The U marching and pep bands have never had so many opportunities in one semester.
Eric Beckstrand, a trumpeter and sophomore in business, said the bands have had several “once-in-a-lifetime opportunities” in 2009, noting the Marching Utes’ experience playing at the Sugar Bowl for the only undefeated football team in the country and their opportunity to raise funds for a by-invitation-only trip to play in President Barack Obama’s inaugural parade. Most recently, the Utah Pep Bands spent part of Spring Break traveling with the Utah men’s and women’s basketball teams for the first round of the NCAA college basketball playoffs.
The men’s basketball team hasn’t been to the March Madness tournament in four years. Both teams hold this year’s championship conference titles, but the men’s team lost in its first game against the University of Arizona on Friday night.
Members of the Pep Bands, which play at the basketball and gymnastics events, are also members of the marching band, which plays and performs at football games.
“I’m so lucky to be able to travel and play for these moments,” Beckstrand said. “It’s great to represent the school doing something that I love.”
There was a lot of excitement shared between the band and the men’s team in Miami while they rehearsed and prepared for the first round game March 20, said Audrey Fairbanks, a band member and undecided junior.
The band arrived in Miami on March 17 and spent the days leading up to the game rehearsing and hanging out at the beach, Fairbanks said.
That same excitement was felt in Maryland with the other half of the band who were with the women’s basketball team, Beckstrand said.
The Pep Band split into two groups to accommodate performing in the men’s and women’s games. Each band has about 30 members. The band in Maryland is being conducted by Ariane Stevens, a graduate teaching assistant in the School of Music and the other in Miami was conducted by Brian Sproul, director of the marching band.
Splitting the band isn’t a big deal because everyone gets along and it’s something that often has to be done in order to play at games during the year, Beckstrand said.
The women’s team won Sunday’s game and will play Tuesday night. The band will stay in Maryland to play for the next game.
Erik DaenitzMembers of the U pep band play during the Utes win over Wyoming in the second round of the MWC tournament in Las Vegas. Band members added to the list of places they played this year when they traveled to the Men?s and Women?s NCAA tournament.