Solid Gold Sound Club Newsletter The official UCLA support organization for the UCLA Bruin Marching Band

Fall 2019 Band Alumni Reunion – October 20, 2018

A record number of band alumni attended the 15th Biennial Band Alumni Reunion, with 303 performing at halftime of the Arizona vs. UCLA football game at the on October 22, 2018. Alumni Drum Major Mike O’Gara and Feature Twirler Deb Simek led the Bruin Marching Band playing “Bruin Warriors” across the field to begin the show. The UCLA Bruin Marching Band and the Band Alumni performed a medley of songs from The Phantom of the Opera, which the Band previously performed in 2008. At the end of the rehearsal that day, Marching across the field at halftime more than 800 Under and trombone player Dick Robbins, who were members Armour items, includ- of the Band in the 1950s. ing shoes, jackets, shirts, shorts, and other Dwayne Milburn, who arranged the current version apparel were given of “Hail to the Hills of Westwood” and drew the first alumni present. A artist renderings of our current band uniform, made commemorative glass his first appearance at a Band Alumni Reunion after tumbler and sweatshirt recently retiring as a band and chorus conductor in the were also given to all US Army. Dwayne, a clarinet and trombone player who Alumni Drum Major Michael participants. was a member of in the Band from 1983 to 1986, was O’Gara featured in last summer’s Newsletter. Four alumni received the awards for traveling the farthest distance to participate Also in attendance were several members of the drum- in the Reunion: Peter Dames from Honolulu, Hawaii; line celebrating the 30th anniversary of their 1988 and Stephen Anesi, Mark Cunningham, and Michael National Championship at the Marching Percussion Cooperman from the Boston, Massachusetts, area. Festival in Chicago, including Peter Dames, Ian Fullmer, Ernie Rodriguez, Paul Locke, Brian Kushnir, Alice Liu, The award for the representative of the earliest UCLA and Vangie Tangog Theobald. class was given to tuba player Peter Barrett, clarinet player Bernie Harris, snare drummer Karolyn Berkman,

Award winners Dick Robbins, Karolyn Berkman, Bernie Harris, Peter Barrett, Alumni Feature Stephen Anesi, Mark Cunningham, 303 Band Alumni on the Rose Bowl field! Twirler Deb Simek Michael Cooperman The UCLA Bruin Marching Band on the new Muse album “Simulation Theory”

That “Solid Gold Sound” you hear on Grammy “I always felt like ‘Pressure’ would sound great with a award-winning band Muse’s latest album comes from big marching band,” Bellamy said. “I loved the 2010 none other than the UCLA Bruin UCLA halftime show where they did Marching Band. In the Super Deluxe an entire set of Muse songs, so when edition of Simulation Theory, the we were looking for a band for this English rock band’s eighth stu- version, right away we reached out dio album that was released on to Gordon to see if the band was November 9, 2018, the Bruins are interested. We had a great day with featured on a bonus track of the all the musicians in the studio and song “Pressure.” The song was hearing it all come to life.” recorded at UCLA in the studio in Bruin band members worked on the the Evelyn and Mo Ostin Music music for about a week before the Center at the Herb Alpert School of session, but they had no idea who Music that June. the recording was for until they Gordon Henderson, director of the arrived at the studio. Bruin Marching Band, arranged the “When I found out it was Muse, brass and woodwind music, and I was in complete shock and was Kelly Flickinger, former assistant The Super Deluxe edition of the Simulation super ecstatic about the whole director, arranged the percussion Theory album experience,” trombonist Matthew music. “When I saw Muse perform Espinoza said. “The music was really fun, and I am for- at the Staples Center, I couldn’t have imagined that I ever grateful.” would someday have the opportunity to arrange a song Laila Sathe, a trumpet player, said “I think it’s awesome that a band as popular as Muse wanted to record an alternate version of one of their tracks with a marching band, and we were so lucky to have been asked to do it. The first time the whole band played the song together, we knew it was going to be a hit.” The UCLA Band’s version of “Pressure” has been streamed over 4,000,000 times on Spotify alone, and it has been heard on several broadcasts for the National Football League, Major League Baseball playoffs, and college football games. Other student comments included:

