Next UCMB Performance: UConn vs. Notre Dame (at Notre Dame)

MAC Championships

Saturday night, the UCMB travels to Kennedy Stadium in Bridgeport, CT for the Musical Arts COnference Championship. The MAC is a conference for competitive high school marching bands, and the UCMB will be featured in exhibition at the end of the show. Since the UCMB was not able to attend the previous USSBA and MAC Exhibitions, it is an exciting time to be able to play the entire "Livin' for the City" show for UCMB fans who come to see us, as well as fans of high school marching band and the marching band members themselves. The UCMB appreciates all support for the band, so come down, watch a great show, and make some noise for The Pride of Connecticut! The estimated step-off time for the UCMB is 9:30pm, but is subject to change. ♫

Veterans Day Parade

On Sunday, the University of Connecticut Marching Band will be spreading the pride of it’s state and nation at the Veterans Day Parade in the capitol city of Hartford. The UCMB always appreciates being able to play at this parade because it is the chance that the band gets to bring music and entertainment to everyone around the state of Connecticut. Our performance of America the Beautiful/Battle Hymn is an excellent piece to honor the men and women who served our country. While UConn Huskies and Fight on Connecticut are popular upbeat songs which spreads The Pride of Connecticut” to everyone in Hartford. The parade will start outside the capitol building and continues onto Trinity Street, Ford Street, Asylum Street, and Main Street. ♫

UConn vs. Rutgers

Remembering Jasper “Jazz” Howard
Although we’ll have an exciting game to watch this Halloween, there will be more than just football on the minds of the UConn Football Team and rest of the UConn Community. The recent tragedy resulting in the loss of UConn Student and Athlete Jasper Howard has been felt around campus, and Saturday’s game will have several events to remember Jasper Howard. All fans who attend the game will receive a "6" card, commemorating Howard's jersey number, and the first 15,000 fans who enter will receive "Jazz Live 365" wristbands. Students who attend Saturday's game will receive eye-black stickers identical to those the Huskies will be wearing on the field; one with a "6" and one with Howard's initials, "JH." Students will also receive a "6" button. In addition to the items given out in Howard's memory, Rentschler Field has relaxed their policy to allow fans to bring signs honoring Howard to Saturday's game. The UCMB will be also be showing it’s respect in honoring Jazz. The band will be wearing No. 6 jerseys for the Pregame show, and a 6 will be formed in the middle of the UCONN formation symbolizing how No. 6 will forever be a part of the UConn Community. All fans are encouraged to enter the stadium at 11:30am to see the show. “There are a number of pregame activities and we would like to see every seat occupied as a sign of respect for Jazz." said UConn Football coach Randy Edsall.
Halloween Halftime Show!
It’s Halloween in East Hartford, and for the Rutgers game the UCMB has a Spook-tacular Halftime Show with the king of pop Michael Jackson. The UCMB will kick off it’s Halloween show with a special performance of “Thriller” which will be sure to please the crowd. Following that will be the Jackson 5 / Motown segment, and then the premiere of the Miami show featuring songs from Gloria Estefan and Cupid! Be sure to stick around for halftime for one of the most exciting UCMB performances this season! ♫

Stamford / New Britain Exhibitions

The UCMB loves playing for the UConn community at parades, football games, and other campus activities and events. However, the band also prides itself on putting together a fantastic exhibition show for high school marching band competitions. It is truly a special occasion when the UCMB gets to perform at these events because it allows the band to be watched by an audience who enjoys marching band performances, many of which who are involved in music one way or another including high school band members, band parents, and competition fans. It’s also a great way to promote and represent the UCMB and the University of Connecticut! For these shows, the UCMB will be performing its entire exhibition show “Livin’ for the City” for the first time all season! This is always an exciting time for the UCMB and we hope you are there to join us for one of our two shows this coming Saturday! (or both!) The first show is at Stamford High School's Boyle Stadium (Musical Arts Conference) and our tentative step-off time is 4 pm. The second show is at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in New Britain, CT (USSBA) with a tentative play time at 8:30 pm. Please keep in mind these times are subject to change. Enjoy the show!♫

