To all of you who came out to homecoming today, I just wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for being out on the field today.

Alumni band last year was about 50 people, this year we had 130! Which is amazing, thank you again. However, when you think about how many bands have come through UD 130 is a great stepping stone to bigger alumni bands in the future. We want to keep these numbers going up… full guards, big drumlines and lots of instrumentalists.

When you think back on all the amazing experiences you have had in the UDMB and the directors that helped orchestrate them, the only way we can truly pay them back and say thank you to them is to show up each year at homecoming.

So once again, thank you for being there today and for those of you who couldn’t make it, make sure you mark it on your calendars for next year.

-Jessica Raczynski Thompson

Here you go drumline… the full score of the 2009 alumni band cadence.

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Thank you Joe O. and Lee K.

This list is as of October 28, 2009 so if you’re missing don’t get scared as I’m sure you’re all set.  I will update every couple of days.

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CELEBRATING 15 YEARS with HIS and JPA!!

Hi All,

For those of you planning on going to Homecoming, please register, download your music,  order your tickets and your alumni band shirt.  You have 10 days!

Register:
http://udmbalumni.org/

Download music:
http://udmbalumni.org/  click on Homecoming tab

Order tickets:
Call Barbara Fleming DIRECTLY @ (302) 831-4109 and identify yourself as an ALUMNI BAND MEMBER.  She will take care of you!!!

Alumni Band shirt:
www.cafepress.com/udmb
Regular shipping takes 5-7 days so order NOW!

Thanks!
Jessica (Raczynski) Thompson

CLICK THE HOMECOMING TAB AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE AND GET ALL YOUR INFORMATION FOR THE BIG DAY!

Music is now available—percussion parts coming soon!!

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  OCTOBER 20TH!!!! (we gotta get ready!)

10/ 2:  *****ALUMNI BAND 15TH CELEBRATION SHIRTS AND MORE!   Order online from CAFEPRESS

10/2:  Percussion Cadence and Stand Beats Added!

Hi all!

Homecoming 2009 is quickly approaching!

OCTOBER 31, 2009

This is Heidi Sarver and Jim Ancona’s 15th year with the UDMB and it is important for everyone to come out to celebrate.

Music will be posted before September ends.   We are playing 1,2,3 and Something Happened on the Way to Heaven.

There are more changes underway… stay tuned for more postings.

Homecoming has always been a, “Well if I knew you were doing it, I would have done it.” event.  So start talking, e-mailing, texting, facebooking etc. your friends, let’s get out there and make it amazing!

Jessica (Raczynski) Thompson

For everyone going to Ireland next December there is an informational meeting on Friday, February 13th @ 5:30 PM in Loudis Recital Hall.  Mr. John Cox, owner of Atlantic Group Tours, will be on hand to answer questions and give an overview of our planned trip, plus more!

If you can attend–great!  If not, no worries.  Everything you need to know will be sent to you via email within the next couple of weeks.

Oh, and we’re at 467 participants right now….and we still have the incoming “rookie” class to add!

Dear UDMB Alumni,

Just a quick note to let you know that the online commitment form and 1st deposit of $300 is due by February 5, 2009.

Everything available for download, review, etc., on:

http://www.music.udel.edu/udband/ireland

HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE EMERALD ISLE!!!

Oh how proud we all are of the “baby band”!!!!!

As I sit in the kitchen of UDMB alum Lauren Heller I’ve had a bit of time to reflect upon the last few days.  I am overwhelmed by the number of texts, facebook postings, and emails I have received with regard to Inaugural Parade.  Not only by the volume, but by the content:  so many people so incredibly proud of the “baby band.”  But no one is as proud of them as I am.

I know many of you were following my twitter updates–they barely touched the surface of all that was going on.

