The Band That Wouldn't Die Movie Night

On Tuesday, October 6th, there is going to be a premier of a documentary on the Baltimore Colts (which later became the Marching Ravens) band and how they continued to play in Baltimore after the Colts left. The story, detailing Baltimore's struggle to get the NFL to return to the city, is told through the eyes of the Band that continued to play without a team. The film was directed by renowned director and Baltimore native Barry Levinson and is part of the ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 documentary series featuring thirty films from some of today’s finest storytellers. Each filmmaker will bring their passion and personal point of view to their film detailing the issues, trends, athletes, teams, rivalries, games and events that transformed the sports landscape from 1979 to 2009. The film received rave reviews at the Toronto Film Festival and is a fantastic story for anyone who has participated in the marching band experience.

The premier is going to take place at M&T Bank Stadium on October 6th. Tickets to the event are just $5 and will be well worth the price of admission.

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.

Yes, we’re a tad behind announcing Alumni Band and starting registration, but for good reason. On the verge of going live, our Database and Web Master, Noah, and his wife Theresa welcomed their future little band member into the world, just in time for the first home game of the season! Congratulations to Noah, Theresa and Little Emma!

Centennial DVD for Sale

The Centennial Homecoming 2008 DVD is available for sale. Those attending Homecoming will receive their copy in the Homecoming Packet. Those not attending Homecoming will receive it in the mail following Homecoming. The price is a modest $15, and makes a great present! It also makes a great item for a Baby Time Capsule! You can order the DVD with your Homecoming registration.

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.

Just as a quick note, the history books are finally en route. Your copy/copies should arrive in the mail very soon — if not already.

If you do not receive your full order by early next week (week of September 14th), please contact the publisher with your order number to get shipping confirmation.

The Band Centennial History Book will be shipping out in August. There were some tweaks that had to be made, causing us to miss the two-week summer break from the presses. During that break the presses were cleaned and we will be one of the first to roll as soon as the plant starts up again next week.

We are very proud of the book. It is beautiful, full of photographs, and the song book will be something everyone should have. After all, the last one was printed in 1941!

If anyone missed ordering the book, or song-book, the only book store to carry them will be the Maryland Book Exchange on Route 1, just across the street from our Chapel Field.

Thank you,
L. Richmond Sparks

Enjoy an afternoon of video game music performed by the University of Maryland's Gamer Symphony Orchestra! As always, the concert is free, and no advanced tickets are required. The performance will be at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in the Dekelboum Concert Hall.

Our student group ensemble of about 90 members (including 20 singers) will entertain with selections from Halo, Katamari Damacy, Metal Gear Solid, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Kingdom Hearts, and other popular games, both recent and classic.

GSO's performances are family-friendly, and we encourage you to bring all your friends, too! For more information, visit our website at http://umd.gamersymphony.org/. Please contact us if you have any questions about the concert:

Robert Garner
Gamer Symphony Orchestra
301-802-9546
umdgso@gmail.com