Fall Ensembles
Athletic Band Concert Band Falcon Marching Band University Band Wind Symphony
Athletic Band
The Athletic Band is auditioned group formed midway through the fall semester to provide music at selected basketball and hockey games. It continues into the second semester for the remainder of the basketball/hockey season. The director of the Athletic Band is Dr. Carol Hayward.
Concert Band
The Concert Band performs the finest in wind literature, emphasizing the core repertoire and contemporary publications that provide a strong basis for the music educator. The Concert Band is one of three concert bands which meet during the fall semester (August - December). This auditioned ensemble is open to all university students and meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30-1:20 p.m. The Concert Band performs the finest wind and percussion music in at least two concerts throughout the semester. The director of the Concert Band is Dr. Carol Hayward. Listen to the Concert Band.
Falcon Marching Band (FMB)
Exists only during football season and performs for all home games, selected other events and a concert. Auditions are held at the beginning of rehearsals in August. Students report (and move into their assigned residence halls) for marching fundamentals, drills and music rehearsals about seven days prior to the opening of classes. Flag corps and twirler auditions are held at other times (Flags: April and early Auguest; Twirlers: early August). Information on current dates for these auditions can be obtained from the band office. The director of the FMB is Dr. Carol Hayward.
The largest student organization on campus, the FMB performs at all home football games and various other university functions. They have also performed at the University of Akron, University of Michigan, University of Toledo and Eastern Michigan, Miami, West Virginia, Marshall, Ohio State and Ball State universities, as well as professional football games at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, the Pontiac Silverdome, and Cleveland Browns Stadium, and many high school band festivals. Additional trips have included bowl games in Fresno, Calif. (Raisin Bowl), Las Vegas (Silver Bowl), Detroit (Motor City Bowl), and Mobile, Ala. (GMAC Bowl). In 2007, the band was proud to have been invited to perform in exhibition at the Bands of America Regional in Indianapolis.
Numbering 220 members, the band serves as a showcase of the finest in musical and visual performance, as well as a centerpiece for athletic spirit. The FMB is composed of students from all colleges of the University and membership is open by audition to students of all class levels and all majors.
The band performs an original composition composed especially for the Falcon Marching Band by Ryan Nowlin ’00, ’04, entitled New Frontiers. It includes original visual design by Jason Sivill ’04 and percussion book by Michael Sander ’97.
University Band
The University Band is one of three concert bands which meet during the fall semester (August–December). The University Band performs quality literature and gives two concerts in the fall. This ensemble is open to all university students, and it meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 12:30–1:20 p.m. The director of the University Band is Dr. Kenneth Thompson.
Wind Symphony
The Wind Symphony is the most advanced-level performing ensemble in the band area. Seating and placement is through audition. The ensemble performs contemporary and standard literature for winds and percussion. Each fall, the Wind Symphony performs in the New Music & Art Festival and recently was selected to perform at the College Band Director’s National Association Conference in Chicago. The Wind Symphony meets Monday from 8–10 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30–3:45 p.m. The director of the Wind Symphony is Dr. Bruce Moss.