Purdue Band Day Tradition Continues This Weekend

Purdue Band Day is an annual partnership between the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and high schools from around the Midwest. During the day, high school band students have the opportunity to meet, rehearse, and perform with members of the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band and get a feel for what a Big Ten college marching band is like. This year, over 20 high schools from all across the state will bring band students to participate, making a “mass band” of around 1700 students.

Purdue Band Day 2018 will feature guest conductor, Jim Butz. Jim is the retired Director of Bands and Music Department Chair at Ben Davis High School where his bands won 6 state championships and his jazz band won numerous awards including an invitational performance at the Indy Jazz Fest.

The day will begin with a mass band rehearsal at the Hull Practice Field where high school bands will join Purdue in their halftime show preparation. Following the rehearsal, students can eat lunch and watch the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band at Slayter Center, a 20,000-person outdoor amphitheater on Purdue’s campus, where they perform in an exciting Purdue pre-game tradition, “Thrill on the Hill”.

The visiting high school bands will have special seating in Ross-Ade Stadium during the game. The Halftime show will feature the Band Day performance with the Purdue and high school bands on the field together.