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MU Band Alumni News
October 1999

Contents

• Influx of New Blood Into Band
• Take the Marquette Band Home With You
• Band Alumni E-mail
• New Band Officers for 1999-2000
• Jazz Ensembles Look Toward Strong Year
• From the Marquette Band Alumni Association
• Log Onto the MU Band

Influx of New Blood Into Band

The 1999-2000 edition of the Marquette University Band is looking strong. With a large freshman class and strong group of returning upperclassmen, this should be a great year. The numbers of the band as a whole mount to 132, a number unseen in the Marquette Band in many years.

Things kicked off on Sunday, October 10th, when the Fall Concert was held. Dr. Nicholas Contorno led the band as they played such music selections for the concert as First Suite in Eb for Military Band, Fandango, The Sinfonians, Italian in Algiers, Where Never Lark or Eagle Flew, The Glory of the Yankee Navy, and Fugue on Yankee Doodle. The band played this challenging music very well, as all who attended the concert with the Marquette Symphonic Band's musical talent.

Now the band is preparing for the pep band season, while at the same time preparing for the upcoming Winter Concert. The Winter Concert is slated to be on December 5th at 2 pm at the Varsity Theatre, with the theme of the concert being a Holiday Concert. The Spring Concert will take place on April 16th, which will feature music from Star Wars. Make sure to write these dates down, as you do not want to miss any of the action as the Marquette Band moves into the year 2000.

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Take the Marquette Band Home With You

If you have not yet, you can still get "Courtside with the MU Band", a CD of all of your favorite pep band songs as heard at Marquette Basketball games. Be sure to get your copy of the CD that captures everything that defines excitement at the basketball games. Be sure to order your copy now!

For more information on the CD as well as ordering instructions, see the CD Info Page on the Marquette University Band Web Site.

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Band Alumni E-mail

The Marquette Band now has its own e-mail account at Marquette. It is muband@marquette.edu. On this account there is a database of all alumni who wish to receive periodical e-mails from the band as to upcoming current events, such as concert information and alumni pep bands. It is a great way to keep up to date on the band, without having to wait for the Alumni Newsletter to come in the mail. If you are interested in being added to the alumni e-mail list, just e-mail the band at muband@marquette.edu.

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New Band Officers for 1999-2000

[Note: For safety's sake, no phone numbers will be put online. If you need to get a hold of an officer, E-mail the Band at muband@marquette.edu.]

President:	Shannon Duwe	Historian:	Brian Thompson
Vice President:	Joe Nold	Social Coordinators:	Katie Smith
Secretary:	Jenn Mayes		Brian Casiello
Treasurer:	Terry Schroeder	Public Relations:	John Palmer
Small Ensembles:	Aaron Bader		Pete Durbin

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Jazz Ensembles Look Toward Strong Year

The 1999-2000 edition of the Marquette University Jazz Ensembles looks to be strong also, as it has several new members filling its ranks along with many returning upperclassmen. The Jazz Ensembles will have a busy year this year due to some collaboration, some celebrating, and lots of new charts.

The year kicks off on November 18 at 7 pm at the Weasler Auditorium as Jazz Ensembles director Mr. James Krofta leads the bands in a tribute to Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington. Born in 1899, Duke and his band contributed many pieces of music to the jazz idiom and also evolved a "new" style of jazz that affected many of his contemporaries.

On Feburary 6, 2000, the Jazz Ensembles host the 33rd annual Marquette University Jazz Invitational, designed specifically for area high school jazz ensembles. In the past, up to fifteen high school bands have spent the entire day performing.

On April 2, 2000, the Marquette University Jazz Ensembles will perform with Carroll College "Project Create" Percussion Ensemble in a Tribute to Milwaukee's own Woody Herman. Woody Herman was a big band leader in the 30's through the 70's. His bands were known as the "Thundering Herds" and were some of the most popular in their time. The Carroll College "Project Create" Percussion Ensemble, was founded, conducted, and rehearsed by Mr. James Sewery, a nationally known percussionist and instructor.

Overall, it looks to be a busy and exciting year for the Jazz Ensembles, and everyone is invited to join in the excitement at the performances.

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From the Marquette Band Alumni Association

Greetings from the Marquette University Band Alumni Association! I'm Phil Zeman, Vice-President of the MUBAA, and I can't believe it's Fall already. As I write these words, it's nearing mid-terms for the students, and the Band has just completed the October concert. Unfortunately, circumstances beyond the Band's control prevented this newsletter from getting out on time, so on behalf of the Band, I extend my apologies. However, let's not dwell in the past -- let's look to the future!

I'm once again going to try to start up an Alumni Pep Band. This band would practice once or twice before the Winter Break and then join the members of the Pep Band during games over the break. This will help fill out the roster of the band, as many students leave for home over the holidays. I tried starting this last year, but time restrictions prevented anything from happening. I'd like to once again gauge the interest in an Alumni Pep Band. If you have already sent me an e-mail or called me on the phone, please do so again, so I can confirm your interest. Those of you who have reached me by normal mail, I've already got you down on the list. And talk it up with any alumni you have contact with, and tell them to get in touch with me.

Note: You don't have to be in the Alumni Pep Band to come play during break games; it's just a way to get some practice in on new songs and refresh old songs you may have forgotten... except maybe "Ring Out, Ahoya." You probably all remember that one.

Secondly, I'd like to bring up the issue of the MU Band Alumni Web Site. When you stop by the MU Band's Home page (http://www.marquette.edu/band/), you'll notice there is a section for Alumni, but it contains very little information.

What would you like the Alumni Web Page to contain? Online newsletters? Easier ways to contact Band or Band Alumni Association members? A calendar of Events? A guestbook? Please let me know; all suggestions will be reviewed by the Band Alumni Association.

You can get in touch with me in any of the following ways:

Postal Mail:	Marquette University Band Alumni Association 1324 West Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53233
Voice Mail:	414-881-9630
E-mail:	zeman@skyjammer.com (Note new e-mail address)

Thanks, and I'll be back next newsletter, talking about the December 5th concert!

-Phil Zeman

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Log Onto the MU Band

Be sure to check out the Marquette University Band's web site at http://www.marquette.edu/band/

It has all the latest and greatest events going on in the band. Right now, several new pictures are in the process of being scanned in and put on the website by our new website guru, Josh Marso. Be sure to check it out and e-mail the band with any suggestions.

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