Purdue “All-American” Band Day plays role in
9/11 commemorations
At
football games across the nation on Saturday, Sept. 14, marching bands will
commemorate 9/11with patriotic programs. But no one will do it with more color,
pageantry and musicians than Purdue University where
“All-American Band Day” brings 1,500 musicians from 24 high school
bands to Ross-Ade Stadium’s field for a massed band show at halftime of the
Western Michigan game.
“American Treasures” serves the Purdue “All-American” Band’s theme for the
entire 2002 football season, and Band Day offers a special salute to the American
spirit through classical, rock and purely patriotic music.
Aaron
Copland’s hauntingly majestic “Fanfare for the Common Man” serves as an appropriate
opener for the massed band program that includes the Purdue “All-American”
Marching Band and 24 high school bands from across Indiana. Next the bands
play the Grand Funk rock anthem “We’re An American Band.”
“That tune spent 13 weeks at No. 1 in 1973 and in some respects it could almost
be our theme song today,” says David A. Leppla, director of the “All-American”
Band.
The Band Day program concludes with “America the Beautiful” in an arrangement by
Carmen Dragon, director of the Hollywood Bowl “so it’s a very showy version,”
says Leppla.
Every year, Band Day offers high school musicians the chance to feel the thrill
of performing in a college stadium packed with 60,000 plus screaming fans.
David Barber, director of the Attica Red Rambler Marching Band, feels its
an opportunity his band can’t pass up.
“Just the aura of the day, and being able to perform with so many different
bands in front of more people than they’ll see all season…it’s a great thing
for them (the Attica band),” Barber says.
M.T. “Mo” Trout, director of Jazz Studies at Purdue, will be guest conductor
for Band Day. All the high school bands receive musical scores in advance
to learn the music, then come together for a Saturday morning rehearsal prior
to the game to put the show together under Trout’s direction.
Often the musical arrangements challenge the high school musicians which Barber
sees as a plus, “and it gives them the opportunity to be intertwined with
the Purdue band and see face to face what they do,” Barber says.
“The kids are looking forward to it, and it’s fun for me as a director because
I have the chance to sit back and listen and watch.”
Mark Fridenmaker, director of the Delphi High School Band, says the camaraderie
makes the event as special as the music. “Since we don’t compete, we just
enjoy being with each other at the event. And there are a lot of big Purdue
fans at Delphi, so being at the game and cheering is a lot of fun.”
As part of the commemorative activities at the Western Michigan game, a military
fly-over is planned for the pregame flag ceremonies which also include the
presentation of “I Am An American,” a Purdue Band tradition
dating to the 1960s. Since 9/11 copies, requests for the words, and permission
to present “I Am An American,” have come in from all over the United States
and from Purdue alums abroad. Astronaut Jerry Ross, a Purdue alum, even took
it into outer space in April 2002.
This year, with “All-American” Band Day falling in the 9/11 commemorative
week, participation in the event will be particularly special. But Band day
is special in other ways year in and year out, Leppla says.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for Indiana bands to participate
in a major music event that does not involve the negative aspects of competition.
They come here and they don't have to worry about who takes home the trophy.
That's what music is all about – sharing, not competing,” he says.
Besides Ross-Ade performances, Band Day also includes a concert/pep rally
led by the “All-American” Band at 11:30 a.m. at Slayter Center.
THE
LIST OF PARTICIPATING BANDS INCLUDES:
Attica
HS Red Rambler Marching Band, Attica; David Barber, Director
Benton
Central HS Band, Oxford; Shirley M. Robertson, Director
Bloomfield
HS Marching Cardinals, Bloomfield; Trent Tilford, Director
Carroll
HS Marching Cougars, Flora; Jessica Rankin, Director
Churubusco
HS Marching Pride, Churubusco; Mark Cheshier, Director
Columbia
City HS Golden Eagles, Columbia City; Stan Roth, Director
Delphi
HS Band, Delphi; Mark Fridenmaker, Director
Harrison
HS Militia Band, West Lafayette; Steve Cotton, Director
Hobart
HS Pride of Hobart, Hobart; Tam Trutwin, Director
Kankakee
Valley HS Kougar Marching Band, Wheatfield; Kenneth L. Steidle, Director
McCutcheon
HS Pride of McCutcheon, Lafayette; Brian Shaw, Director
New Prairie
HS Marching Cougars, New Carlisle; Mark Belsaas, Director
North
Central HS Marching Panther Band, Indianapolis; Charles Kunz, Director
North
Judson-San Pierre H.S. Marching Bluejays, North Judson; Matthew Hibbets, Director
North
Vermillion HS Marching Falcons, Cayuga; Jeanne Hershberger, Director
Peru
HS Marching Tiger Band, Peru; Diane Haley, Director
Rushville
Consolidated HS Roarin' Regiment, Rushville; T. R. Campbell, Director
Seeger
HS Patriot Band, West Lebanon; George W. Peterson, Director
Shenandoah
HS Raider Band, Middletown; Cathy Marshall, Director
Sheridan
HS Blackhawk Band and Guard, Sheridan; Cheri Brightman, Director
Tipton
HS Blue Devil Marching Band, Tipton; Rodney D. Fletcher, Director
West
Central HS Trojan Band, Francesville; Michelle Lane, Director
Westview
HS Warrior Band, Topeka; Mike Brown, Director
Wheeler HS Bearcat Band, Valparaiso; Brian S. Grenier, Director