HEY ALUMNI!
I am SO thankful to be writing to you for the last time after our incredible season. This past year, we continued to work diligently on improving our sound, marching, and maintaining a positive energy in the band! We faced unexpected challenges this year, including a VERY rainy Homecoming, but our upperclassmen have played a huge role in keeping spirits high! Our new member class has been making the most of the band’s loose time commitment, and it’s been so nice seeing familiar faces pop in and out over the course of the season!
Our Show Committee Chairs this year were amazing; I consider them very dear friends and am so proud of all the hard work they did. Abbott “Pidge” Sherlock (‘27), Catherine Frank (‘26), and Sabrina Sheridan (‘26) made shows that were creative and reflective of the band’s diverse interests! Our first show, The “Road to the 80’s” Show, was a journey through the decades: starting in the 1960’s and ending in the 1980’s. It included “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles, “We Go Together” from Grease, and “Call Me Al” by Paul Simon. We performed it at our Homecoming game against Yale and our home game against Albany. Our second show, The “Motown” Show, was a tribute to Motown records, performed at our Friday night game against Harvard and at Brown. We played “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” by Stevie Wonder, “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5, and “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross, arranged by our very own Bobby “Duck” Haig (‘25)! Our third show was The “Headbanger” Show, including “Uprising” by Muse, “Uma Thurman” by Fall Out Boy, and “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” had a drum break written by senior drumline member, Patrick Thieblemont (‘25), and a dance break choreographed by Hannah Blank (‘27), a member of ShowComm^2! Our headbangers took the field at Princeton and our home game against Penn. Our final show was our “Found Family” Show, a sentimental goodbye to the senior class. The songs were “Home” by Phillip Phillips, “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day, and “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay. Our senior show was performed at our last home game against Dartmouth and at Columbia.
There were many wins this year, including the first Homecoming game victory since 2016! Feeling the energy of the team, the band, and the crowd in the middle of a pseudo-downpour was electric! We collaborated again with student organizations around campus this year. We spent a lot of time working with the Black Student Majorette Ensemble: The Scarlet Dolls! After many music rehearsals and sectionals (thank you section leaders!), we performed “Can You Stand The Rain” by New Edition with them at Homecoming. I hope this is something we can continue as a new Cornell tradition! Getting to return to Princeton, Brown, and Columbia as a conductor was an incredibly heartwarming experience for me. This was the first time we’ve gotten to perform a halftime show at Columbia since I’ve been in the BRMB! I loved meeting the other bands, and most of them joined us for our post-game concerts to show us some of their repertoire!
Conducting at the Sy Katz (‘31) Parade was unreal. I was so impressed with the band’s ability to quickly adapt and easily take direction in preparation of our performance. Having the opportunity to lead the band while watching the city lights go by, hearing the songs of Cornell, and surrounded by people I care about was once in a lifetime. Feeling the band’s musical power and unwavering support in the middle of New York City was unforgettable.
I am so grateful for Emily Jones; none of this would be possible without her, and I would not be the person I am today without her love and support. I’m also thankful for the Show Committee, section leaders, Bandstaph, and influential upperclassmen. They did a LOT of heavy lifting, playing an enormous role in the band’s enthusiasm, acceptance, and trust. Watching the band play their hearts out from the sideline was an extremely emotional experience, and I could not be more proud of what I’m leaving behind. I want to thank all of you, as well, for your help on trips, at events, your advice, and your many, many stories of oooooooold band! I can’t wait to join you all for the Alma Mater at Homecoming next year!
GO. RED. DAMMIT!!!!!
~ Nina “Pauws” Ellison ‘25