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Syracuse University Marching Band

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The "Pride of the Orange"
The Syracuse University Marching Band performing before Super Bowl XLVIII.
SchoolSyracuse University
LocationSyracuse, New York
ConferenceACC
Founded1901; 124 years ago (1901)
DirectorTimothy Diem
Members200
Practice fieldJMA Dome
Fight song"Down the Field"
Websiteband.vpa.syr.edu

The Syracuse University Marching Band (SUMB), also known as the Pride of the Orange, is the collegiate marching band of Syracuse University. The band consists of approximately 200 members. The SUMB performs at all home Syracuse Orange football games throughout the season in the Carrier Dome, and also takes part in parades and other performances throughout the year. It is one of the largest student organizations at Syracuse University, and one of the oldest collegiate bands in the United States.

It is one of the four bands on campus (others being the Wind Ensemble, the concert band and the pep band) that operate under the aegis of Setnor School of Music of College of Visual and Performing Arts.[1] It is one of two bands on campus that appear at athletic events, the other being the Sour Sitrus Society, the university pep band.[2]

History

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University Band in front of the Hall of Languages in 1888.
Photograph of Syracuse University cheerleaders, circa 1922-1923
The Syracuse University Band in 1928.

Early years

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Effort to establish a university band were immediate after the founding of the university. A glee club appeared in 1875, but "perished in the gentle spring of 1880."[3] A brass band was formed in 1881 and the club traveled all the way to Florida for performances in 1886.[3] Individual colleges would hire bands to perform at their events and athletic events.[4]

The first marching band was formed in 1901, and the first rehearsal took place on February 4, 1901. The band performed its first public concert in Crouse College auditorium on May 9, 1901.[4]

The 23 members performed at the Syracuse Orangemen football game appearance against Lafayette College on October 12, 1901, at the Old Oval.[5] It was dissolved in 1904 for financial reasons by Chancellor James Roscoe Day but soon restored in 1907.[4]

By the end of 1910s, the band had filled a needed role on campus and been utilized for campus functions, concerts,[6] as well for home and away football games.[7] When ROTC was established on campus in December 1919, the band was co-opted into cadet training program, merging with ROTC band.[8][9] While the band had played at athletic events since founding, it officially broke off from ROTC in 1923 and partnered with the athletics department around 1925,[10] It would later become part of the Fine Arts department (now VPA).

"Down the Field", Syracuse University's fight song, was first performed by the band on November 14, 1913. The band would play the song the following day during the Syracuse Orangemen football game against the Colgate team, which Syracuse lost 35–13.[4] The band members would march across the Shaw Quadrangle to the stadium when performing at the Archbold Stadium.[11]

The university began supporting the band financially in 1924, but noted it as a loss making activity.[5][12] In 1926, the band under the direction of Marvin A. Fairbanks had a membership of about 60 students.[11][10] In 1930, the band was broadcast for the first time on a radio, on WSYR radio station.[10]

In 1947, a fire destroyed much of Archbold Gymnasium and with it the band lost all their uniforms, but the administration was supportive, and the group had new clothes, director, and equipment.[13]

Orange Girl & national fame

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The band was all male until September 26, 1947, when Howard Kelly, assistant director of the band asked twirling drum majorette Jessie Ann Harp (Griffing) to became part of the crew.[13] Her performance was choreographed to the band's music. Featured baton twirlers – nicknamed Orange Girl in 1962 – were the only female member of the band.[14][15]

The band shot to national fame in when the band performed at the 1953 Orange Bowl against Alabama. CBS carried the game, the first time it had ever been televised nationally. While the football team lost their first ever bowl game 61–6, the band achieved celebrity status – especially the baton twirler Dottie Grover – and was billed One hundred men and a girl by the media.[13][16] Learbury Clothier of Syracuse had donated new uniforms of white straw hats, blue blazers, and slacks as the band went to the bowl in the humid south.[11] The band, alongside Grover, toured nationally.[17]

In 1966, Syracuse University changed its policies and opened the band to women and 22 women joined the band in the first year.[18] For a brief period of time (1943–1947) during World War II, university had temporarily allowed women on the band to fill positions due to shortage of men.[18]

In 1970, the band went on a European concert tour and participated in the World Band Festival in Kerkrade, Netherlands, winning three awards.[14] They were welcomed back with much fanfare and when during the 1970 football opener game the announcer called them "The Pride of the Orange", the nickname stuck.[5][19]

In 1971, the band participated in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.[19]

The Eta Alpha chapter of Tau Beta Sigma band sorority and the Eta Phi chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity.[20]: 9 [21] were established on December 4, 1982, by Dr. Robert Spradling, the then Director of the SUMB.[22][23]

Recent years

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Themarching band "Block S" formation during the pre-game sequence.

