September 2, 2004

Patriotic tunes color Sept. 11 Purdue Band Day

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Patriotic tunes will provide musical color for Purdue's annual "All-American" Band Day at the Purdue vs. Ball State game on Sept. 11, coinciding with national observances marking the anniversary of 9/11.

The mood for the day will be set before the Boilermakers take with field at noon when the "All-American" Marching Band performs its flag ceremonies centered around a traditional Purdue reading called "I Am An American." The reading was performed around the world after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as a source of solace for Americans at home and abroad.

Halftime will feature Lowell E. Graham, one of the military's most noted band directors, as guest conductor, and a special postgame show in front of Hovde Hall will bring the band together with singers from Purdue Musical Organizations and local political dignitaries for "An American Salute: Remembering 9/11."

"I think the whole game day will be a pretty moving tribute," says David A. Leppla, director of Bands.

Twenty-six high school bands from north and central Indiana will bring more than 1,300 musicians to Purdue to combine with 340 members of the Purdue band for a massed halftime show.

Graham, considered one of the luminaries in the service band world, served as commander and conductor of the U.S. Air Force's premiere organization in Washington, D.C., for many years. He is currently head of the University of Texas/El Paso music department.

Following Band Day tradition, Graham will work with all the high school bands at an early-morning rehearsal on game day to put the finishing touches on music they've learned before coming to campus. Tunes slated for the program include "Battle Cry of Freedom," "Manhattan Beach" and "Let There Be Peace On Earth."

After the game, the "All-American" Band will lead the crowd back to Hovde Hall for a final patriotic salute in a program that adds the Purdue Glee Club and Purduettes, directed by Brian Breed, along with the Indiana All-Star Choir, made up of singers from high schools across Indiana. Tunes will include "The Star Spangled Banner," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," and a medley of "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America."

State Rep. Sheila Klinker and West Lafayette Mayor Jan Mills will speak at the event, which is free and open to the pubic.

Participants in Band Day 2004 include:

Attica HS Red Rambler Marching Band, Attica, Brooke Hawley, director.

Austin HS Band, Austin, Raymond Bruce, director.

Carroll HS Marching Cougars Band, Flora, Jessica Rankin, director.

Cathedral HS "Pride of the Irish" Marching Band, Indianapolis, Kathy McCullough, director.

Crown Point HS Royal Regiment Marching Band, Crown Point, Peg Shaffer, director.

Delphi HS Marching Oracle Pride, Delphi, Jay Dennison, director.

Frankfort HS Marching Band, Frankfort, Dan Troyer, director.

Harrison HS Militia Band, West Lafayette, Steve Cotton, director.

Hobart HS "Pride of Hobart" Marching Band, Hobart, Brian S. Grenier, director.

Lakeland HS Laker Pride Band, LaGrange, Donna Russell, director.

Lebanon HS Marching Band, Lebanon, Julie Lakomek, director.

McCutcheon HS "Pride of McCutcheon" Band, Lafayette, Brian Shaw, director.

North White HS "Pride of the North" Marching Band, Monon, Susan Ramey-Burns, director.

Perry Meridian HS Marching Falcons Band, Indianapolis, Adam Clutinger, director.

Peru HS Marching Tiger Band, Peru, Diane Haley, director.

Riverton Parke HS Panther Band, Montezuma, Mike Hardesty, director.

Rochester HS Zebra Band, Rochester, Barry Frisinger, director.

Seeger Memorial HS "Patriot Band," West Lebanon, George Peterson, director.

Sheridan HS Blackhawk Band and Guard, Sheridan, Cheri Brightman, director.

South Adams HS Marching Starfires, Berne, Curt Amstutz, director.

Triton HS Marching Trojans, Bourbon, Kay Kizer, director.

Turkey Run HS Marching Warriors, Marshall, Annette Munoz, director.

Union HS Bulldog Band, Dugger, Rae Anne Tyra, director.

Wabash HS Apache Marching Band, Wabash, Art Conner, director.

Wes-Del HS Spirit of the Warriors Band and Guard, Gaston, Stacey L. Briggs, director.

West Lafayette HS Marching "Red Devils," West Lafayette, Matt Conaway, director.

CONTACT: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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