Matt Bellamy in the studio at UCLA for this iconic group and prepare it for recording on one of their albums,” said Henderson, who has directed the band since 1982. “It was a pressure-packed yet highly rewarding experience that I will always remember as a highlight of my career at UCLA.” Muse has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. Formed in 1994 in , , the band com- prises of (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), (bass guitar, backing vocals), and (drums). In addition to winning two Grammy Awards, the group has also been recognized with two , five MTV Europe Music Awards, and eight NME (New Music Expression) Awards. Tenor drummers Erin Freise and Daniel La France The first read through of the “Pressure” arrangement

“From meeting Matt Bellamy to tracking an awesome Chris Wolstenholme bass line on Sousaphone, I’m grate- ful to have been able to share this experience with my fellow bandmates.” Patrick Gardner, Sousaphone. Sousaphone player Patrick Gardner with lead singer/guitarist Matt Bellamy, left, and drummer Dominic Howard, right. “Recording for a Grammy Award-winning rock band helped define my experience in the UCLA Band, and I “I saw Matt Bellamy as I entered the studio and my jaw am proud to have left a lasting impact with the music we dropped.” Jacob Hambalek, Cymbals. created.” Kevin King, Trumpet. “Rocking out in the recording studio and seeing “Playing in front of thousands of people at our home Dominic Howard and Matt Bellamy following along in stadium the Rose Bowl is always great, but recording the control room was a moment I’ll never forget.” Adam a song for one of the biggest rock bands of all time is Cobb, Trombone. something I’ll never forget. As a graduating senior, it was absolutely incredible to end my career in march- ing band by recording for Muse.” Christina Martin, Mellophone. “Getting the opportunity to use professional recording equipment in UCLA’s world-class facility while getting to see members of Muse rocking out to the marching band’s music as we were recording was a once in a life- time experience.” Steven King, Trombone.

The Trombone section

“What we did in that studio is timeless and something I will never forget.” Kayleigh Hart, Flute. “Getting to record with Muse was one of the coolest things I’ve had the opportunity to do as a member of the UCLA Marching Band. It was an incredible experience to play in a recording studio and to get a small glimpse of the work that goes into creating an album.” Joey Auer, Sousaphone. The Trumpet section LAURA MONTOYA – First Female Drum Major at UCLA in 2002 and 2003

