Purdue University’s “All-American” Marching Band makes summer visit to Medellín, Colombia

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University’s “All-American” Marching Band from West Lafayette, Indiana USA, will perform in the Feria de las Flores (Festival of Flowers) from August 5-10 in Medellín, Colombia.  Band members will participate in a variety of performance, cultural and school engagement opportunities beyond parading in the festival during their visit. In 1961, Purdue University’s “All-American” Marching Band made its first trip to Colombia. At the time, sixty-four band members made the trip and made over thirty appearances in twelve cities. Today, over 190 band members are in attendance and will perform at a variety of events leading up to the parade on August 9 in the city of Medellín.

Back on Purdue’s campus, over 375 students participate in the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band.  Most recently, the band has had several international travel experiences. Some trips included have been Beijing, China as well as Dublin, Ireland, where they performed in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In its 129-year-plus history, the band was the first to break military ranks to form an image on the football field in 1907; it has served as the official band of the Indianapolis 500 Race since 1919, was the first band at a university without a music school to win the Sudler Trophy in 1995, and was the first Big Ten band to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. Students in the “All-American” Marching Band continue to perform at Purdue because of their love for music.  The department of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, which includes the “All-American” Marching Band, boasts having over 750 students participate per semester—quite an accomplishment for a non-music degree granting institution. Over 23 different ensembles are offered per year, which include jazz, orchestra, concert band, athletic pep bands, and more.