Director of Bands Emeritus.  Wakefield proposed the soloists to recognize the great legacy of fine trumpet teaching and performance over many years at the University of Maryland.

Someone suggested Hawaiian shirts and lava lavas for the tubas.  Not sure we'll go that far, but we do want to show the kids we're proud of 'em.  Show your pride for the Mighty Sound of Maryland - register for Homecoming today!!

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Band Alumnus John Turner, on June 19, 2010. He is probably better known as half of the Dynamic Band Duo Betsy and John Turner, and father of Chris Turner, another Band alumnus.

During his tenure at Maryland from 1970-1975, he played clarinet and tuba in Concert and Marching Band, and was ΚΚΨ President. He met his future wife in the band. "My first words ever to John was at the red/white game….I was playing drums and I turned around to him and said, 'Don’t tell the equipment staff, but I lost my plume!' I didn’t know it at the time, but he was the Head of the Equipment Staff. His comment back was, 'Your secret is safe with me.' Paul Deafenbaugh, whom I knew much better, was bent over laughing his head off, and I couldn’t understand why." The following year, one formation had John and his tuba hitting the same mark at the same time as Betsy and her flag. "I kept hitting him in the head about 3 steps out. John yelled a lot."

Save the Date - Homecoming 2010 will be be October 30th, Maryland vs. Wake Forest. Time TBA (we should know 10-14 days out).

Dear Maryland Band Alumni,

My name is Melissa Apter and I am the Vice-President of Service of the Beta Eta chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc. for the 2009-2010 school year. We have a wonderful new project we will be running over the course of the fall semester that needs your support!

Beta Eta is hosting the MSoM Instrument Drive 2009 on behalf of the Mighty Sound of Maryland. We will be collecting musical instruments, music accessories and monetary donations in conjunction with Hungry For Music, a locally based non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which distributes instruments and provides musical opportunities for underprivileged children nationally and internationally.

Our good friend and Cannoneer, Leland "Twink" Starr, Jr., died last Wednesday, Sept. 9, after a fall.  He was 89 years old.

Twink was a very special man.  He was on the Cannon Crew in Byrd Stadium from 1960-2003.  His job in explosives at the Naval Ordinance Lab gave him many opportunities to serve important projects - for example, his work was used for the moon landing.  

He was honored at Homecoming last year, and was very happy to be part of the 100th Anniversary of the Maryland Band program.  He and his wife, Nell Starr, who preceded him in death, were with the band on numerous away and bowl trips over many decades.  He was a wonderful friend of the band.  According to his family, he wished to have no flowers, asking instead for gifts in his name to the band scholarship fund.