Purdue Band Day 2005 presents "An American Pastiche"

From marches by John Philip Sousa to rock by the Doobie Brothers, Purdue's annual "All-American" High School Band Day on Saturday, Sept. 10, samples the wide range of music that Americans love.

Twenty-six bands from as close as West Lafayette High School - which is two blocks from Ross-Ade Stadium - to far away as Berne, Muncie and Jeffersonville will fill the field with color and pageantry for Purdue's first home football game.

William D. "Bill" Kisinger, who's retiring at the end of the 2005-06 season after 37 years with the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band, will serve as guest conductor for the massed band show at halftime that features nearly 1,700 performers.

Titled "An American Pastiche," the halftime show opens with Purdue's "All-American" Band performing the Doobie Brothers' "Takin' It To The Streets" and the Beach Boys' "Rock and Roll Music" while the high school bands assemble on the sidelines. Then musicians will stretch from end zone to end zone for the massed bands' performance of the "Theme from the Magnificent Seven," "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and "Stars and Stripes Forever."

For the first time this year, the high school bands will also participate in a parade of bands across Ross-Ade's turf following the game. The Purdue Band will bring up the rear and fans will be encouraged to follow the band back to Engineering Mall where a special concert with Purdue Musical Organizations will occur.

Last year Purdue's musicians and singers collaborated on a postgame concert in honor of 9/11 because a home game was scheduled on that date. The patriotic event turned out to be so popular that "it's on its way to becoming an established tradition no matter what date it falls on," says David A. Leppla, director of Purdue's marching band.

The year the concert will feature "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America " among other tunes.

Participants in Band Day 2005 include:

Attica HS Red Rambler Marching Band, Attica , IN , Brooke Hawley, Director
Borden HS "Pride of Borden, Borden , IN , Jenny Jochim, Director
Carroll HS Marching Cougars Band, Flora , IN , Jessica Rankin, Director
Covington HS Trojan Marching Band & Guard, Covington, IN, Andrew Simpkins, Director
Cowan HS Marching Blackhawk Brigade, Muncie , IN , Pamela Collins, Director
Culver Community HS Marching Cavaliers, Culver, IN, Catherine Tadey, Director
Delphi HS Marching Oracle Pride, Delphi , IN , Jay Dennison, Director
Faith Christian Band, Lafayette , IN , Jack Heim, Director
Harrison HS Militia Band, West Lafayette , IN , Steve Cotton, Director
Highland HS Marching Trojan Pride, Todd Ward, Director
Hobart HS "Pride of Hobart " Marching Band, Hobart , IN , Brian S. Grenier, Director
Kankakee Valley HS Kougar Marching Band & Kolor Guard, Wheatfield, IN, Kenneth Steidle, Director
Knightstown HS Marching Panther Band, Knightstown , IN , Chris Holland, Director.
LaVille HS Lancer Marching Band, Lakeville , IN , Don O'Donnell, Director
McCutcheon HS "Pride of McCutcheon" Band, Lafayette , IN , Brian Shaw, Director
New Prairie HS Marching Cougar Band, New Carlisle , IN , Mark Belsaas, Director
Pendleton Heights HS Marching Arabians, Pendleton , IN , Troy Albright, Director
Peru HS Marching Tiger Band , Peru , IN, Diane Haley, Director
Rochester HS Zebra Band, Rochester , IN , Barry Frisinger, Director
Royal Majestics, Mishawaka , IN , Lorraine Gill, Director
Seeger Memorial HS "Patriot Band," West Lebanon , IN , George Peterson, Director
South Adams HS Marching Starfires, Berne , IN , Curt Amstutz, Director
T.A. Edison HS Eagles Marching Band, Lake Station, IN, Bridget Fine and James Wasmundt, Directors
Turkey Run HS Marching Warriors, Marshall , IN , Annette Munoz, Director
Union City HS "Pride of Union City ," Union City , IN , Ross Mullins, Director
West Lafayette HS Marching Red Devils, West Lafayette , IN , Matt Conaway, Director