University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands

University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands
School	University of Cincinnati
Location	Cincinnati, Ohio
Conference	Big East Conference
Founded	1920
Director	Dr. Terren L. Frenz
Members	240
Uniform	Red Coat with Black/Gold Sash and C-Paw patch, Black Pants, Black Shoes, and Black shako sporting a Black and Gold Plume.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands (often accompanied by the phrase The UC Band Is Damn Good or TUCBIDG) consists of three major bands: Marching Band, Pep Band, and Concert Band, and many smaller bands that support and represent the University of Cincinnati.

Instrumentation

Pre-game performance at Sigma Sigma Commons

The Marching Band and Concert Band usually consists of these numbers. The Pep Bands for Men's Basketball and Women's Basketball games are divided into fourths.

The Flute–Piccolo section consists of 18 to 24 members.

The Clarinet section consists of 18 to 20 members.

The Saxophone section consists of 26 to 36 members.

The Trumpet section consists of 25 to 40 members.

The Horn/Mellophone section consists of 10 to 12 members.

The Trombone section consists of 12 to 18 members.

The Baritone section consists of 8 to 12 members.

The Tuba section consists of 16 members.

The Percussion section consists of 7-10 Snares, 5 Tenor Drums, 5-7 varying size Bass Drums, 5 member Cymbal line, and 6 Front Ensemble.

The Color Guard consists of 25 members.

At any one time there may be 2 to 6 Feature Twirlers

There are traditionally anywhere from 2 to 5 Drum Majors.

Performance style

The band uses a Glide step when performing. The marching snare section uses Traditional Grip while playing. The Bearcat Marching Band is known for its contemporary approach to both music and drill design. Over 200 UC students come together to form the bands membership. This includes the all instrumentalists, the Bearcat Guard, Twirlers, and Drum Majors corps.

Organization

The UC Bearcat Band forms a C-Paw during their halftime show.

The director of bands is Dr. Terren L. Frenz (since 1994). Assistant directors are Mr. Jody Besse (since 2010) and Mr. Nick Angelis (since 2005). The Band Announcer is Mr. Randy Smith (since 2002).

Student Leadership

There is also a band council[1] which consists of student members of the band. The council consists of a president, vice-president, corresponding secretary, recording secretary, treasurer, and historian. The council meets weekly and aids the band through such things as coordinating recruiting activities, organizing social events, editing and publishing the band's newsletter, collecting band dues, and maintaining the band's history and traditions. The council is also charged with the upkeep of the band's guiding document and constitution, The Words to Live By.

Other student organizations which support the UC Bearcat Bands are the Upsilon chapter[2] of Kappa Kappa Psi (National Honorary Band Fraternity) and the Theta chapter[3] of Tau Beta Sigma(National Honorary Sorority for members of the college band).

History

In the Fall of 1920, Mr. Ralph A. Van Wye, a student in the college of Engineering, had just returned to the University of Cincinnati after a tour of duty in the US Army during World War I as an Army Bandsmen. At the time, ROTC was compulsory for all male students at the University of Cincinnati. Since Mr. Van Wye had just completed two years of Army service, he did not feel obligated to continue as a member of ROTC on campus, requesting to have his requirement waived. However, when the Commandant saw that he was an Army Bandsmen, he told Mr. Van Wye that he was just the man they needed. They wanted to organize an ROTC band, but had no one available to serve as bandmaster. Rather than being excused from ROTC, Mr. Van Wye was appointed as bandmaster to the first University of Cincinnati ROTC band. That fall Mr. Ralph A. Van Wye held his first rehearsal in one of the laboratories in the College of Engineering. Eight members were in attendance.

Since its humble beginnings in 1920, the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Band has grown to feature 175 members across three major bands and numerous smaller ensembles. The UC Bearcat Band has had the honor of performing at numerous sporting events, including the 1975 World Series and 2009 Orange Bowl.

The UC Bearcat Band has seen 13 band directors.

• 1920 - 1923: Mr. Ralph Van Wye
• 1923 - 1929: Sgt. Victor Norling
• 1929 - 1947: Mr. Merrill B. Van Pelt
• 1947 - 1949: Mr. Clarence E. Mills
• 1949 - 1954: Mr. Robert Hamilton
• 1954 - 1970: Dr. Roy Robert Hornyak
• 1970 - 1972: Dr. Robert Wojciak
• 1972 - 1973: Mr. Harry McTerry
• 1973 - 1977: Prof. Woodrow Hodges
• 1977 - 1979: Prof. Glenn Richter
• 1979 - 1993: Dr. Terence G. Milligan
• 1993 - 1994: Mr. Matthew McInturf
• 1994 - Present: Dr. Terren L. Frenz, Sr.

Auditions

Auditions are held for placement only. Anyone who wants to join is allowed to join.

Traditions of the Bearcat Bands

The UC Bearcat Band charges down Nippert Stadium's steps.

1. Absolutely no one is allowed to cut through the band once they are in formation.
2. The Drum Majors conduct inspection of the uniforms of the members of the Bearcat Marching Band before every bearcat football game performance.
3. Each band member gives good-luck taps to other band members on the C-Paw on their uniform.
4. The Charge Down the Stadium Steps is performed at every home Pre-Game performance. The woodwind and brass sections along with the color guard stand around the top of the student section at Nippert Stadium with the sousaphones in the student section. The army fanfare is played, and the band charges the field into formation around the percussion section to begin the pre-game show.
5. The Sitting Hat Ripple takes place after the band has entered the stands and has been seated. A Drum Major then gives another signal for the hat ripple. The person at the appointed end of each row takes off their hat and everyone follows in order. The first row to have all its members changed from their shakos to their baseball hats with gloves removed wins.
6. The Bearcat Marching Band never performs with sheet music.
7. The Band plays the fight song and Alma Mater after each home game.
8. Hats are turned backwards after a win during the playing of the Fight Song and turned back around for the playing of the Alma Mater.
9. After all performances and practices, the Bearcat Marching Band is dismissed by the Drum Majors.
10. Confetti is tossed after the first basket scored at every men's basketball game.
11. Most sections also have traditions of their own.

School Songs Played By The Bearcat Bands

• "Army Fanfare"-played at UC home games before the charge down the stadium stairs
• "Cheer Cincinnati"- the fight song of the University of Cincinnati
• "Red and Black"
• "Give A Cheer"
• "The University of Cincinnati Alma Mater"
• "Down The Drive"-cadence played by the UC drum line
• "Dr. Who" (A Combination of the fanfare of "Cheer Cincinnati" and the "Hey Song")

Performances

• All Cincinnati Bearcats home football and basketball games by the Bearcat Marching Band and Pep Bands respectively
• A post season performance by the Bearcat Marching Band
• 1947 Sun Bowl
• 1956 Sun Bowl
• 1958 Chicago Bears game
• 1970-Present Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals games
• 1972 National League Championship Series
• 1972 World Series
• 1975 National League Championship Series
• 1975 World Series
• 1976 World Series
• 1997 Humanitarian Bowl
• 2000-2001 Motor City Bowl
• 2002 New Orleans Bowl
• 2004 Fort Worth Bowl
• 2007 International Bowl
• 2007 PapaJohns.com Bowl
• 2009 Orange Bowl
• 2010 Sugar Bowl
• Various events in the Cincinnati area including Cincinnati Bengals football games and campus events

External links

• University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands Website
• UC Drum Major Society
• UC Magazine Traditions of the UC Bearcat Marching Band
• Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
• Theta Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
• UC Band Alumni Association