The first time I experienced a UCLA football game at the position. I felt disappointed, but not discouraged. In the Rose Bowl, I was gearing up to start my freshman the Spring of 2002, there would be new auditions, and year in 2000. A friend invited me to take in a match-up this time… I got it. between UCLA and #3-ranked Michigan. The Bruins The first time I tried on the white uniform, nothing fit. were down in the fourth. The UCLA band had made its As the first woman to wear it, much would need to be way to the field to close out the game when the Bruins specially tailored. In many ways, the next two years started to turn the game around. I could feel the excite- would be filled with more moments of “tailoring.” ment, the intensity of the stadium from the crowd and Tailoring and evolving my leadership skills and tailoring the band, and when the Bruins pulled off the win, the critics’ expectations of what a woman was capable of. Rose Bowl shook. For instance, I only ever met one other female college drum major. Band directors from across town to across the country told me they didn’t feel their schools were quite ready. That’s when it dawned on me how impact- ful this position could be. As artfully as I could, I took these moments to impress upon them the importance of female representation in leadership positions. And I knew I would have to prove it. Those two years were a whirlwind of rehearsals, meet- ings, games, and countless performances. But from the moment I took the podium, I never doubted the support Drum Major Laura Montoya conducting at the of the UCLA community, including the 250-piece band, Rose Bowl color guard, and of course my family. Having the oppor- tunity to be drum major, to represent the band and the I had been drum major of my high school’s marching university, is one of the greatest honors of my life. I met band at Long Beach Poly, and now attending UCLA incredible people such as John Wooden, played in stadi- as a science major, I wondered if I could balance these ums and arenas across the country, cheered on extraor- two worlds. My high school music teacher, UCLA alum dinary student athletes, and made life-long friends, all Andrew Osman, had told me before graduating that as memories I cherish to this day. a singer, violinist, and trumpet player, I had all the mak- ings of a future music educator. I contacted the UCLA Marching Band and inquired if there was a spot for one more trumpet player. Luckily, the director Gordon Henderson said they had room. And I got my wish, to continue playing music in college by joining that “Solid Gold Sound.” Little did I know how that decision would profoundly shape my life. After playing through the football and basketball sea- sons, it was announced there would be auditions for new drum majors. I was shocked to learn that UCLA had never had a female drum major. The band already had a deep bench of fantastic female musicians and sec- tion leaders, some of whom, like me, had been drum After graduating UCLA with a degree in Psychobiology majors in their own high schools. A conversation with and a Minor in Applied Developmental Psychology, Assistant Director Jennifer Judkins encouraged me to I continued to pursue music, performing and singing audition, despite my reservations about being a fresh- with various bands, gigging around town at venues like man and a non-music major. I practiced and prepared, the House of Blues Sunset Strip, BB King’s, The Viper not only to impress the band directors, but also my peers Room, Saint Rocke in Hermosa, and the Troubadour. who I would be leading. I left the audition feeling opti- In 2010, I married a musician, and a few years later we mistic, for I had done my best. However, I did not get recorded an acoustic album together. During my time performing in LA, I also started work- ing as a preschool teacher in the Santa Monica and Brentwood areas. I loved bringing music and science into my classroom. I later earned my master’s degree in Early-Childhood Education from Loyola Marymount University, where my work focused on Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory: the understand- ing that children possess a “spectrum” of intelligences (linguistic, logical/mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily/ kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and existential). Naturally this resonated with me, as music and science had guided so many choices in my life. I conceived of a school that embraced this notion: that all children are beautifully complex and intelligent in their own unique ways. In 2013, I founded The Dandelion School, a preschool and enrichment program in UCLA’s backyard of Brentwood. I spend my days working directly with my husband, incorporating music into our daily lessons, while also tutoring and teaching music pri- vately. Our nights are often filled with rehearsals for our next gig, and we have two young sons who inspire us to live in the moment. The older is even teaching his baby brother the UCLA 8-clap. I have the UCLA Marching Band to thank for continu- ing my passion for music. Being the first female drum Laura with husband Genji Nakano major helped give me self-confidence and provided me drum majors since I graduated, each of them contributing with priceless leadership experience. And for that, I am to the new normal that leaders come in all genders. forever grateful to Andrew, Gordon, Jennifer, and my fel- low marching band members. UCLA has seen five female

Halftime Shows for Fall 2019

For Band Day at the Oregon State vs. UCLA game on A show of October 5, 39 high school bands will join the UCLA patriotic Band on music will be the field at presented at halftime the Colorado to perform game on “Sucker” by November the Jonas 2, including Brothers. a medley of songs from The Band’s each of the armed forces, followed by the World War famed II-era hit “Sing, Sing, Sing” by . The “Downfall of show will conclude with the unfurling of a 100-yard- Troy” show long U.S. Flag. will make its return to the Rose Bowl at the Arizona State game on October 26. This will mark the tenth For the game at USC on November 23 and at home time the Band has performed this show, which asks versus Cal on November 30, the Band will perform the question, “Why do the Trojans use a horse as an the music of the famed English rock band Muse to emblem, when that’s what caused their downfall at highlight the UCLA Band’s performance of “Pressure” the siege of Troy in 1200 BC?” In 2015, the Band per- on the Super Deluxe edition of the new Muse album formed this show alongside the Cal Band, and it was Simulation Theory. Music selections will include “Dig reported in the Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, Down,” “MK Ultra,” “Break it to Me,” “Pressure,” and on ESPN. and “.” KEVIN O. McKEOWN Interim Director of the Bruin Marching and Varsity Bands