UConn vs. Louisville — Homecoming

This week has been filled with Homecoming events on the UConn campus and its student organizations, fraternities, and sororities. On Saturday, the whole experience comes together at the Homecoming Game between the Huskies and the Louisville Cardinals. The UCMB will be back, this time with our Motown/Jackson 5 segment (new to our Rentschler audience) and then our Chicago piece to follow. Come see the UConn Huskies at home for this great homecoming game and great music! ♫

Dr. Mills Celebrates 20th Year with UCMB!

This year marks the start of the one-year long celebration of Dr. Mills's twenti-eth season with the UCMB. Dr. Mills joined the music staff at UConn in 1990 and has since directed the UCMB in addition to conducting the Symphonic, Concert, and Pep Bands. Dr. Mills began his music career as band director at Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg, Virginia, and has since worked with bands at both Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia and the "Band of the Hour" at the University of Miami. He has also conducted all of the CMEA Regional Honor Bands. Dr. Mills holds the B.S. in Music and the Master of Music Education degrees from Western Carolina University and earned his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Miami. He is a member of numerous honorary and service societies in music and education including Music Educators National Conference, Connecticut Music Educators Association, College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association (State Chairman of CT), and the Big East Band Association. Congratulations to Dr. Mills for twenty years of dedicated service to the UCMB and to the University of Connecticut! Here's to another twenty years. ♫

- Alysha Martin
5th Semester, Baritone

Next UCMB Performance: Homecoming Parade

The UConn campus will come alive this week with the start of Homecoming 2009. One of the Homecoming events is the parade, which the UCMB will be participating in as well! If you will be on or near the UConn campus, come watch as the UCMB joins the culture centers, fraternities and sororities, and other student organizations parade around campus. The band can be heard around campus playing everyone’s fight song, and make sure to stop at the grandstand to hear some of our show! ♫

UCMB Homecoming Participation

Each year several UConn organizations and clubs participate in Homecoming activities, and the UConn Marching Band is no exception. Sure there’s the pa-rade, but the band does so much more during homecoming week. This year’s homecoming theme is “A Spoonful of Fun” which involves...you guessed it...cereal! The UCMB chose “Team Cheerios” as their cereal of choice.

One of the major events of Homecoming is LipSync, where band members learn choreographed dance to music and perform for the entire campus at Gampel Pavilion. The UCMB’s LipSync show consists of several popular songs and has a storyline related to the Homecoming Theme where the Louisville Cardinal steals Jonathan the Huskie’s Cheerios and UConn has to get them back! The band also painted a banner that got hung up in the Student Union, and members volunteer their cars to be chalked which advertise this year’s homecoming. The band also submitted Gregory Sember Jr. for Homecoming King and Alyssa Kane for Homecoming Queen to represent the Pride of Con-necticut. Unfortunately they did not make it to the final round, but still did a great job in representing UConn and the UCMB!

As if learning marching band shows wasn’t enough! All of the Homecoming events are run entirely by the students. We tip our hats off to the band mem-bers who dedicated even more of their time to help participate in Homecoming and show off their Husky Spirit! ♫

Next UCMB Performance: UConn vs. URI

This Saturday, the Huskies play their second home game at Rentschler Field and the UCMB will be back with a brand new halftime show! For this week’s performance, our Pre-game show has a special treat as the UConn Alumni Marching Band joins us in playing America the Beautiful, the National Anthem, as well as Chicago tune “Make Me Smile” as arranged by UConn’s own Dr. David Maker! Dr. Maker was previous Director of the UCMB and has retired after many years of being involved with the music department here at UConn. At halftime, the UCMB will perform “Livin for the City/Detroit Rock City” as well as Chicago tunes: “I’m a Man” and “Free”. Enjoy the show! ♫

