Strike up the band! Alumni band kicks off summer season
Utah State University’s Alumni Band has a proud history, one that goes back to 1963 and the band’s founder Max Dalby. The band plays in the John Phillip Sousa concert-in-the-park tradition, and it is about to embark on its 45th season.
“There have only been two conductors in the band’s history,” said current conductor and director Nicholas Morrison. “Max led the band for 30 years, and I took over in 1993.”
The creation of the band came as a request, Morrison said. Administrators in student services at USU approached Dalby because they were concerned that there wasn’t anything for summer school students to do on campus on Sunday evenings. The idea for the band was born, and Dalby created a popular and ongoing tradition as a service to campus and a program that was quickly embraced by the community.
The summer concerts have been held in a variety of locations through the years, and the band now performs both inside in the Kent Concert Hall and at an outdoor venue on the Quad east of Old Main. For the 2007 season, the band will perform the first two concerts inside, and the final three concerts outdoors.
“We have found the location on the Quad to be a very nice venue,” Morrison said. “Old Main is a nice backdrop, and the audience can sit in the shade – the Old Main tower and its shadow determine where the audience sits.”
While the audience for the concerts is diverse, Morrison and members of the band especially enjoy seeing young audience members. In fact, Morrison encourages families to bring children to the concerts.
“During the year, for many reasons, it is difficult to invite children to music performances,” Morrison said. “We record most performances because students need good recordings for their portfolios. In the summer, however, we invite children of all ages.”
Morrison’s only request is that parents act responsibly. If a youngster becomes restless and noisy, the parent and child should leave the concert hall or move to the back of the outdoor group so fellow audience members are not disturbed.
“These concerts are fun and the band members enjoy looking out and seeing young people in the audience,” Morrison said. “So, bring the family. Bring a picnic. Bring the dog – for the outdoor concert, of course.”
Members of the band are either graduates or attendees of USU and performed with the music department’s top band. Faculty members perform with the group as well. Between 60-70 musicians perform at each concert throughout the summer. Some perform in one concert, some two and a full one-third of the members commit to all five concert dates. And while many members are from Utah, others plan family vacations and trips to coincide with the concert dates. Morrison said band members will travel from California, Colorado, Illinois and Ohio to perform this summer.
“A significant number of people in the band are Max’s students,” Morrison said. “That’s a real tribute to Dr. Dalby.”
All concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are free. Dates for the 2007 summer season include June 17 and 24 (both indoors) and July 1, 15 and 29 (outdoors).