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11:20 a.m., Dec. 2, 2002--The University of Delaware Marching Band recently got a chance to showcase its talents in a performance before an audience of thousands of high school students from across the nation.
 The occasion was the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championship, which took place Nov. 14- Nov. 16, in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
The Grand National Championship is one of more than 25 held nationally by BOA, the nation’s leading presenter of high school band students. During the event, more than 90 high schools competed for 12 coveted spots in the finals competition.
One of only two college bands invited to perform in exhibition at the prestigious event, the UD Marching Band took the floor after the semifinals, in an arena packed to the roof with high school students, parents, families, friends and a who’s who list of professionals associated with the activity.
Heidi Sarver, associate professor of music and UD Marching Band director, recalled the excitement of being in the spotlight before an audience bigger than most towns in Delaware.
“The wildest thing was marching through the airlock down the tunnel where it opens onto the stadium floor,” Sarver said. “Seeing the stadium unfold before you, as 35,000 fans seated on both decks fill your line of vision, is indescribable.”
The band found itself in just the opposite situation on Friday night, Nov. 15, when they had the entire RCA Dome to themselves from 10:30 p.m.-midnight, for rehearsal.
Sarver said the practice paid off as noted in a quote on the BOA website which said “Finals started with the performing of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ by the massive University of Delaware Marching Band which had earlier thrilled the audience with a spirited exhibition of ‘Evita’ at the end of the semifinals.”
The musical ambassadors from UD included 300 members of the marching band and a support staff of 17, including 12 band alumni who returned to UD this fall to assist with instruction throughout the semester, Sarver said.
“The band represented the University with a quality of pride and class of which every member of the UD community should be proud,” Sarver said. “Simply stated, they were magnificent—both on the field and off.”
In addition to earning recognition before a national audience, the Grand National Championships gave the UD Marching Band a chance to preview the next generation of collegiate marching band members.
“We were able to watch some of the most accomplished marching band programs that our nation has to offer,” Sarver said. “We were amazed by the brilliant performances, musicianship and skill level of these high school students. Many times we had trouble believing these were 9th-to-12th-graders.”
Founded in 1975, BOA events draw more than 230,000 teens, family members and marching band enthusiasts annually, with more than 60,000 high-school students participating in BOA activities.
With more than 25 events nationwide, including the Grand National Championship, as well as 14 regional championships and concert festivals, BOA works to fulfill its mission of creating and providing life changing experiences for students, teachers, parents and communities.
The UD Marching Band’s performance at the Grand National Championship is included on DVD and VHS sets of the final and semi-final competition, and is available for purchase at [www.800videoexpress.com].
Sarver said the presence of the band on video and DVD gives UD nationwide recognition, while providing a valuable teaching resource for future band program designers and directors.
“These recordings are used as resource materials in college and university music education programs,” Sarver said. “Student in my marching band techniques class view these tapes each spring as examples for developing their show design skills. And, we always watch the college exhibition portions because we like to see how we stack up against other college bands.”
Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Kathy Flickinger
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