University of Kansas Marching Jayhawks
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| University of Kansas Marching Band | |
|---|---|
| School | University of Kansas |
| Location | Lawrence, Kansas |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Director | David Clemmer |
| Members | approx. 170 (2007) |
| Uniform | Black "cake-box" hat with black plume, red and blue jacket with a Jayhawk on the front, short cape, black slacks, and black shoes. |
The University of Kansas Marching Band, known to fans as "The Marching Jayhawks", is a 150 piece marching band consisting of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and color guard.
[[Image:|thumb|400px|left|The KU Marching Band performs during halftime of a football game.]]
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[edit] History
The first evidence of a band at the University of Kansas was in 1887 when a student, Stuart O. Henry, organized a 12-piece military band. This group apparently did not receive much support since it did not survive the summer. There were student-led bands over the years which performed in concerts as well as at athletic events.
The first band uniforms were acquired in 1906, and in 1907, Joseph C. McCanles became the first faculty director. He served until 1933 when Russell L. Wiley became Director of Bands. The band grew and flourished under his leadership. Wiley retired as director of bands in 1968 and was succeeded by Kenneth Bloomquist and then by George Boberg. Robert E. Foster became director of bands in 1971, a position he held for 31 years. John P. Lynch became the Director of Bands in 2002, only the sixth director of bands in KU history.
In 1967, an outstanding musician from Oklahoma came to KU. James Barnes came as a freshman tuba player and composition major, beginning a rich association with the KU Bands which continues to this day. In 1975 Thomas Stidham came to KU from a position as assistant director of bands at Baylor University. David Clemmer became the new Director of Athletic Bands in fall 2006, thus forming the present KU Band Faculty.
There have been significant changes in the band program during the past 25 years. The Marching Band and men's basketball band have gained a position of national prominence.
The KU Marching Band marched down Campanile Hill to Memorial Stadium for the first time in the fall of 1971, an important pre-game tradition to this day. The Kansas state song, Home on the Range, was first performed by the Marching Band in 1971, and soon became a permanent part of the Marching Band repertoire. Women became a regular part of the Marching Band in the fall of 1972, the same year that the beautiful new silver sousaphones, the first in the Big Eight Conference, were introduced in Memorial Stadium. In 1989 the KU Marching Band became only the seventh band ever to be awarded the Sudler Trophy, the highest honor available to college marching bands. In 1994 it was listed as one of the top ten college marching bands by Sports Illustrated. (University of Kansas, School of Music).
[edit] The Songs of the University of Kansas
I'm A Jayhawk
Fighting Jayhawk
Stand Up and Cheer
Kansas Song
Sunflower Song
Crimson and Blue
Home on the Range
- Official sites
[edit] References
- University of Kansas, School of Music, KU Marching Jayhawks, accessed at http://www.musiccamp.ku.edu/marching_jayhawks/index.htm.
[edit] External links
Official website
The Lawrence Journal-World: Music appreciation
KUsports.com
| Preceded by Michigan State |
Sudler Trophy Recipient 1989 |
Succeeded by Iowa |
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