Purdue News
Purdue NewsDecember 12, 1997
The band will be contributing to the celebration of the 34th Saint Sebastian International Festival in San Cristobal, Venezuela. The festival draws thousands of people from throughout the region, as well as former Venezuelans from around the world. It celebrates the end of the country's rainy season and the beginning of the bull fight season.
The band's activities will be based out of San Cristobal, in the northwestern section of the country, but its performance schedule will include visits to surrounding small towns, bull-fight stadiums and other venues.
"The chance to participate in an event of this magnitude, and to experience the excitement of South American culture, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students," David A. Leppla, director of university bands, said. "They will learn about this culture on a very special level, through participation in the musical arts. This kind of interaction goes far beyond the walls of the university classroom and supports the global education so necessary to the future of Purdue graduates."
The entire band could not make the trip, so students petitioned a selection committee for the chance to make the trip. The committee based its decisions on ability, dependability, seniority and participation in spring ensembles.
The trip is possible through the support of the Insitituto Autonomo Municipal "Feria Internacional De San Sebastian," which is the festival's organizing committee.
The Purdue Marching Band has a long history of travel within Venezuela; the band's first performance in San Cristobal was in 1967. The tremendous reception it received during that visit led to 10 additional trips over the next several years.
Although Purdue has no school of music, the marching band is the largest in the country, with almost 375 members. Purdue students also can participate in a wide variety of other instrumental musical activities, including five concert bands, four jazz bands, a full symphony orchestra, a vocal jazz group, individual instrumental study, and a multitude of solo and ensemble opportunities.
The bands department is in the midst of a $2 million fund-raising campaign that will run through Homecoming 1999 with a goal of $400,000 for band scholarships, $800,000 for new instruments, and $800,000 to support student travel opportunities.
CONTACT: Leppla, (765) 494-0770.
NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Black-and-white or color photos of the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band are available from Jenny Tucker, public relations director, bands, (765) 496-2697.
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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