Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band
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Northwestern University "Wildcat" Marching Band
School	Northwestern University
Location	Evanston, IL
Conference	Big Ten
Founded	1911
Director	Daniel J. Farris
Members	148
Uniform	The uniform features a predominantly black background with the Northwestern University colors represented in a purple overlay and a purple cape. A modified West Point shako, high white plume, white gloves and spats complete the uniform.

The Northwestern University Wildcat Marching Band (NUMB) is the marching band of Northwestern University. NUMB provides pre-game, halftime, and postgame field performances at all home football games while school is in session as well as performing in various pep bands and at "Wildcat Alley" before the game. Other NUMB performances include "Kids fare: March with the Band" in late September, the Homecoming parade, and any post-season football games, and one Big Ten away game per season.

History

The Early Years (1911-1952)

In 1911, Northwestern's first University-sanctioned marching band was organized to play at football games. Under student leadership, their numbers varied before they were put under the supervision of the School of Music in 1926.

Under the leadership of their first full-time director, Glenn Cliffe Bainum, they garnered fame for Bainum's innovative half-time drills. In the early 1940s, with Bainum serving in the military, Harold Finch took over as band director until 1945, when the band was disbanded due to lack of personnel. Bainum restarted the marching band program in 1947 and continued as director until falling ill in 1950.

The Paynter Years (1953-1995)

The Northwestern University "Wildcat" Marching Band performs the Alma Mater at the 1996 Rose Bowl under the direction of John P. Paynter.

John P. Paynter became acting director of bands in 1950-1951 while working on his master's degree and then in 1953, became the official director. During the next forty-three years of his leadership, NUMB developed most of the traditions and culture it still has today. Among the accomplishments during his tenure were NUMB's incorporation of women in the 1970s, and the band's innovative use of drill charts to develop marching shows.

In 1970, James Sudduth became the first person (other than Paynter) to hold the title of marching band director. In the years that followed, several others held the position, including Cliff Colnot, William Hochkeppel, Donald Casey and Don Owens. In 1983, the position of the director of the marching band was shifted to the Athletic Department, and Dale Lonis became the first director of athletic bands. Under Lonis' leadership, the glide step was added to the halftime show style. Also during these years NUMB began forming the "Sculpted N" in its pregame performance following the university's adoption of a new logo.

Stephen G. Peterson took over leadership of the band in 1987. During his tenure, the band was awarded the 1992 Sudler Trophy in recognition of a tradition of excellence. When the football team won the Big Ten Championship in 1995 and went to the Rose Bowl, Paynter, Peterson and NUMB went too. NUMB's halftime show at the Rose Bowl consisted of opera favorites, including the Overture to William Tell. Mr. Paynter died on February 4, 1996, just more than a month after conducting the band at the Rose Bowl. His Northwestern life was magically bookended by the school's only two Rose Bowl appearances (he was an NU marching band member in 1949).

Recent History (1996-present)

The Northwestern University "Wildcat" Marching Band forms the "Sculpted N" and performs "Go U Northwestern!" to close its pregame performance at the 2005 Sun Bowl under the direction of Daniel J. Farris.

In 1996, Mallory Thompson was hired to fill the Director of Bands position left vacant by Paynter's passing. That season the team went to the Capital One Bowl (then called the Florida Citrus Bowl), and NUMB featured the Northwestern Percussion Ensemble in its performance of Malagueña. Peterson departed following the 1996 season, and was replaced by Rodney Dorsey, who served through 1999. The current director of athletic bands and director of NUMB is Daniel J. Farris, who has served in that role since 2000. Recent performances have included field shows at the 2000 Alamo Bowl, the 2003 Motor City Bowl and the 2005 Sun Bowl.

Pregame and Halftime

NUMB's pre-game consists of Northwestern's traditional "Pre-game Fanfare" and "Push on" fight song. After a "Patriotic Medley," followed by the National Anthem, NUMB performs the visiting team's fight song to the visiting fans. NUMB performs "Go U Northwestern!" while forming a sculpted 'N,' and the pre-game show ends with the band forming a tunnel for the football team to run through as it enters the field. The pre-game show is done using a combination of the traditional high chair-step marching style and the more modern DCI-style glide-step.

The halftime show uses glide step and curvilinear drills. Several different drills and musical selections are played during the season, with music generally including various rock, jazz, and pop selections.

Traditions

March of the Steelmen

While Charles Belsterling was Vice President of U.S. Steel he wrote the march that came to be known as March of the Steelmen. Glenn Cliffe Bainum adapted the music to match the Old Plus-Four drill, and it has since been performed at the close of every home football season since 1928.¹ The drill showcases the Northwestern monogram and a line of brass spanning length of the football field.

Pride and Guts

Pride and Guts, also known as P&G, is the term used by band members to describe the standard of behavior expected of all members past and present of the band. Pride refers to the feeling of pride in NUMB, its performance, their football team, and their school. Guts refers to the fortitude to strive for perfection in marching performance regardless of the circumstances.

