2013 has been a big year for UMass because of its sesquicentennial and all the buzz that’s surrounding it, and understandably so, seeing as we’re the flagship university of the state most densely populated with places of higher education. Seeing as we also have the largest band in the Northeast and as they say at the end of every rehearsal “the best band anywhere,” the UMass Minuteman Marching Band has gotten a lot more attention and is doing some pretty cool gigs this year, culminating in marching in Times Square for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
These past two years have been a whirlwind for the UMMB, with Dr. Timothy Anderson assuming the title of band director, the construction and use of the George Nathan Parks Building, our move to Gillette Stadium since UMass became a D1 team, Marching on Boston in a matter of days for a sesquicentennial celebration at the State House, and finally taking to the streets of New York for the Macy’s Parade. This is in addition to all the gigs and trips we’ve done in the past, going all over the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Eastern Midwest for the Bands of America Trip in 2011.
People in the band are excited for the show, with the bulk of them having never marched in New York before (though there are some exceptions), and the thought of getting recognized for doing what you love on national TV is pretty awesome. However, while it is an ordeal getting 400 people and all their gear anywhere, doing that in the largest city in the United States is a task the UMMB has not had to do for a long time. However, the UMMB’s student administrative staff, led by Band Managers Lexi Sabol and Becca Baturin, will be sure to keep everyone in line, fed, clothed, and make sure all the buses get to the city, and the drum majors Jake Balcanoff, Rachel Rivard, Gabby Istvan, and Colleen Grady will make sure they’re in time.
The show the band will be playing on the Macy’s Star that day, where all the performers in the parade get to strut their stuff when they get to it, is a song that the UMMB has done many times in the past, the jazz tune “Big Noise from Winnetka.” This song will be pretty recognizable to anyone who has gone to a UMass Basketball Game, as it is a favorite of the Hoop Band, and the last time the UMMB played it was in 2011 as our percussion feature. Given that we have only a brief time in the star since the parade keeps on moving, we will only get to play a portion of it, but it’s a great representation of what the band can do.
This gig is going to be one that the band members can tell their children and grandkids about later on down the line, as to play for this parade is a unique honor, and to uphold the power and class of the UMass Marching Band is perhaps an even greater one. Check it out on TV when you’re at home for Thanksgiving.