Musicians needed for Purdue Summer Band

Purdue’s Summer Band, led by Director of Purdue Bands Jay Gephart and Prof. Ishbah Cox, is open to all instrumentalists in Greater Lafayette interested in making music part of their summer activities.

On Tuesday, July 13, the band will perform a program of light classics and Broadway tunes, including Warren Barker’s “Broadway Showstoppers Overture” and selections from “West Side Story” in honor of composer Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday. more...

Becky Bercich named Golden Silks Director

Purdue Bands is proud to announce that Becky Bercich will serve as director of the Golden Silks color guard and winter guard for the 2010-11 season.  Becky brings a wealth of experience to this position having participated in guard activities for many years.  She was a member of the Eden Prairie High School color guard and winter guard in Eden Prairie, Minnesota before becoming a member of the Golden Silks color guard at Purdue in 2006.  For the past two years, Bercich has served as one of two student leaders with the Golden Silks. more...

Purdue Band breaks with tradition, selects three drum majors

Breaking with tradition as it closes in on its 125th anniversary on the Purdue campus, the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band will have three drum majors for its 2010-11 season including the first African-American selected to lead the band.

Returning drum major, Rich Marzullo, a junior from Stamford, CT, heads the trio selected Friday, April 30, in tryouts at the Band’s drill field. The two newly selected drum majors are Aurie Swartz, a sophomore from Charlestown, IN, and the band’s first African-American drum major Cherrie Lemon, a sophomore from St. Louis, MO. more...

Alumni golf outing set for Sept. 19

Mark September 19, 2010, on your calendar for the Band Alumni Club Golf Outing at Coyote Crossing Golf Course in West Lafayette. Proceeds will benefit the AAMB Macy’s Day Parade trip to New York City in November.

Committee chairwoman June Lauer is looking for input as she shapes the event which will also include lunch and activities for non golfers. She is interested in obtaining feedback from individuals as to what they would like to do, such as playing golf individually as opposed to signing up with, or be assigned to, a foursome.

Lauer is also seeking donations of items for raffle prizes and sponsors. Businesses interested in sponsoring a hole in their business name can do so for $200. Individuals can sponsor a hole for $100.

Please contact Lauer at junelauer@aol.com with your feedback and your commitments for raffle prizes and sponsorships.

Miss Boilerette position added to Purdue’s Featured Twirler line-up

Auditions held Saturday, April 10, returned MerrieBeth Cox to the position of Purdue's Golden Girl for the third straight year, kept the entire line-up of Featured Twirlers the same and created a new position titled “Miss Boilerette” for junior Rachel Bazzell.

“The quality of our competitors was so strong we felt compelled to create a position for Rachel,” said Jay Gephart, Director of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band. “During the Al Wright era he took advantage of talent by creating special positions along the way. We are delighted to create this title for Rachel for the 2010 season.” more...