The SpiriTeam(TM)

Founded in the 1960s, the "SpiriTeam"(TM) consists of two leaders of the band: the "Spirit Leader" and the "Grinder" ^{2 3} . Traditions surrounding the SpiriTeam(TM) have evolved over time, reflecting the personalities of the members of the SpiriTeam(TM) as well as "the times." The 2007 season marked the first all-female SpiriTeam(TM).

The Spirit Leader

The Spirit Leader is in charge of leading the band, the students, and the home crowd in various cheers. These cheers often poke fun at the Northwestern's academic reputation, including references to technical subjects, classical music composers, and the prospects for the other team's students working for NU grads one day. By tradition, the Spirit Leader is elected by the band.⁴ The Spirit Leader's symbol of office is the Spirit Leader's Hat - a black aviator-style cloth helmet, which according to tradition belonged to a Northwestern football player who served in World War II.

List of Spirit Leaders:

• 2007-2008: Brittany "Juneau" Petersen [Trombone]
• 2006: Caitlin "Sarah" Overland [Trombone]
• 2004-2005: Joe "Mr. Cactus Head Man" Filipas [Trombone]
• 2003: Travis Harper [Alto Saxophone]
• 2002: Tom "C-Dog" McGrath [Trombone]
• 2000-2001: Brian Link [Alto Saxophone]
• 1998-1999: Kellie MacDonald [Sousaphone]
• 1996-1997: Ryan Zawel [Trombone]
• 1994-1995: Ted Barlow [Trumpet]
• 1992-1993: Mark Megibow
• 1991: Drew Scott (before Megibow)
• 1990: Mike Diesenhof
• 1989: Sean Ivory
• 1988: Fred Hemke [Saxophone]
• 1987: Dave "Boomer" Towers [Percussion]
• 1986: Barry Ford [Trumpet]
• 1984-1985: Rocky Daehler
• 1983: Gary
• 1981 "Cosmic Ray" Schwarzkopf [Percussion]
• 1980: BJ Mitchell [Trombone]
• 1979: Rick Foster [Trombone]
• 1978: Pete Friedmann [Clarinet]
• 1975: Stephen Senderoff

The Grinder

The Grinder assists the Spirit Leader with cheers and keeping the band's spirit up during football games. The Grinder is also in charge of special cheers, including a traditional post-halftime extended cheer extolling the spirit of the band and its ability to growl loud enough to rattle the other team, wake the dead, and to be heard by the Grinder's mother no matter where on Earth (or Heaven) she is. The Grinder is in possession of a mutant gene, recognizable only to the previous Grinder, who selects his/her successor. ⁵ The Grinder's symbol of office is the Grinder's Hat - a button-festooned black felt hat originally bought at the Wildcat's first Rose Bowl (1949) and handed down from Grinder to Grinder. The traditional goal of every Grinder is to take The Hat back to Pasadena and the Rose Bowl.

List of Grinders:

• 2007-2008: Lauren "Bubbles" Miller [Mellophone]
• 2005-2006: Tim "Shredder" Peterson [Mellophone]
• 2003-2004: Jenny Tison [Alto Saxophone]
• 2001-2002: Ryan Schneider [Mellophone]
• 2000: Patrick Vukovich [Trombone]
• 1999: Noah Rosenblatt
• 1997-1998: Josh "Huffy" Berner
• 1995-1996: Huw Gilbert
• 1993-1995: Sean Goldmann
• 1991-1992: Liz Barnes
• 1988-1990: Kirk Anderson [Trombone]
• 1986-1987: Andrew "Drewker" Kerr [Trombone]
• 1984-1985: Tom "The T" Willadsen [Trombone]
• 1983: Tom Everett [Percussion]
• 1982: Tom Zamojcin
• 1980-1981: Bob Sutterfield [Baritone]
• 1978-1979: Jeff Baker [Baritone]

Other Personalities

There have been other "personalities." Among them are:

Geek: To celebrate the traditional view of band members as "band geeks," the band chooses one member to take on all duties of being the official "Band Geek."

List of Geeks:

• 2008: Bethany Marzewski [Flute]
• 2006-2007: Michael "Webster" Kasa [Trombone]
• 2004-2005: Jason Crystal [Clarinet]
• 2002-2003: Michael "Cap'n" Riggs [Trombone]
• 2000-2001: Dave Lillethun
• 1998-1999: Tommy "Epstein" McLeod [Trombone]
• 1995-1997: Karl-Dieter Crisman [Trumpet]
• 1991-1994: Steve O. "Stanley" Schnack
• 1990-1991: Rick Dammers
• 1986: Andy Boltax [Trumpet]
• 1985: Art Olsen (the Ur Geek) [Trumpet]

Dance Marathon (DM) Diva: DM Divas are in charge of organizing a group of NUMB members to dance in the popular campus-wide philanthropy, Dance Marathon. DM Divas facilitate fundraising for the group, mainly through organizing NUMB DM auctions.

