Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 1, 2000 2,000 musicians to fill the field at Purdue Band DayWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Look for Kent State's Golden Flashes to be far outnumbered on Sept. 9, and not just by Boilermakers. Bison, Tigers, Cougars, Pirates, Panthers, Falcons, Cardinals, Eagles, Red Ramblers, Warriors and more will flood Ross-Ade Stadium with color and pageantry as a record-setting 31 high-school bands pack Purdue's annual "All-American" Band Day. In 1999, just 16 bands responded to Purdue's invitation to perform at halftime. The increased response this year, raising Band Day participation to its highest level in more than a decade, pleasantly surprised David Leppla, director of Purdue Bands. But it came as no shock to Benton Central High School Band Director Shirley Robertson, who has brought her Marching Bison Band to Purdue for 10 straight years. "It's an easy decision," she said. "The Purdue Band Day is such a warm, fuzzy day for all the performers. Every musician who performs at halftime is just overwhelmed by the power of music." The expanse of Ross-Ade Stadium, the huge crowds and the chance to play alongside college musicians all provide an unbeatable lure, Robertson said. "Here's a freshman playing his trumpet surrounded by all that ambiance. It makes your heart go. It's so cool. What a great memory you're giving that kid and he's only on the 30 yard line." The heightened response is heartening to Leppla, who is a little worried about the future of the popular annual Band Day. "With the heightened enthusiasm for Purdue football, seats at Ross-Ade are in great demand. You never know when that demand will outweigh the ability to provide seats for Band Day. We'll just keep working at it and hope fan response keeps us going for a while," he said. Nothing, however, should squelch spirits at Band Day 2000 as William Moffit, director emeritus of the "All-American" Marching Band, returns to Purdue from his retirement home in Florida to conduct the enormous halftime ensemble. Moffit has composed a special fanfare for Purdue Band Day. He also will conduct the massed ensemble in a varied program encompassing many moods – Dixieland in "Saints in Concert," patriotism in "March America," classical greatness in Mussorgsky's "The Great Gate of Kiev," and Purdue pride with "Hail Purdue." Fitting the nearly 2,000 musicians and auxiliary members on the field has been a challenge for Leppla, who said the gridiron and the end zones will be jam-packed with performers. "Quite frankly, they'll be out of the end zones, too," he said. Leppla credits Moffit's charisma with helping attract a record number of bands. "Dr. Moffit is kind of a legend in this state. A lot of the directors came up playing his music, and using his Patterns of Motion drill style," Leppla said. The Leppla-directed Purdue "All-American" Marching Band will open the halftime festivities with its version of the pop hit "Evil Woman" and a rendition of "Wooly Bully." The whole event, he said, "is 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." CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu; Benton Central Band Director Shirley Robertson, (765) 884-1600; Carroll High School Band Director Jason Gornto, (765) 472-7033. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Media interested in interviews should contact Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785.
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