This weekend, the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band took a road trip to one of their biggest performances of the year. The UMMB was last of the 24 bands to perform at the 18th Annual Collegiate Marching Band Festival at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, PA on September 29th.
On Saturday morning, the band rehearsed at McGuirk stadium, then headed to Roxbury, NJ where they performed as an exhibition act at a high school marching band competition at Roxbury High School.
“Trips are full of fun bus songs and movies. If something goes wrong, we band together to help each other out. My favorite part about traveling is getting to perform for other crowds. Many of our shows outside of the university football games consist of exhibition performances for younger students. We perform at middle school and high school band competitions. It is an opportunity to get kids excited about band because it is one of the best things you can do,” said Senior Drum major, Colleen Grady.
After performing, the band congregated in Roxbury High School’s gym to set up sleeping bags and air mattresses on the floor to sleep on. They like to call it a 394 person sleepover! After all, they do say they are a family. After a night of rest, the band ate breakfast, rehearsed on the high school’s turf field, and drove to Allentown.
“Allentown is one of our biggest trips every year. It is an opportunity to perform for many high school and other collegiate bands… It is a great experience to meet hundreds of people who share the same passion as you,” said Grady.
Before their performance was even over, the UMMB received a standing ovation from band parents, who traveled from Massachusetts; members of other marching bands; and other spectators.
The members of the UMMB know that they are performing the entire weekend, whether they are rehearsing at a high school, or just walking around the stadium. As they wear their uniforms and UMass apparel, they represent the University.
“It’s our way to show other people who we are,” said Junior Flutist, Erica Davignon.
Though it is not a competition, the Allentown performance is the time for the band to put on the best show possible. Every 4:40pm to 6:10pm rehearsal and weekend football games during the year thus far have led up to the performance in Pennsylvania.
“Allentown is special to me because it allows me to be able to do what I love most which is to share my love of music and UMass with our counterparts and friends at other universities. It’s an amazing opportunity to be an ambassador via music for UMass because it shows others who we are, and that we are stronger than ever as a band and as a University,” said Junior Clarinetist, Diego Fellows.
The band’s next performance is October 12th at the football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. It is also Band Day, where hundreds of high school marching band students come to perform with the UMMB.
*Photos by Karen Podorefsky