LJWorld.com / Band Day celebrates 60 years this weekend

Archive for Friday, September 7, 2007

By Alexander Parker - news@ljworld.com

September 7, 2007

The Kansas University Band Day parade begins at 1:30 p.m. at Watson Park on Seventh Street. The bands will march east to Massachusetts Street, then south, ending at South Park.

The bands will perform together at halftime of the KU-Southeastern Louisiana University football game, which begins at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

For 33 years, Tom Stidham has coordinated the annual Kansas University Band Day. He’s invited high school bands, directed the Marching Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium, acted as parade marshal and even amassed a small collection of mistakenly discarded instrument parts.

But he’s never actually seen the parade.

That, however, hasn’t doused his enthusiasm for the event, which celebrates its 60th anniversary on Saturday. Thirty-four high school bands from Kansas and Missouri, including Lawrence High School and Free State High School, are joining the KU marching band in the parade.

The Marching Jayhawks are slated to play five songs with Band Day participants at halftime of the KU-Southeastern Louisiana University football game, which starts at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Scott Weiss, director of KU bands, David Clemmer, director of KU athletic bands, and Stidham will conduct the halftime performance.

In all, about 2,400 high school students, as well as 80 members of the KU marching band, are set to serenade downtown Lawrence.

Stidham, associate director of bands at KU, said Band Day is something community members anticipate each year.

“It’s a neat thing to do in Lawrence. A lot of townspeople look forward to it,” he said. “Lawrence is a good band community. It’s tradition, a heritage thing.”

One band involved in this year’s event is from Greensburg High School, which has combined its band with nearby Bucklin High School. It’s the season debut for the band, said director Mike Brummett.

Brummett, who is bringing about 70 student musicians, said the combined schools have participated in Band Day for the last two years, but this year’s trip — just four months after a tornado destroyed most of Greensburg — has extra meaning. “It brings a sense of normalcy, just to keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

His students are looking forward to the trip and the football game, he said. Mostly, though, “We’re happy we get to go again, and we’re happy we still have a band.”

Band directors from both Lawrence high schools called Band Day a source of civic pride.

In Kansas, “This is the parade” to march in, said LHS director of bands Mike Jones. “Everyone likes to see a band go down the street. … People come from all over to see the parade. It’s something the community should be proud of.”

Free State band director Randy Fillmore said the event is a way to celebrate the city’s history and association with the university. “It’s a time for the community to come together and enjoy the bands.”

Sgt. Paul Fellers, of the Lawrence Police Department, said that because of the large crowds, people planning to watch the parade should pick a spot early.

“Because of the extra traffic for Band Day and the KU football game, it is best to allow extra travel time,” Fellers said. “This is especially true for those individuals who are planning on attending the parade downtown. Motorists should be aware that there is always an increase in school bus traffic on Band Day and a substantial increase in pedestrian traffic, as well.”

— Staff writer Alexander Parker can be reached at 832-7154.

Discussion

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7 September 2007 at 11:43 a.m.

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SWGlassPit (Anonymous) says…

“Tooting their horns??”

Nice article, but my god, can we at least avoid these cheesy cliches? That one and “marching to the beat of a different drummer” seem to be favorites of news media whenever they write about marching ensembles. It just gets old, and it's not clever anymore.

Sorry to have a burr up my butt about it.
7 September 2007 at 11:49 a.m.

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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…

I recall that most of those in my high school band dreaded this day. We were stuck in wool uniforms and had to perform stupid dances on the field. For those who enjoy it, good for you.
7 September 2007 at 12:17 p.m.

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Raider (Anonymous) says…

It's great the KU does this for the high school bands in the area. (I say that seriously). What is frustrating is that they won't invite other Big XII bands to their respective football games. They want to charge full price for tickets of each band member from other schools. Part of the reason why there are hardly ever any visitng bands during football season.
7 September 2007 at 1:55 p.m.

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schula (Anonymous) says…

I think more local bands would participate if it was a different weekend. I grew up in Johnson County and most of the bands there go to the Old Settler's Day Parade which always seems to be the same weekend as KU Band Day. 34 bands is really sad. I remember previous years when there were 60 bands or more.
7 September 2007 at 6:17 p.m.

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Piggles (Anonymous) says…

I too remember when we used to have 60, 80 or almost 100 bands come to Lawrence on a crisp cool morning and watching the high school kids show the Band Day Parade fans what they have learned. I'm sure for the kids who live far away from the big cities, coming to Lawrence and march through our downtown and then later play songs with the KU Marching Band at half time of the football game was a big thrill for them. I'm in my forties and have attended all but two Band Day Parades since I was a small child and I enjoy listening to the very small bands who may be a note or two off to the big Topeka bands to all the bands in between and watching the colorful uniforms, the flag corp and the cheerleaders and pom girls. I hope the tradition continues and I would love to see the bands come back and I for one would love to see the parade go back to the mornings again. With high schools limited on their travel budget, it sure would be nice if KU would graciously use some of their money they get and set it aside for Band Day and perhaps help the schools with their travel arrangements or whatever else they need so that more schools can attend Band Day again. Several years ago I remember an article in the paper about a small school located near the KS-CO border line and they played in their high school football game that night, got on the bus and drove all night to get to Lawrence the next morning and march in the parade, then later play at halftime of the football game then go home. I'm sure they were tired youngsters, but I'm also sure that they had a weekend to always remember. C'mon KU lets help bring the bands back again!!!
7 September 2007 at 9:49 p.m.

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ltlbyte (Anonymous) says…

Why not have the parade and the game closer together so that more bands can participate in both activities. It's not like they are working around a television schedule.