On December 7, 2008, SUMB performed at first-ever NFL regular-season game played in Canada. The game played as part of the Bills Toronto Series featured the Buffalo Bills against the Miami Dolphins at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada.[citation needed]

In 2009, the band recorded and released renditions of SU songs on the "Orange Album", an album released by Syracuse University Recordings, a student-run record label based out of the Setnor School of Music at the VPA.[24]

In 2013, the college of Visual and Performing Arts launched a $150,000 campaign titled "A New Look for a New Era." for new uniforms.[25] The college met its goal and the revamped uniforms were utilized in time for Syracuse's inaugural 2013 ACC football season.[26][27] This was their first update in 15 years.[28][29]

On February 2, 2014, SUMB performed at the Super Bowl XLVIII during the pregame festivities.[30][31][32] They put on a New York/ New Jersey themed show alongside the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights.[33] The song selections included Born in the U.S.A. and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, New York, New York by Frank Sinatra, and Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z.[34]

The band has been a consistent presence at the annual Heisman Memorial Trophy Dinner Gala in New York City.[20]: 4 [35][36]

In 2014, a twirling scholarship was endowed by former Orange Girl Janet Kay Smith.[37]

In 2016, the band played at the New Year's Day celebration in London.[38][39]

Membership

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The band is marketed as "New York's college band",[2][30][40] membership also features students from SUNY-ESF, Onondaga Community College, Le Moyne College, and SUNY Oswego.[41][20]: 7 

The band is fall semester non-audition, one-credit course in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.[42][43]

The band has 12 instruments in the ensemble.[41]

Justin Mertz served as the band director from 2005 until 2017,[44][45][46] and Timothy Diem took over in 2017.[47]

The SU Alumni Band, is a band made up of former SUMB members and have performed at Syracuse Orange athletic events.[11]

SUMB publishes "The Orange Peel: The Pride of the Orange", a twice-yearly newsletter.[20] The Special Collections Research Center of the Syracuse University Archives holds an inventory of bands collection.[5]

Traditions

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Quad Show and march-over

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The band performs a show before every home game on the steps of Hendricks Chapel in the Shaw Quadrangle. The band sings the words to the fight song, as well as performs the Syracuse University Alma Mater both instrumentally, and vocally in four-part harmony.[48]

At the finish of the quad show, the band lines up for "march-over". The band lines up in a parade block and then marches around the quad before heading over to the Carrier Dome. While marching, the band recites the SU Band Chant. Each section of the band demonstrates its own vocal responses and horn moves during march-over.[49]

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Banners at the Varsity Pizza on Marshall street.

After each football win, the band heads to Varsity Pizza on Marshall Street to flip the flag upside down.[50] The band plays a few tunes and the banners of each Orange opponent hung along the back wall of the restaurant are flipped at the end if Syracuse wins.[51][52]

Sour Sitrus Society

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The Sour Sitrus Society serves as the pep band of Syracuse University.[53] While the marching band plays at football games, the pep band is a fixture at basketball events and travels with the men's basketball team during the March Madness.[41] Named so for the "sour" notes the band played during its first season in 1971, the pep band was initially mentored by basketball coach Jim Boeheim.[19][11] As of 2021, the band had 120 members and plays at the basketball games as well as some non-athletic events.[54][55][56]

26th Orange Girl Abigail Veccia at 2023 Boca Raton Bowl.