UConn vs. UNC

On Saturday September 5th, the UCMB performed it’s very first show with the 2009 UCMB Preview Show! A huge thank you to everyone who came, the impression that everyone seemed to get is that they really enjoyed the UCMB’s show this year. However, if you missed it the preview show, there is still another chance to see the show that we performed at the first UConn Football home game! UConn vs. #21 North Carolina. The game is sure to be a challenging one and a fun one to watch, and you can catch the UCMB at halftime performing Livin’ for the City, Detroit Rock City, and then entertain the crowd with their “Baseball Battle” showcasing the New York Yankees with New York, New York and the Boston Red Sox with Sweet Caroline. Don’t forget to be there for our pre-game show and stick around for the post-game show! The whole day should prove to be quite exciting! ♫

- Andrew Hurley
5th Semester Horn, Communications Coordinator

The Making of Pre-Season!

Pre-season, it doesn’t just happen on its own. This summer, the Junior Reps worked behind the scenes to coordinate the many things that the UCMB needs, plan pre-season events to promote camaraderie with its members, and generally make life easier for upper leadership (they have enough on their plate as it is). The Junior Reps moved in at the same time as section leaders and upper leadership in order to finalize the plans made over the summer. The weekend was spent meeting with dining services, gathering supplies, organizing the check in process, copying and folding over 300 programs for convocation, and various other general preparations. This weekend of hard work, outings to get materials, and learning to use the band office computers was all for the benefit of U, but pre-season is only the beginning; It is now up to all of us to continue our intensity and make 2009 our greatest season yet! ♫

- Ronald Cousins Jr.
5th Semester Trumpet, Junior Rep

“How You Doin’!?” - Marvin McNeill

Hey Band! How You Doin!?!?!  

As I sit here glancing out of my office window at another rainy day in Storrs, the old Bill Wither’s classic, Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone, comes to mind. It seems like there hasn’t been any sunshine since all of you have left campus for the summer, but I know that you will bring back that sun with you in August, most likely with a little heat as well.

Also, there is another cloud hanging over me as I write with the news of Michael Jackson’s passing. The news of his passing really touched me with a bit of sadness. Along with the other MJ, Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson played a big role in my adolescent years. The energy and power of his music along with his awe inspiring, magical stage performances have left a lasting impression on me. Additionally, while researching music for our Motown section of our show, I have spent a lot of time listening to Jackson 5 recordings, and realized how incredibly talented Michael was at a very young age. At the age he was singing I Want You Back, I was still figuring out how to tie my shoes.

With this I would like to share with you a few things that I have realized through the Life and Music of the “King of Pop”, Michael Jackson.

It really doesn’t matter if your Black or White... or Yellow, Orange, Brown, Red, or any shades thereof, everyone deserves to be respected. No matter how many times you try to change your outer-self, your inner self is what really matters. To make a change within the world start with the “Man (Women) in the Mirror” It takes a lifetime to build character and an instant to tear it down. Music is truly powerful! Money can’t buy happiness. When the audience expects a 100%, give them much more; that is when the magic of performance begins. You never know if you will get to take that farewell tour. Great music transcends the test of time. It doesn’t matter how great and famous you are, white socks with black shoes and wearing one glove still looks kind of silly, so always have both of your black gloves and both of your black socks.

Marv’s Shout-outs: Dr. Mills for organizing and hosting an outstanding Symposium for the College band directors. Jim Moriarty, Drew Groves, Kevin Forino, Andrew Hurley, Adam Summerer, Abbey Straub, Emily Collins, Jillian Katz, Mallory Legman, Robin Puzzo, Robin Myers, Heather Magnoli, Josh Murphy, Amy Bovin, Jen Andrews, Andy Landry, and Ryan Brady, for helping with the Symposium. (I hope I didn’t miss anyone.) Jim Moriarty for producing the promo video and poster for this year’s show. TUP! ♫

- Marvin McNeill, UConn Assistant Director of Athletic Bands REGISTER FOR ALUMNI BAND DAY!

