University of Pittsburgh Athletics
University of Pittsburgh Marching Band Starts 104th Season
8/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh Marching Band began its 104th season on Wednesday with the start of the 2015 Band Camp on Pitt's campus in Oakland. The 291 member band, one of the largest in its history, will depart for Pitt Bradford on Thursday for the duration of their preseason camp.
At Bradford, the band will learn its traditional pregame show, as well as the first halftime show of the season for the Youngstown State game on September 5. The Pitt Band is joined by a freshman class of 109 students. The 2015 Drum Major is Brian Urbaniak, a senior engineering major from Slippery Rock, Pa. The Assistant Drum Major is Samantha Gremler. She is the first woman drum major in the band's history and is a developmental psychology major from Perrysburg, Ohio.
The 2015 edition of the Pitt Band will perform at all home football games at Pittsburgh's iconic Heinz Field. The band's first public performance will be on Tuesday, August 25, at Kennywood's Fall Fantasy Parade. The full band will be traveling to away football games at Akron and Virginia Tech, as well as performing as an exhibition band at the Bands of American Regional band competition at Gateway High School and the Brentwood High School Band Festival, which are both on September 19.
The Pitt Band, founded in 1911, is one of the greatest traditions that the University of Pittsburgh has to offer. As the largest and most visible student organization on campus, Pitt Band is dedicated to excellence in marching and musical performance, promoting spirit on and off campus, and providing a compelling experience for all of its members. The Director of Bands is Dr. Brad Townsend and the Assistant Director of Bands is Matthew Alosi.
For more information, visit: www.pittband.com.