List of Orange Girls

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1. Jessie Ann Harp (1947)
2. Dorothie "Dottie" Grover (1949–1953)[57]
3. Alta Burg (1953–1957)
4. Janet Kay Smith (1957–1961)[37]
5. Judy Delp (1962–1965) (first to be designated Orange Girl in 1962)
6. Gail Fuchs (1965)
7. Colleen Daiute (1966)
8. Candy Franck

  • Melaine Cancellari Rottkamp (1991)
  • Beth Forader (1994)
  • Keri Ann Lynch (–2004) [58][59]
  • Melissa Gaffney Derr (2004–2009)[59][60][61]
  • Ashley Andrews (2011–2012)[60]

23. Meghan Sinisi (2013–2017)[62]
24. Isabella Bolduc (2018–2019)
25. Trina Catterson (2020–2022)[63]
26. Abigail Veccia (2023–)[64]

Source:[14][60]

References

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  1. ^ "University Bands – Syracuse University". band.vpa.syr.edu. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Athletic Bands - University Bands". band.vpa.syr.edu. Syracuse University. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Galpin 1952, p. 197.
  4. ^ a b c d Hasselstrom, Sherman (December 4, 2008). "HISTORY > Beginnings: 1901-1921". Syracuse University Bands. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "Syracuse University Marching Band Collection An inventory of its collection at the Syracuse University Archives". library.syracuse.edu. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  6. ^ "Well Rendered Program" (PDF). The Daily Orange. December 17, 1903. pp. 1, 302. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Galpin 1960, p. 342.
  8. ^ Galpin 1960, p. 383.
  9. ^ Galpin & Barck Jr 1984, p. 317.
  10. ^ a b c Adamczyk, Brandon (December 4, 2008). "HISTORY > From Boom to Bust to Boom - The Depression/WWII: 1922-1945". SU Bands. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e Didomenico, Tammy (2000). "Strike up the Band: The pride of the orange marches on". Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 1. pp. 42–47. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Galpin & Barck Jr 1984, p. 381.
  13. ^ a b c Rubenstein, Jayme. "HISTORY > The Simmons Years: 1946-1968". SUBands.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Croyle, Johnathan (September 19, 2017). "Syracuse University's 'Orange Girl' tradition turns 70". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "Syracuse University Orange Girl - University Bands". band.vpa.syr.edu. Syracuse University. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Greene & Baron 1996, p. 137.
  17. ^ Greene & Baron 1996, p. 138.
  18. ^ a b Ramirez, Clare (March 7, 2016). "Women, equality and the Syracuse University Marching Band". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Rubenstein, Jayme (December 4, 2008). "HISTORY > The Birth of "The Pride": 1969-1980". SU Bands. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d "The Pride of the Orange Newsletter" (PDF). The Orange Peel. Vol. 31. Fall 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Ethington, Bradley P. (February 1, 2000). "Leadership in the College Marching Band". The Podium. Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma. p. 26. Retrieved November 10, 2023 – via issuu.com.
  22. ^ Rubenstein, Jayme (December 4, 2008). "HISTORY > The Spradling Years: 1980-1993". SU Bands. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  23. ^ "About", Tau Beta Sigma- Eta Alpha, May 8, 2009 URL: https://etaalpha.wordpress.com/
  24. ^ Keilty, Colleen (2009). "Sounds of the Orange". Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 26, no. 2. Syracuse University. p. 48. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  25. ^ Blust, Erica (August 13, 2013). "SU Marching Band Uniform Campaign Achieves Goal". SU News. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  26. ^ Schweikert, Zach (October 7, 2013). "SU marching band debuts redesigned uniforms at Oct. 5 Clemson game". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  27. ^ "New Threads for the Syracuse University Marching Band", Sidenote, September 30, 2013 URL:https://bcaires.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/new-threads-the-sumbs-new-uniforms-are-here/
  28. ^ Ng, Alfred (August 26, 2013). "SU Marching Band receives new uniforms for ACC debut". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  29. ^ Tobin, Dave (August 16, 2013). "Syracuse University Marching Band debuting new uniforms in October". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  30. ^ a b Axe, Brent (December 23, 2013). "Syracuse University marching band set to perform at the Super Bowl". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  31. ^ Janjic, Chris (February 3, 2014). "'Once in a lifetime': Syracuse University marching band travels from Carrier Dome to MetLife Stadium for its biggest crowd yet". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  32. ^ Tobin, Dave (January 30, 2014). "10 things you probably don't know about Syracuse University's marching band (video)". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  33. ^ Ng, Alfred (December 24, 2013). "SU marching band to perform at Super Bowl pre-show". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  34. ^ Warman, Zane (January 30, 2014). "Marching band readies for Super Bowl pregame". