A New Era

The University of Arizona has hired a big name football coach,Rich Rodriguez.It appears that The U of A plans on elevating their program to compete in The Pac-12 Conference.RichRod plans on competing for National Championships.This would be the perfect time to step up the band program. In 1978,when U of A and ASU joined The Pac-10,it was customary for The Arizona Schools to have the home band play halftime and the visitor to play pregame like high school bands do.That is when The Arizona Schools changed their ways to join the ranks of "real" College Football and have both bands play at pregame and halftime. With the arrival of a new coach and a new era of Wildcat Football,it is time to have a "real" College Marching Band.Even in the remote Pullman,Washington,their marching band plays a fresh show at every home game.It is a good thing too,because they just hired a new big time coach who would have been very disappointed after his stay at Texas Tech.RichRod`s last two coaching jobs had two of the best bands in the country,and he`s in for a major disappointment when he sees The Pride of Arizona.It is sad to think that Tucson can`t compete with Lubbock,Texas or Morgantown,West Virginia`s band programs.

U of A Band Day 2011

University of Arizona Band Day 2011

On Saturday,November 12,2011 thirty-five High School Bands competed at The University of Arizona`s annual Band Day,at Arizona Stadium.This event is also The Pride of Arizona`s top showcase event of the year.The POA performed their entire 2011 show after the morning session as well as after the afternoon session.These two performances were the highlight of the day,and truly The POA`s finest moment.Ten weeks into the College Football Season,The POA performs all three,four minute segments of their 2011 show,in its entirety.The twelve minute Jethro Tull Show was spectacular. In this era of High School Bands perfecting one corps-style show each year and performing at several competitions throughout the marching season,The POA is a spectacular example of how this is done.Unfortunately,this is not acceptable for a major college marching band.Unlike the High School Bands who are competing for judges` scores,The POA`s job is to entertain the audience in Tucson`s largest venue,support the team and create an overall spirited collegiate atmosphere that turns a game into an event.To play one twelve minute show each year is shameful! Two Tucson bands won The Nunamaker Award of Distinction:Rincon/University High School and Catalina Foothills High School.These two bands were truly outstanding.RU`s Show "War" featured:Post War Dream by Pink Floyd,War Pigs by Black Sabbath and 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky.Musically,this was my favorite show of the contest.Visually,CFHS was spectacular.Their show was, "Synesthesia-The Color of Sound," consisting of:Slavonic Dance #2,Armenian Dances and Polovtsian Dances.Congratulations to both of these bands.

Flowing Wells Invitational 2011

Congratulations to these bands: Rincon/University, Catalina Foothills, Sandra Day O`Connor. These bands received "Superior" ratings in Division 1 at The Flowing Wells Invitational. Rio Rico also received a "Superior" in Division 3.

Madison Scouts 2011 - New York Morning (Semifinals)

Announcements

Saturday,October 22nd,starting at Noon,is The Flowing Wells Invitational Marching Band Competition at Flowing Wells High School. The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps of Tempe is starting auditions for their 2012 season.Anyone interested should go to their website:arizonaacademy.org. Any students(and your parents)wanting to know about becoming a part of Drum Corps International`s 2012 Season(next summer)should go to:DCI.org/auditions or DCI.org/parents Any parents with 16-21 year olds who enjoy performing in marching band,should definitely check out the world`s greatest youth activity.