University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band

Last updated
Razorback Marching Band
Arkansas Razorbacks logo.svg
School University of Arkansas
Location Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States
Conference SEC
Founded1874
DirectorMr. Chase Jones
Members345
Fight song"Arkansas, Fight!"
Website http://bands.uark.edu/

The Razorback Marching Band (nicknamed the "Best in Sight and Sound") is the marching band of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The 300+ member RMB performs at all home football games (in Fayetteville, Little Rock, & Dallas) as well as all post-season play (SEC Championship and/or Bowl Game). A small pep band travels to football games played elsewhere. [1]

Contents

History

In 1874, The University of Arkansas Razorback Marching band was originally formed as the Cadet Corps Band. It was formed as a part of the Military Art Department in the University of Arkansas's fourth year of operation which makes it one of the oldest collegiate bands in the United States. The Cadet Corps Band served in many functions of the campus life, not keeping exclusively to military events, but also played in football games, pageants, and commencement exercises. [2]

Arkansas Razorback Marching Band in Razorback Stadium for the 2006 game with Alabama. Arkansas Razorback Marching Band 2006.jpg
Arkansas Razorback Marching Band in Razorback Stadium for the 2006 game with Alabama.

On June 5, 1924, the Lambda chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity, was formed at the University of Arkansas. The fraternity's purpose was, and is to this day, to promote the existence and welfare of the University Band. In the time period directly following World War II, the Arkansas band enjoyed a time period of what could be considered steady growth.

In 1947 the band divided into three bands: an American football band, a concert band, and an R.O.T.C. band.

In 1948, E.J. Marty became the Director of Bands and turned the 42 piece football band into the famous "Marching 100", known throughout America as one of the best bands in the nation.

On November 11, 1950, the Psi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma honorary band sorority, was founded at the University of Arkansas. Together with the Lambda chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, they have aided in transforming the musical organization at Arkansas.

In 1956, Dr. Richard A. "Doc" Worthington became Director of Bands during a slump in band enrollment. Dr. Worthington was quickly able to turn the "Hopeful 78" into the University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band.

In 1995, Professor Eldon Janzen, Director of Bands and Lambda Chapter Sponsor, retired after leading the band after almost three decades. The University of Arkansas awarded him with the title "Director of Bands, Emeritus", the first such title to be given to any band director at the University of Arkansas.

In 2006, the Razorback Marching Band was awarded with the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Trophy. The purpose of the Sudler Trophy is to identify and recognize collegiate marching bands of particular excellence who have made outstanding contributions to the American way of life. The Sudler Trophy is awarded annually to a college or university marching band which has demonstrated the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines and ideas, and which has made important contributions to the advancement of the performance standards of college marching bands over a period of years. [3]

In 2009, Mr. Timothy Gunter, stepped down as Head Director of the Razorback Marching Band, after 14 years as a director of the Athletic Bands.

In 2012, Dr. Christopher Knighten was promoted from Director of Athletic Bands to Director of Bands.

In 2014, Dr. Benjamin Lorenzo was promoted to Director of the Razorback Marching Band.

In 2022, Dr. Jeffrey Summers was promoted to Director of the Razorback Marching Band.

In 2024, Mr. Chase Jones was promoted to Director of the Razorback Marching Band.

The Razorback Marching Band in formation at Razorback Stadium. 09-02-06-UArkBand-A.jpg
The Razorback Marching Band in formation at Razorback Stadium.

Leadership

Staff

Mr. Chase Jones is the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Arkansas. In 2024, Mr. Jones was named Director of Athletic Bands and Director of the Razorback Marching Band. In 2022, Mr. Jones was made Director of the Hogwild Pep Band, the school's smaller pep band that attends sporting events other than football, such as basketball and volleyball.

Mr. Chris Agwu was brought on as the Assistant Director of the Razorback Marching Band for the 2024 season.

Student Leadership

Marching Band in U of A formation UofArkMarchingBand.jpg
Marching Band in U of A formation

The University of Arkansas Marching Band has several student leadership positions, the most visible of which are the drum majors who lead the band on the field and direct the band in the stands.

Each section has designated Section Leaders, with numbers varying depending on the size of the section. They oversee their section during sectional rehearsals, which could cover music or marching technique. During trips and other events, the drum majors often rely on the section leaders to help organize the band before parades and other performances. Section leaders are also responsible for administrative tasks for their sections such as ensuring attendance at events and seeing that all necessary forms are filled out by their section members.

The auxiliary sections, the Razorback Color Guard and the Razorback Twirlers, also have student leadership positions, Section Leaders and Captains respectively. Along with the administrative duties of the wind and percussion Section Leaders, these Student Leaders work closely with their respective coordinators.

The band usually has one or more students functioning as Librarians. They are responsible for ensuring that music, drill sheets, etc. are printed and ready for rehearsals, in addition to managing the band library. Other student leadership positions are offered through participation in the band service organizations.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Arkansas</span> Public university in Fayetteville, Arkansas, US

The University of Arkansas is a public land-grant research university in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System. Founded as Arkansas Industrial University in 1871, classes were first held in 1872, with its present name adopted in 1899.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goin' Band from Raiderland</span> Marching band of Texas Tech University

The Goin' Band from Raiderland is the 418-member marching band of Texas Tech University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavalier Marching Band</span> Marching band at the University of Virginia

The Cavalier Marching Band (CMB) is the marching band at the University of Virginia. The band's original director, William "Bill" Pease, was the first full-time marching band director in the history of the University of Virginia. The Cavalier Marching Band made its debut on September 11, 2004, after a considerable donation was made by University of Virginia benefactors Carl and Hunter Smith to found the band in 2003. The CMB uses a mixture of both DCI-style glide step and Big Ten-style high step in its performances. Of its 200 members, all seven undergraduate schools at the University of Virginia are represented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kappa Kappa Psi</span> US honor fraternity for band members

Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity is a fraternity for college and university band members in the United States. It was founded on November 27, 1919, on Thanksgiving Day, at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, now known as Oklahoma State University, in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium</span> Architectural structure

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is an American football stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and serves as the home field of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team since its opening in 1938. The stadium was formerly known as Razorback Stadium since 1941 before the name of Donald W. Reynolds, an American businessman and philanthropist, was added in 2001. The playing field in the stadium is named Frank Broyles Field, honoring former Arkansas head football coach and athletic director Frank Broyles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Texas Longhorn Band</span> College marching band in Austin, Texas

The University of Texas Longhorn Band (LHB), also known as the Showband of the Southwest, is the marching band of The University of Texas at Austin. The Longhorn Band was founded in 1900 by distinguished professor of chemistry, Dr. Eugene P. Schoch. The band is currently under the direction of Dr. Cliff Croomes. The band performs at all in-state football games, for various Texas Longhorn Athletics teams, and at special pep rallies and parades throughout the year. The band includes about 375 students, all of whom must register for a year-round course offered by the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music Butler School of Music .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purdue All-American Marching Band</span> Marching band of Purdue University

The Purdue "All-American" Marching Band is the marching band of Purdue University and performs at Purdue Boilermakers football games. The AAMB is also the official band of the Indianapolis 500 race, having held the position since 1919.

The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band, known as "The Pride", is the student marching band for the University of Oklahoma Sooners.

Brian A. Britt is assistant director of the school of music, assistant professor of music, and director of The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band at the University of Oklahoma. Britt is only the fifth person to hold the position since the first full-time director of The Pride was hired in 1929.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Burlsworth</span> American football player (1976–1999)

Brandon Vaughn Burlsworth was an American football player who was an offensive lineman of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1995 to 1998. He joined the team as a walk-on and eventually became an All-American.

The Cal Poly Mustang Band, also known as The Pride of the Pacific, is the official marching band of California Polytechnic State University in the city of San Luis Obispo, California. Although the band is not a competitive marching band they serve as a school spirit organization. The band functions in two different forms throughout the year. In the fall the band marches as The Mustang Marching Band and during Cal Poly's winter quarter they function as a pep band. The band attends many athletic events during the year to encourage the school's athletic teams and audience support/involvement. The marching band is well-known around campus as an exciting and spirited group that brings pep, passion, and tradition to every performance. The marching band is conducted by three directors: Christopher J. Woodruff, Nicholas P. Waldron, and Len Kawamoto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkeye Marching Band</span> Marching band at the University of Iowa

The Hawkeye Marching Band is the marching band for the University of Iowa. The band performs at all home Hawkeye football games at Kinnick Stadium in addition to other events. It is the largest and most visible musical ensemble at the university. The band was founded in 1881 as a military band, giving membership to both music students and members of the military. In 1990, the band was awarded the Louis Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy, generally considered to be the most prestigious honor a collegiate marching band can receive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pride of the Sunshine</span> Marching band at University of Florida

The University of Florida Fightin' Gator Marching Band, also known as The Pride of the Sunshine, is the official marching band for the University of Florida. The current era of the band is also referred to as The Sound of the Gator Nation. They perform at every Florida Gators home football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and also at various other events such as pep rallies, parades, and the annual Orange and Blue spring scrimmage game. A full band usually travels to two away games a year while at other games a small/medium-sized pep band will attend. Members of the Gator Band, as well as other University of Florida students, are encouraged to join other ensembles such as concert band, jazz band, basketball band, and volleyball band. The twirlers for the Gator Band are referred to as the Gatorettes and the color guard is called the Florida Visual Ensemble.

The Auburn University Marching Band (AUMB) is the marching band of Auburn University and the 2004 recipient of the Sudler Intercollegiate Marching Band Trophy. With 380 members, the band traces its origins to 1897 when M. Thomas Fullan proposed to then-president Dr. William Broun that the drum corps accompanying cadet drills be replaced with a full instrumental band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marching Jayhawks</span> University of Kansas marching band

The Marching Jayhawks, is a 380-piece marching band consisting of woodwinds, brass, percussion, and color guard, representing the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. The band performs at all home football games and occasionally travels to away games. They also send smaller ensembles to pep rallies around the Kansas City area. The band marches in parades on campus and in downtown Lawrence. The volleyball and basketball pep bands play at all home games and will often travel for post-season play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band</span> Marching band of the Georgia Institute of Technology

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Marching Band is the official marching band of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Founded in 1908 by a group of 14 students, the Georgia Tech Band is one of the school's oldest student organizations.

The Mountaineer Marching Band, known as The Pride of West Virginia, is the marching band of West Virginia University located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The band was awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band</span> College marching band in Cullowhee, North Carolina

The Pride of the Mountains Marching Band is the marching band which represents Western Carolina University. The band performs pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows at all Catamounts Football home games and routinely provides exhibition performances throughout the Southeast. Unlike most college marching bands, the Pride of the Mountains designs, creates, and performs one perfected halftime show other than doing different performances every week.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Marching Virginians</span> Non-military college marching band at Virginia Tech

The Marching Virginians are one of the two collegiate marching bands at Virginia Tech. Because the Marching Virginians draw from the general student body, they are considerably larger than the Highty Tighties and have about 330 members. Despite offering no scholarships to band members, The Marching Virginians consist of students from every college and virtually every major within the university, as well as several graduate students.

W. Dale Warren is an American-born conductor. He is the senior Wind band director at the University of Arkansas and the professor of Music.

References