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  35. ^ Hider, Anna (December 7, 2011). "Marching band brings fanfare to Heisman event". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  36. ^ Lundborg, Pam (December 8, 2007). "SU Marching Band Highlights". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  37. ^ a b Goldstein, Natalie (October 22, 2014). "Orange Girl alumna endows twirling scholarship for SUMB". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  38. ^ Blust, Erica (September 15, 2015). "Marching Band Invited to Perform in 31st Annual London's New Year's Day Parade". Syracuse University News. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  39. ^ Feldman, Matt (September 23, 2015). "SU Marching Band invited to perform at next year's New Year's Day celebration in London". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  40. ^ Cassillo, John (December 23, 2013). "SB XLVIII: The Battle of New York's College Band?". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  41. ^ a b c Emerman, Danny; Gutierrez, Matthew (October 18, 2018). "Meet the musicians who perform the soundtrack for SU games". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  42. ^ Toure, Madina (September 26, 2012). "With the band: Students get chance to strike up some tunes for marching band class". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  43. ^ "ENI - Instrumental Ensembles: Schedule of classes 2016 Fall" (PDF). Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts. 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  44. ^ Ramirez, Clare (September 2, 2014). "Instrumental role: SU Marching Band director draws on experience in 10th year of leading students". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  45. ^ Blust, Erica (January 26, 2017). "Justin Mertz to Conclude Service as Director of Syracuse University's Athletic Bands". Syracuse University News. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  46. ^ Hauer, Sydney (September 28, 2017). "Marching Band welcomes new director". The Northern Iowan. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  47. ^ Bolan, Molly (October 3, 2017). "Director of athletic bands brings new energy to the SU Marching Band". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  48. ^ Flores, Isabella (September 11, 2023). "Gallery: Game day highlights SU's music scene". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  49. ^ Ceva, Claudia (September 25, 2015). "Kiss Cam? We've Got The Pride of the Orange". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  50. ^ Cassillo, John (June 7, 2019). "SU football has few traditions, but the Varsity banner flip stands out". Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  51. ^ "The best football tradition for each Top 25 team". ESPN.com. June 5, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  52. ^ Auerbach, Nicole (September 12, 2019). "Why Syracuse's marching band turns a pizza place upside down after every win". The Athletic. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  53. ^ "Sour Sitrus Society of Syracuse University". January 23, 2003. Archived from the original on January 23, 2003.
  54. ^ Tracey, Sara (March 25, 2009). "Sour Sitrus Society hits the road for March Madness". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  55. ^ McCaffery, Adam (November 3, 2021). "Music brings the party: The Sour Sitrus Society's impact on volleyball games". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  56. ^ Hendricks, Meghan (April 6, 2023). "MUSIC MADNESS: The road to Syracuse's 2003 victory through the eyes of the Sour Sitrus Society". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  57. ^ Waters, Mike (October 17, 2019). "Dottie Grover, famed Syracuse baton girl, dies at 90". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  58. ^ Shires, Amy (January 1, 2002). "SU People: A Twirl of Orange". Syracuse University Magazine. Vol. 19, no. 3. Syracuse University. p. 18. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  59. ^ a b Poster, Dan (November 11, 2004). "Passing the baton". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  60. ^ a b c Tracey, Sara (November 9, 2011). "Passing the baton: Orange Girls twirl through years with dedication, grace". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  61. ^ Rubin, Mallory (November 15, 2005). "Orange Girl twirls her way through SU". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  62. ^ Hodge, Anna; Osumi, Drew (April 22, 2014). "Meghan Sinisi: The Orange Girl embodies SU spirit by supporting teams with baton twirling". The Daily Orange. p. 10. Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  63. ^ Mallea, Dan (February 18, 2020). "Trina Catterson continues 73-year-old tradition as Orange Girl". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  64. ^ Boehm, Rosina (August 30, 2023). "Beyond the baton: Syracuse athletics through the eyes of its Orange Girl". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 9, 2023.

Bibliography

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