TRADITION MARCHES ON WITH USU ALUMNI BAND THIS SUMMER
In a world where speed and change seem to be the rule, it is always nice to find a relaxing piece of tradition that can be counted on year after year.
One can find just such a traditional event in the Utah State University Alumni Band Concert Series that kicks off its season this year on June 16 at 7 p.m. in the Kent Concert Hall.
After performing each summer on Utah State?s campus for more than 30 years, the all-volunteer USU Alumni Band is still going strong and looks forward to pleasing audiences yet again this summer, said Nicholas Morrison, band director. With five concerts on the docket scheduled between June and August, this year?s series promises quality entertainment for music enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds.
Morrison said the reason these concerts continue to be popular year after year is simple. ?They?re a fun time,? he said. ?These concerts provide the community with a unique opportunity to experience a good, old-fashioned park band experience patterned after the turn-of-the-century bands of John Philip Sousa and others.?
As in years past, the concert is free and all are invited. Children are always welcome at these concerts, which sets them apart from many musical performances in the valley.
?Allowing children to attend these concerts provides a valuable educational experience for parents,? Morrison said. ?The kids get a chance to see that you really can keep playing an instrument even after you get older. Some kids think that?s not possible, but these band members show that it is.?
Another unique feature of the USU Alumni Band is that it truly is a volunteer band. Performers come from all over the region and perform free. In fact, over the past five years band members have contributed more than $12,000 in funds to benefit the Music Department at Utah State.
?The performers feel that to carry on such a great tradition as these concerts, new alumni must be trained and helped along their way while they are students at the university,? Morrison said.
Approximately 60 musicians participate in each concert drawn from a pool of about 120 volunteers. All but a handful are alumni of Utah State and come to perform out of a love for the department and the university, Morrison said.
The series concerts are scheduled as follows:
Sunday, June 16 — Kent Concert Hall, 7 p.m.Sunday, June 30 — Amphitheater, 7 p.m.Wednesday, July 3 — Romney Stadium, Fireworks Performance (admission charge)Sunday, July 21 — Amphitheater, 7 p.m.Sunday, August 4 — Kent Concert Hall, 7 p.m.