UCAMB Lends a Hand to UCMB 09’ Grads

The UConn Alumni Marching Band (UCAMB) welcomed approximately 50 new grads to their ranks this May with a "virtual" pat on the back and helping hand. Knowing new grads faced one of the toughest job markets in 20 years, alumni stepped forward to do what they could to help. Working with the new grads to polish up resumes and network, a diverse group of alumni volunteers from different work settings are reading and editing the resumes for our grads, giving them feedback via email. In addition, the new grads were "introduced" to the UCAMB via its list-serve, and all UCAMB alumni were asked to offer their collective help finding job opportunities for the grads. The Alumni have been great, posting back with information on present openings and offering information on jobs that should be coming open down the road. These efforts are reaping rewards with some new grads reporting successes in landing a position (Congrads to Eddie Sarisley '09 who will be teaching at Putnam High School!). The UCAMB is now planning its annual Preview Show Tailgate Party and New Alumni Welcome! This year's preview show is Saturday, September 5th. Alumni will be welcoming their newest members, the UCMB Class of '09, and tailgating from 4 - 7pm, then moving over to catch the UCMB's rehearsal and show! Many UCMB members are part of multigenerational UCMB families - check out our salute to them here: http://www.ucamb.org/ footsteps.html The UCAMB will take the field once again on September 26th for the UConn Vs RI game! Hope to see you there!!!! TUP! ♫

- Pamela Marino
UCAMB President

Livin’ for the City

_ The show theme has been announced for next year; Livin’ for the City! This exciting show will take us through the music that has come to represent some of the great cities in the country such as New York, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Miami. Our very own assistant director Marvin McNeill has been putting to gether some great arrangements for the show, and we can’t wait to unveil what we have in store! ♫

- Jim Moriarty
8th Semester,
Drum Major

2009 Schedule Announced

Our 2009 schedule is up and you can see that it will be exciting!

It’s a great blend of home fooBand Fieldll games, exhibition performances, and 2 important parades! In addition there is the very real possibility of a trip to the “Mecca of College FooBand Fieldll” Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana!

The Notre Dame game: We are putting a trip together to travel to the biggest game in UConn fooBand Fieldll history. Of course, it all depends on funding, but it looks like the interest is so great for the university to have us there that it looks very probable that it will be a reality. For the UCMB to be there and perform on that field would be an incredible experience!

We would travel on Friday, Nov. 20 and spend the night somewhere like Toledo, then we would make a short trip to Notre Dame the morning of the game, experience the pregame excitement of a Notre Dame foo>ll game, support our team as they defeat the Irish and perform for a packed stadium! We’d then travel back overnight to Storrs so we can have as much of the Thanksgiving break as possible. SO, please, don’t make airline reservations for the Fall (Thanksgiving) Break until we make this official. We will know if we are going by middle of August so there is plenty time after that to get good rates on your travel.

Exhibitions Performances: Our annual Pre-view Show is scheduled as usual for the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. (How nice it is to have the Pre-view Show actually before the first game!!) Family Weekend will give us a chance to show off for parents and friends in the morning and have lunch and free time with our families! We have the opportunity to perform for both the USSBA Championships and the MAC Championships—what a great opportunity it is to show real band audiences what we can do!

Parades: the Homecoming Parade is a big deal for the campus but it takes only an hour or so of our time! The UCMB has become the centerpiece of the CT Veteran’s Day Parade in Hartford—it’s our chance to really be “the Pride of Connecticut”.

Home Football Games: UNC and Big East football, it can’t get much better!

We have made it a priority to not double up footbaƒll with exhibitions or to have events for the entire band on Saturday and Sunday of the same week. This should be both the most comfortable season as well as the most exciting season yet!! ♫

-Dr. David Mills
UConn Director of Bands