• Rehearsing for no more than 9 hours over the span of 2 two days before departing.
• Most of those hours were outside in a parade block around UD stadium parking lots.
• The band simply taking a deep breath and enduring EVERYTHING with minor complaints–they seemed to know that “it was what it was!”
• Waking up in a high school gym to the sound of a scoreboard buzzer at 3 AM (yes, it’s true–and it was TOTALLY accidental!!  I was just throwing all the circuit breakers that were off into the “on” position….oops!)
• Being put through security measures in monstrous tents in a Pentagon parking lot and then standing in line outside with all their gear waiting for the buses to be released from a separate security screening area.
• Sitting on the buses for the next 3 hours just waiting for the entire Division 2 to be finished with security….and using the bus bathrooms instead of venturing outside to use a port-a-potty.
• Eating a UDMB breakfast of 2 bagels, cream cheese and OJ; a 2nd breakfast supplied by the Inaugural Committee of a blueberry muffin (HUGE ONES!) and more OJ; and a lunch supplied by the Inaugural Committee of a chocolate chip cookie, apple, water and yes, a turkey/cheese sandwich!  (we simply cannot escape turkey box lunches!!!)
• Driving around the Washington Monument and seeing thousands upon thousands of people all shoulder to shoulder/front to back waving flags and cheering–it was humbling and exhilarating all at the same time.
• Watching the Inauguration on 6 flat screen televisions inside giant warming tents on the groups of the Ellipse in front of the White House.
• Warming up in front of the White House before forming up on the street to begin moving toward the parade start point (we played for about 5 minutes, did a tape-delayed broadcast for FOX-National News, and then hit the street….warming up in 27 degree weather, who’s kidding who here?!)
• The 1.5 mile stop and go trek down Constitution Avenue to the parade start point:  an astonishing hush fell over all the groups as we marched to drum taps along the street with the National Mall on one side and the National Museum of American History, the IRS building (gulp), the Department of Justice, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Archives on the other side.  Awe is the only word to describe the moment.
• Then the wait:  slightly over 2 hours in the freezing cold; sun slowly setting; hopes of finishing the parade BEFORE sunset–gone; and at that moment the wind picked up…and it picked up significantly!
• Finally we moved and made the turn to the merge point; Fire trucks from Clayton, DE and Elsmere, DE moved into place between us and the DE Volunteer Firemen.  One of the drivers of a fire truck had one hand on the wheel and another on his camera taking a photo of the UDMB as we waited for them to pass…and he was still moving forward!
• As we turned onto Pennsylvania Avenue and began the first real cadence of the day, I looked up the street in anticipation of seeing droves of people…only to realize that the temperatures had decimated the crowds.  Grandstands were empty and the only people along the parade route were the diehards.  But they were screaming and cheering and the band cranked it up for ANYONE who braved the elements.
• As we made the final left turn onto the street that passed before the Presidential Reviewing stand I turned to see what was a frozen and tired band (perhaps bordering on hypothermia for some) stand taller, dress ranks and files and lift instruments to perfect attention positions.  Eyes were focused ahead–albeit wider than saucers!  Concentration was as sharp as razor blade—they were waiting for that simple musical moment from the battery: a roll-off.

My friends, we’ve all be outside in cold temperatures before, we’ve all been at football games in November when we cringed at the intonation of the winds against the pit percussion, and for those of us at Grand Nats in 2002 we were frozen beyond belief outside in the parking lot of Lawrence North High School on the morning before the show killing time before lunch.  This was worse!  **BUT**—where the sound came from on January 20, 2009 I will never know.  The first strain of “Stars and Stripes” was exactly what Jim and I asked for: mezzo-forte and fluid.  The second strain kicked it up to double forte and the low brass NAILED those magical counter-melody lines at the end!

Yes, Vice President Biden was pointing to the new banner and smiling his million dollar smile; yes he tapped President Obama on the shoulder and was pointing to the band and talking about what I can only hope was the UDMB; and yes both Bidens were clapping along to “Stars and Stripes” when we cranked it up a 2nd time because the band was TOO LONG for just one time through the tune!!

There are so many memories racing through my head from the past 14 years: Boston in ‘95; the first Allentown show; “Teakbois;” the first UMASS trip and our indoctrination to sleeping on gym floors; “E.T.;” “Lost In Space,” “Evita” @ JMU; “kitty litter” on the back 1/3 of the old practice field; boxes, boxes, boxes and ramps; our 2nd trip to UMASS; BOA Grand Nats in Indianapolis; BOA Regionals in Bridgeport, CT; Frawley Stadium exhibitions; NCC Festivals; our first Newark Halloween Parade; fireworks @ Towson; Chattanooga 2003; Chattanooga 2007….and on and on and on.

The foundation YOU built over the decades was truly realized on the afternoon of January 20, 2009.  The astonishment at the commitment and dedication of every UDMB continues to grow and exceed expectations with every passing season and event.  I may very well be the luckiest person in the world to have shared in some many life-changing events in so many people’s lives.

Thank YOU for all YOU have done and continue to do for the UDMB!  On to the next adventure……

~~his

• All forms are entered.
• T-Shirts are sorted (great…no smalls or mediums….who messed that one up??)
• Alumni Band instruments needed will be organized this afternoon.
• Music is online.
• Name Tags—-gotta run out and get name tags!

I think that’s it!  Oh wait!!  Stories–gotta remember all the stories from the last 14 years!  And then I have to remember that there are even funnier stories from the 40 years BEFORE that!!!!

Alumni Band is a crazy, insane event.  Getting ready is stressful because it takes time away from the “baby band.”  And we’re learning 2nd show stuff already so that makes it even harder.  **BUT–there’s nothing like catching up with everyone on Saturday morning; nothing like walking down memory lane with old friends; nothing like taking just a little bit of time from the NOW and spending it with the THEN!  Because the THEN is the reason there is a NOW!

Can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow morning!

~his