McMaster marching toward own band

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mmb.jpg” caption=”The McMaster Marching Band will hold auditions September 16 at the track and field area beside the Ronald V. Joyce Stadium.”]The next time you hear the notes of Arthur Burridge's McMaster March, they may actually be played by a marching band.

After comments on a Facebook group showed high levels of interest in starting a band on campus, third year mechanical engineering and management student Neil DePass gathered together interested students for a small performance at the Marauder football team's home opener. DePass says interest and support since then has been considerable.

“We have just about enough people for a small pep band, which we will use to demonstrate our capabilities to the McMaster community,” said DePass. “We hope to eventually expand our numbers and round out the band.”

The band will play classic marching band tunes as well as University songs like the McMaster March.

Already a recognized McMaster Students Union club and given practice and storage space by Athletics & Recreation, the McMaster Marching Band is one of the first such organizations at a Canadian university. The group plans to officially launch at Homecoming and would like to eventually perform at community events such as the Santa Claus Parade and other local festivals.

“We want to be out there and visible,” said DePass. “We really want to help enhance school spirit.”

A native of Cornwall, Ontario and a musician himself, DePass spends a night each week with 20 youth cadets and their band, experience he hopes will help him in putting together the group on campus.

DePass and his team are looking for members to play the trumpet, saxophone, flute, clarinet and other brass and reed instruments, as well as percussion instruments like the drum and symbols. Practices will be held Wednesdays, starting with auditions tonight (Sept. 16) at 5:30 p.m. at the track and field area beside the Ronald V. Joyce Stadium. For more information, see the McMaster Marching Band website.

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[img_inline align="right" src="http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/mmb.jpg" caption="The McMaster Marching Band will hold auditions September 16 at the track and field area beside the Ronald V. Joyce Stadium."]The next time you hear the notes of Arthur Burridge&#039;s McMaster March, they may actually be played by a marching band. <br />
<p>After comments on a Facebook group showed high levels of interest in starting a band on campus, third year mechanical engineering and management student Neil DePass gathered together interested students for a small performance at the Marauder football team&#039;s home opener. DePass says interest and support since then has been considerable.<br />
<p>"We have just about enough people for a small pep band, which we will use to demonstrate our capabilities to the McMaster community," said DePass. "We hope to eventually expand our numbers and round out the band."<br />
<p>The band will play classic marching band tunes as well as University songs like the McMaster March. <br />
<p>Already a recognized McMaster Students Union club and given practice and storage space by Athletics & Recreation, the McMaster Marching Band is one of the first such organizations at a Canadian university. The group plans to officially launch at Homecoming and would like to eventually perform at community events such as the Santa Claus Parade and other local festivals.  <br />
<p>"We want to be out there and visible," said DePass. "We really want to help enhance school spirit."<br />
<p>A native of Cornwall, Ontario and a musician himself, DePass spends a night each week with 20 youth cadets and their band, experience he hopes will help him in putting together the group on campus.<br />
<p>DePass and his team are looking for members to play the trumpet, saxophone, flute, clarinet and other brass and reed instruments, as well as percussion instruments like the drum and symbols. Practices will be held Wednesdays, starting with auditions tonight (Sept. 16) at 5:30 p.m. at the track and field area beside the Ronald V. Joyce Stadium. For more information, see the McMaster Marching Band <a href="http://mcmastermarchingband.com/"> website</a>.<br />

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