THE BASS DRUM JOURNAL April 2013 of THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY BAND Vol. 93 No. 1 CALM RISING THROUGH CHANGE AND THROUGH STORM One of my favorite moments at Harvard occurs in the Band Room directly after a Band gig. Before all the bandies arrive, the room is clean, empty and silent. Signs on the wall, a throne in the corner, pictures of the “Old Band,” cases strewn all over: tradition and Band lore are everywhere you look. The material pieces of the Band are in place, but something is eerily missing. Before you know it, the silence is broken with a sudden jolt. A fl urry of Crimson jackets and energetic bandies descend upon the Band Room. As the whirlwind of bandies swirls around me, I head back to the Manager’s offi ce, settling into my ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS BAND! THE BAND POSES IN FRONT OF THE JOHN quiet oasis after a long and hectic gig. As HARVARD STATUE AFTER CHRISTMAS CAROLING IN BOSTON. I enter my offi ce, I can’t help but feel an enormous sense of pride: how lucky am I comedian at times, and a friend to all. He brought jazz respective NCAA tournaments. Looking to be at the helm of such an amazing group to Harvard, kept us out of trouble for four decades, forward to the spring season, we will be of people? Each and every bandie and with and made the Band what we know it to be today. For expanding our gig schedule into sports like the amazing history, richness and diversity all that Tom has meant to the Band over his tenure, men’s volleyball while also serving the they bring with them. That is the Harvard I can’t possibly adequately serve his legacy justice community in the Duckling Day parade on University Band. Brilliant musicians, here. For the next year, Mark Olson will be acting Mother’s Day and during Harvard events hilarious comedians, and great friends, as the Interim Director of Bands while the Offi ce for including Visitas weekend, Arts First united in a noble tradition of supporting the Arts undergoes an intensive search, with Band, celebration, and Commencement this May. our school through wit and spirit…what student, alumni, and faculty input, to select the next With all of the upcoming challenges a concept. Director of Bands. Over the course of the next year, and excitement approaching the Band this Trying to explain why I love the further information will be released year, I consider myself one of the luckiest Band so much to other Harvard students about plans for the celebration of students at Harvard to be able to lead such is particularly diffi cult. I tell them that I Tom’s retirement as well as the a vibrant student organization at such a enjoy watching sports, playing my fl ute and appointment of a new Director of pivotal point in its history. I am very excited celebrating school spirit: how better Bands. At this time more than any to give back to the Band as Manager in to live out those passions other, I appreciate the never-failing every way I possibly can. Nina, Chris, than participating in the support of the Band community and Max, Liz, and Cat served the Band in so Harvard University the power of Band tradition to rise many excellent and diverse ways this past Band? Although those above all adversity. year. My staff and I could not have asked reasons seem to add up In the midst of these changes, for a better set of role models and hope to mathematically, it doesn’t the Band continues to win. serve their legacy well moving forward into quite capture the depth of my Carrying on the Band’s tradition this year! I would also like to thank Mark infatuation with this organization. of becoming bigger and better with for being a constant source of support for After several hours of every passing year, our role in the my staff and me as we embark upon our pondering, I realized there is ALLYSON FREEDY University and Athletic Department journey with the Band. Looking forward, something distinct to the way Manager is also growing. We have been invited we would love for you to pay us a visit at in which all bandies, young and to more community and sporting 74 Mt. Auburn Street and feel the warmth old, are bonded by the Band’s tradition of events this year than ever before, and only expect of the Band community once again. Despite wit and school spirit. Any Bandie you ask, those numbers to keep increasing. With an increase any changes that may occur in the Band from the youngest freshman to the oldest of the publicity of the Band, we’ve also seen an this next year, I’m confi dent that with the crustie, can attest to the inexplicable power increase in new members. This year, we recruited strength of Band tradition and