Professor McKeown is excited to return to Westwood on a successful tour of Rome, including a performance this year to lead the UCLA Bruin Marching and Varsity at the Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola. Later that Band. His duties will also include directing the universi- month the Samohi Wind Ensemble received a stand- ty’s Symphonic Band in the Winter ing ovation at the UCLA Wind and Spring Quarter. As an under- Ensemble Festival at Royce Hall. graduate student, he led the “Solid He was honored with a “Teacher Gold Sound” as a four-year Drum of the Year” award by the Santa Major and was later a Graduate Monica-Malibu Unified School Teaching Assistant for the Bruin District P.T.A. in 2016. McKeown Marching Band, Symphonic previously taught for two years Band, and Wind Ensemble. While as a middle school director and a member of the band, he was nine years as an elementary music involved in two Rose Bowls, the teacher for the district. Cotton Bowl, and the Aloha Bowl. He has been a faculty member at He was also a participant in two Santa Monica College since 2002 movies and was a member of the and the Clare Trevor School of band that performed at the re- Music at UC Irvine since 2008 as election campaign for President conductor of their wind ensembles. William Jefferson Clinton in 1996. He received undergradu- Under his direction, the Santa Monica H.S. McKeown is an active guest con- ate and graduate degrees in music Wind Ensemble has performed in numerous ductor and clinician internation- education and conducting from historic performance halls, and have a national ally, including the School Honours the University of , Los reputation for excellence. Ensemble Program (SHEP) High Angeles, under the mentoring School Honor Band in Brisbane, of Dr. Thomas Lee, Dr. Frank Heuser, and Gordon Australia, in 2017. He has had the pleasure to collabo- Henderson. rate professionally with renowned artists including Eric Whitacre, Andrew Bain, Michael Sachs, Christopher McKeown is currently the Director of Bands at Santa Martin, Michael McDonald, and “Weird Al” Yankovic Monica High School, where the “Samohi” Wind in recent years, and was a guest conductor of the United Ensemble was selected as the only high school wind States Air Force Concert Band (2012). In the summer of band to perform at the 2016 California All-State 2019, he directed the Samohi “Viking” Marching Band Music Education Conference (CASMEC) in San Jose. for the nationally viewed “Stranger Things” Season 3 Regarded as one of the strongest public school pro- Premiere in Santa Monica. grams in the state of California, the groups at McKeown is an avid pro- Santa Monica High School moter of new composers have received unanimous and commissions. In 2016 superior ratings at con- his ensemble premiered cert festivals, first place/ (UCLA Band alumnus) Sweepstakes Awards in field Brian Belski’s arrange- tournaments throughout ment of ’s Southern California, and “Letter from Home” (avail- numerous memorable per- able through Hal Leonard/ formances in historic halls. Boosey and Hawkes) at the Performance highlights with California All-State Music the Samohi Wind Ensemble Education Conference and include “showcase” perfor- in 2019 took part in the mances with World Projects consortium of Julie Giroux’s in Chicago Symphony Hall, “The Ash Grove,” dedi- John F. Kennedy Center, The McKeown family are avid Disneyland participants, here cated to Dr. Eric Hammer, and Carnegie Hall. In April attending the bi-annual “Dapper Day”. Kevin and Cindy former Director of Bands at of 2019 McKeown took were “Solid Gold Sound” members in the mid-90’s, and University of the Pacific. the Samohi Wind Ensemble Connor hopes to march in 2024! Performance List

From July 2018 through June 2019, the Band performed 101 times! Here’s a complete list:

Football Season (9) Other Campus Events (25) • Home games – 7 • Eight Summer Orientation performances tin 2018 • Away games – 2 (Oklahoma and Cal) • “Come Sail Away” Recording Session 8/21/18 Men’s Basketball Games (21) • Champed Up Rally in 9/25/18 • Home games – 19 • UCLA Store Rally in Bruin Plaza 9/25/18 • Pac-12 Tournament games – 2 • Kreiger Child Care Center 10/5/18 • MSNBC Live with Katy Tur 10/8/18 Women’s Basketball Games (22) • Family Weekend 10/27/18 • Home games – 17 • Beat SC Bonfire Rally in Wilson Plaza 11/15/18 • Pac-12 Tournament games – 2 • Farhang Celebration 3/10/19 • NCAA Tournament games – 3 • HASOM Open House 4/12/19 Olympic Sports (13) • Bruin Day Welcome in Pauley Pavilion 4/13/19 • Women’s Soccer 8/15/18 • Bruin Day Rally in Wilson Plaza 4/13/19 • Women’s Volleyball 10/28/18 • Michelle Obama College Signing Day 5/1/19 • Men’s Water Polo 11/3/18 • Bruin Transfer Day 5/11/19 • Men’s Soccer 11/4/18 • Bar Mitzvah at Ostin Basketball Center 5/11/19 • Swim and Dive 1/19/19 • Centennial Kickoff at Royce Hall 5/18/19 • Men’s Volleyball 1/19/19 • Healthy Campus Initiative 5/23/19 • Gymnastics 2/16/19 • Chancellor’s Society 6/10/19 • Women’s Tennis 3/1/19 Off Campus Events (11) • Men’s Tennis 4/5/19 • Rose Bowl Rolling Stones Press Conference 11/19/18 • Track and Field 4/13/19 • ADL Annual Gala Celebration, Beverly Hilton 12/4/18 • Baseball 4/19/19 • Maren Morris “Girl” video shoot, Hollywood 12/14/18 • Women’s Water Polo 4/20/19 • Canon Breakfast Meeting in Newport Beach 1/29/19 • Softball 4/27/19 • Upgrade Labs Convention at Beverly Hilton 4/5/19 • Ellen DeGeneres Show shoot at Warner Bros. Studios 4/24/19 • Fire Station 71 Annual Pancake Breakfast 5/5/19 • Richland Elementary School 5/13/19 • UCLA Day at City Council Presentation 5/22/19 • City Hall outdoor reception 5/22/19 • UCLA Centennial Rally at Grand Park 5/22/19 Aloha! Band Trip to Hawaii in 2020!

The Band is currently making plans to take a pep band to perform at the UCLA at Hawaii football game on September 5, 2020. The number of students who get to go depends on how much money we can raise over the next year. The Band’s last trip to Hawaii was in 1995 for the Aloha Bowl versus Kansas. In the past, your donations have helped the Band travel to out-of-state games at Texas (1997), Miami (1998), Ohio State (1999), Washington (2000 and 2002), Alabama (2001), Colorado (2003), Illinois (2004), Notre Dame (2006 — the entire band!), Tennessee (2009), and Oklahoma (2018).

The UCLA Band Program Solid Gold Sound Club Gordon Henderson (on sabbatical) Board of Directors Director of Bands Gary Bittner Ron Logan Travis J. Cross Peter Dames Richard and Kathy Martin Conductor of the Wind Ensemble Rebecca Gottlieb Robert Milford and Symphonic Band Michael Hanson Michael O’Gara Kevin O. McKeown Interim Director of the Nancy Ishiki Mary Park Bruin Marching and Varsity Bands Joe and Heidi Hardman Jeff Pickett Ken Fisher Chris Holbert Matt Sonefeldt Assistant Director of the Rob Joyner Brad Sraberg Bruin Marching and Varsity Bands Brian Kushnir Andrew Yonce Paul Addleman Administrative Assistant of the Alice Liu Bruin Marching and Varsity Bands

Bruin Marching Band Online Website – www.band.ucla.edu Webstore – www.band.ucla.edu/store YouTube Channel – www.youtube.com/user/UCLABandVideoProject Facebook – www.facebook.com/uclabruinband Instagram – www.instagram.com/uclaband