Face Man: An unknown Band member disguised in a full face mask of an old wrinkled man assisted the Spirit Leader and the Grinder with their duties during games. Face Man was active from around 1977 to at least 1980. Nat Leonard served as Face Man 1985.

Colors of the Big Ten

Since 1948, the "Wildcat" Band has been fronted by the colors of the Big Ten Conference universities.⁶

Alma Mater

The band is known for its a cappella performance of the University Hymn (also known as the Alma Mater). Under the baton of the Director of Bands, new students and veteran members learn and rigorously practice the Alma Mater at each year's band camp. It is performed during halftime and post game and is sung in four-part harmony following the conclusion of the post-game performance. On certain occasions (such as the 1996 Rose Bowl and the 2005 Sun Bowl) the Alma Mater is performed during the pre-game show. The melody of the Alma Mater is based on the Chorale St. Antoni by Franz Josef Haydn (also heard in Johannes Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56B). The text originally was sung entirely in Latin, but in 1958 the music was arranged by John Paynter and new English lyrics were written by Thomas Tyra.⁷⁸

High School Band Day

Beginning in 1956, John Paynter began the tradition of inviting high school marching bands from the Chicago area to join NUMB on the field for halftime at one game each year. While Band Day was dropped from the schedule for several years in the '90s, it returned in 2004 and continues to be a feature each year. At its peak there were nearly 10,000 high school musicians participating. ⁹

NUMBAlums

NUMBAlums are those band members who have graduated. The NUMBAlums perform during Homecoming at the parade, alumni gatherings, and during the pre-game and halftime shows at the Homecoming football game. NUMBAlums also perform at such other occasions as away games where the student Band does not make an official appearance, but where there are sufficient NUMBAlums available to put together a Spirit Band to cheer on the football team.

The NUMBAlums were created by John Paynter in 1972, formally chartered as an organization in 1999, and officially recognized by the Northwestern Alumni Association in 2002. The NUMBAlums are an active organization that not only provides opportunities for the Alums to get together and perform, but also has raised funds for the purchase of new uniforms and equipment for NUMB. There are currently roughly 2,000 members. ¹⁰

Staff

• Daniel J. Farris—Director of Athletic Bands (2000-present)
• Mallory Thompson—Director of Bands (1996-present)
• Ryan Nelson—Associate Director of Bands (2002-present)
• Travis J. Cross, Gerard Morris—Doctoral Assistants
• Steve Barbas, Betsy McCann—Graduate Assistants
• Chris Lizak—Percussion Instructor
• Andrew Toth—Color Guard Instructor
• Pete Friedmann—Announcer (1981-present)
• Daniel M. Reck—Webmaster (2006-present)

Recordings

• Wildcat Band Fire Up! (1994)
• Hail to Purple (2004)
• Push On! (2008)

Timeline

• 1887 Formation of the first Northwestern University band.
• 1912 "Go U Northwestern" written.
• 1913 "Rise, Northwestern" (Push On) written.
• 1926 Glenn Cliffe Bainum becomes Northwestern's first Director of Bands.
• 1928 First performance of "March of the Steelmen".
• Jan. 1, 1949 NUMB performs at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
• 1953 John P. Paynter becomes second Director of Bands in Northwestern history.
• 1956 First High School Band Day.
• 1960 Strike Up the Band produced.
• 1970 Jim Sudduth becomes first person other than Paynter to be NUMB director.
• 1972 Women permitted to join NUMB.
• 1974 Cliff Colnot becomes NUMB director.
• 1978 William Hochkeppel is NUMB director. Second ending of "Push On" changed to its current version.
• 1979 Donald Casey and Don Owens become co-direcors of NUMB.
• 1981 Pete Friedmann becomes NUMB announcer.
• 1983 Dale J. Lonis becomes NUMB director.
• 1988 Stephen G. Peterson becomes NUMB director.
• 1992 The "Wildcat" Band is awarded the Sudler Trophy.
• 1993 Current version of "Pregame Fanfare" debuts.
• Jan. 1, 1996 NUMB performs at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The halftime show features opera favorites. At the game, the band debuts its current uniform. John P. Paynter passes away just over a month later, his Northwestern life bookended by the school's two Rose Bowl appearances (he was a marching band member in 1949).
• 1996 Mallory Thompson is named the third Director of Bands in Northwestern history.
• Jan. 1, 1997 NUMB performs at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The halftime features an extended version of "Malagueña".
• 1997 Rodney Dorsey becomes the first African-American director of NUMB. First performance at Ryan Field.
• 2000 Daniel J. Farris takes over as director of NUMB. The band performs at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
• 2003 The "Wildcat" Band performs at the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, Michigan.
• 2005 The "Wildcat" Band performs at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. The halftime show features "Rocky Point Holiday" and "Fire Dance".
• 2006 The "Wildcat" Band performs with a featured twirler for the first time in 20 years.¹¹

References

External links

• NUMB Website
• NUMB Drumline Website
• NUMBAlums, the NUMB Alumni
• NU Songs | Northwestern University Music Library