September 2, 2005
Purdue Band Day presents 'An American Pastiche'
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – From marches by John Philip Sousa to rock by the Doobie Brothers, Purdue's annual "All-American" High School Band Day on Sept. 10 samples the wide range of music that Americans love.
Twenty-six bands from as close as West Lafayette High School, which is two blocks from Ross-Ade Stadium, to far as Mishawaka, Berne and Muncie will fill the field with color and pageantry for Purdue's first home football game.
William D. "Bill" Kisinger, who's retiring at the end of the 2005-06 season after 37 years with the Purdue "All-American" Marching Band, will serve as guest conductor for the massed band show at halftime that features nearly 1,700 performers.
Titled "An American Pastiche," the halftime show opens with Purdue's "All-American" Band performing the Doobie Brothers' "Takin' It To The Streets" and the Beach Boys' "Rock and Roll Music" while the high school bands assemble on the sidelines. Then musicians will stretch from end zone to end zone for the massed bands' performance of the "Theme from the Magnificent Seven," "If My Friends Could See Me Now" and "Stars and Stripes Forever."
For the first time this year, the high school bands will also participate in a parade of bands across Ross-Ade's turf following the game. The Purdue Band will bring up the rear and fans will be encouraged to follow it back to Engineering Mall where a special concert with Purdue Musical Organizations will occur.
Last year Purdue's musicians and singers collaborated on a postgame concert in honor of 9/11 because a home game was scheduled on that date. The patriotic event turned out to be so popular "that it's on its way to becoming an established tradition no matter what date it falls on," said David A. Leppla, director of Purdue's marching band.
This year the concert will feature "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America" among other tunes.
Participants in Band Day 2005 include:
• Attica High School Red Rambler Marching Band, Attica, Ind., Brooke Hawley, director
• Borden High School "Pride of Borden, Borden, Ind., Jenny Jochim, director
• Carroll High School Marching Cougars Band, Flora, Ind., Jessica Rankin, director
• Covington High School Trojan Marching Band & Guard, Covington, Ind., Andrew Simpkins, director
• Cowan High School Marching Blackhawk Brigade, Muncie, Ind., Pamela Collins, director
• Culver Community High School Marching Cavaliers, Culver, Ind., Catherine Tadey, director
• Delphi High School Marching Oracle Pride, Delphi, Ind., Jay Dennison, director
• Faith Christian Band, Lafayette, Ind., Jack Heim, director
• Harrison High School Militia Band, West Lafayette, Ind., Steve Cotton, director
• Highland High School Marching Trojan Pride, Todd Ward, director
• Hobart High School "Pride of Hobart" Marching Band, Hobart, Ind., Brian S. Grenier, director
• Kankakee Valley High School Kougar Marching Band & Kolor Guard, Wheatfield, Ind., Kenneth Steidle, director
• Knightstown High School Marching Panther Band, Knightstown, Ind., Chris Holland, director
• LaVille High School Lancer Marching Band, Lakeville, Ind., Don O'Donnell, director
• McCutcheon High School "Pride of McCutcheon" Band, Lafayette, Ind., Brian Shaw, director
• New Prairie High School Marching Cougar Band, New Carlisle, Ind., Mark Belsaas, director
• Pendleton Heights High School Marching Arabians, Pendleton, Ind., Troy Albright, director
• Peru High School Marching Tiger Band, Peru, Ind., Diane Haley, director
• Rochester High School Zebra Band, Rochester, Ind., Barry Frisinger, director
• Royal Majestics, Mishawaka, Ind., Lorraine Gill, director
• Seeger Memorial High School "Patriot Band," West Lebanon, Ind., George Peterson, director
• South Adams High School Marching Starfires, Berne, Ind., Curt Amstutz, director
• T.A. Edison High School Eagles Marching Band, Lake Station, Ind., Bridget Fine and James Wasmundt, directors
• Turkey Run High School Marching Warriors, Marshall, Ind., Annette Munoz, director
• Union City High School "Pride of Union City," Union City, Ind., Ross Mullins, director
• West Lafayette High School Marching Red Devils, West Lafayette, Ind., Matt Conaway, director
Writer: Kathy Matter, Purdue Bands public relations director, (765) 496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web site:
Purdue University Bands
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