Unheralded Athletes - the Tulane Marching Band (Uptown 100)
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 8:19 pm
We respect the physical performance of our athletes, but the members of our marching band don't get the credit they deserve. I enjoy volunteering with the TUMB and had the pleasure of working the Olympia parade in Covington with the band a couple nights ago. I'm only a waterboy who keeps the band members hydrated, provides granola bars, helps with crowd crontrol and throws doubloons. After the brisk 6-7 mile march, I was pretty tired. I was more than impressed by these kids who carry tubas, drums and other heavy instruments and somehow are able to dance for most of the route when they're not performing. Unbelievable! They are extraordinarily talented kids and were all smart enough to get into Tulane, so what's not to like?
Give credit to Barry Spanier (director of bands) who has administered the creation of such a great group of Tulane ambassadors. Our band was dissolved in the 1970s around the same time that Tulane Stadium was demolished. Barry joined Tulane in 2005, survived Katrina and has rebuilt the band from a handful of volunteers to the current group of 100 musician-scholars. He has a long list of credentials including directing the largest marching band in history (2000 musicians from 23 nations at the summer Olympics in Sydney). He's an accomplished musician in his own right and has performed with Maynard Ferguson and other musical giants.
Next up for the band is Rex on Tuesday (Mardi Gras day). Rain chances are down to 20% so it should be a great day to enjoy Mardi Gras and support the band. Wear something Tulaneish and I'll throw you an official TUMB doubloon.
BTW, on the road trip to the Olympia parade, I was forced to ride the bus with the dance team and cheerleaders. It was a cruel and thankless assignment, but I am always willing to make sacrifices for Tulane.
Give credit to Barry Spanier (director of bands) who has administered the creation of such a great group of Tulane ambassadors. Our band was dissolved in the 1970s around the same time that Tulane Stadium was demolished. Barry joined Tulane in 2005, survived Katrina and has rebuilt the band from a handful of volunteers to the current group of 100 musician-scholars. He has a long list of credentials including directing the largest marching band in history (2000 musicians from 23 nations at the summer Olympics in Sydney). He's an accomplished musician in his own right and has performed with Maynard Ferguson and other musical giants.
Next up for the band is Rex on Tuesday (Mardi Gras day). Rain chances are down to 20% so it should be a great day to enjoy Mardi Gras and support the band. Wear something Tulaneish and I'll throw you an official TUMB doubloon.
BTW, on the road trip to the Olympia parade, I was forced to ride the bus with the dance team and cheerleaders. It was a cruel and thankless assignment, but I am always willing to make sacrifices for Tulane.