USU Alumni Band Back For Its Annual Summer Performances

 Utah State University’s Alumni Band kicked off its 2011 summer concert series July 10.

“We are thrilled to start performing our summer concert series and feel that each performance will be enjoyed by all,” said Nicholas Morrison, director of the USU Alumni Band and senior associate dean of the Caine College of the Arts.

The USU Alumni Band performs July 10, 17, 24 and 31 on USU’s Quad at 7 p.m. In case of inclement weather, the concerts will be held in the Kent Concert Hall located in the Chase Fine Arts Center on USU’s Campus. Each concert is free and open to the public. Families with children of all ages are welcome to attend.

The band’s tradition goes back to 1963 when the group was founded by USU Music Department faculty member Max Dalby. The creation of the band came as a request when university administrators approached Dalby about providing summer school students with an on-campus activity Sunday evenings. The idea for the band was born, and Dalby created a popular and ongoing tradition as a service to the USU campus.

“A significant number of people in the band are Max’s students,” said Morrison. “That’s a real tribute to Dr. Dalby.”

Members of the band are either graduates or attendees of USU who performed with the music department’s top band. Between 60-70 musicians perform at each concert throughout the summer.

“The band is the common bond that unites all of its members each summer to continue one of the most popular traditions on USU’s campus,” said Morrison.

There have only been two directors in the band’s history, founder Max Dalby and current conductor and USU Music Department faculty member Morrison. Dalby led the band for 30 years and Morrison took over in 1993.

Information about the July concerts is available on the Caine College of the Arts website (arts.usu.edu) or call the CCA Box Office, (435) 797-8022.