community, of singing Ten Thousand Men of Harvard upwards of 40 new bandies. With fresh energy, new we will continue to always win! with the Band. It is traditions like this that arrangements and witty football shows, the Band led INC, unify bandies of all ages even when faced the football team to victory week after week. We with times of great change. Recently, we’ve also served the larger Boston community through seen the renovation of almost all of our low our annual Christmas Caroling in downtown Boston brass instruments thanks to the Larry Millet and our performance at the Hasty Pudding Woman Allyson Freedy ’14 is currently serving Fund, been conducted by celebrities, and of the Year Parade, honoring Marion Cotillard. the Band as Manager for 2012-2013. travelled with our basketball team to the As we entered the 2013 winter season, we She is a Chemistry concentrator with a NCAA tournament for the fi rst time in 66 enthusiastically supported both our men’s and secondary in Neurobiology from Clear- years. The power of the Band community women’s hockey and basketball teams as they water, Florida. to achieve greater heights and withstand travelled to the Boston Beanpot tournaments and change, while never failing to honor its fought for playoff hopes once again. This season in INSIDE... history, is truly a tradition that will never die. particular, the Band has played for sold-out crowds, Drill Master’s Report ... 2 As many of you have heard, our Band been televised both nationally and locally several Reunion Reminder ... 3 director of 42 years, Tom Everett, retired times and has been greatly appreciated by the Athletic Tom’s Retirement ... 6 on February 15, 2013. For those of you Department and coaches alike. Due to the continued who never got the privilege to work with success of Harvard’s athletics, we cheered on both Conductor’s Corner ... 7 Tom, he is an amazing bass trombonist, the Women’s hockey team and Men’s basketball 2012-2013 Band Awards ... 7 accomplished jazz musician, corny team as they fought to keep their season alive in their Check out the online version of the Bass Drum Journal and keep up with band news at www.harvardband.org BIG THINGS. LOTS AND LOTS OF REALLY BIG THINGS. In 2012, the Band accompanied HHolyoly CCrossross ((CrusadersCrusaders 33,, CCrimsonrimson 552)2) the Grouch, as an homage to this week’s the Harvard Men’s Basketball team to This week’s theme was the Wild, Wild Sesame Street pregame. the NCAA Tournament after clinching West: the crusading Waco Knight, the Ivy League Title. Later, while the portrayed gratuitously Texas-ly by CColumbiaolumbia ((LionsLions 00,, CCrimsonrimson 669)9) football team only just missed the Manager Nina Khosrowsalafi, rolled in If you didn’t read the final score first, championship title, the Band remained from the dusty trail to stir up trouble in now is your chance. We started off the undefeated yet again. Through thick Cambridge. The only one who could stop day by reading a pregame dedicated to and thin, the Band was present at her dastardly madness? Sheriff Walker the incredible donations of the Larry every halftime we could perform at, Harvard Ranger, played with all the Millet Low Brass Fund, spearheaded offering our signature tongue-in-cheek appropriate country swag by Drum Major by former Schneider Ken Abbot ’83. humor. A very successful recruiting Liz Moroney. With the aid of a Boloco We once again pushed the envelope by season, 24 Drill Meetings, 34 drafts, burrito and an absurdly large shotgun having a Meta-Show: we spent the entire and uncountably infinite hub_drill posts (seriously, it was on par with the spatula), halftime drafting ideas for this week’s later, I now present the highlights of our the Waco Knight was driven outta town, show. While we never settled on what season in shows: leaving the Harvard University Band of it actually was, we did determine that Good Guys to gallop off into the sunset. it wasn’t a Star Wars, Hurricane Sandy, MMen’sen’s BBasketballasketball vvs.s. PPrincetonrinceton ((TigersTigers Halloween, , buddy detective, Willy 664,4, CCrimsonrimson 667)7) CCornellornell ((BigBig RReded 113,3, Wonka, Nightmare Before Christmas or In our first show of 2012, the CCrimsonrimson 445)5) Sci-Fi show. Definitely not. Band explained Harvard’s 66 After the Band runs onto year absence in the NCAA: the field screaming, clearly in the PPennenn ((CrimsonCrimson 221,1, QQuakersuakers 330)0) once we got there the throes of a terrible nightmare, it is up This week we did Christmas, the one way first time, would-be to me to calm them down with some we knew how: basketball stars like bedtime stories, Ivy League style.