Dear Big Red Bands Alumni,
When the Big Red Bands Alumni Association was formed 30 years ago, back in 1981, it was to guide the Big Red Band (as well as the Pep Band) and ensure its survival due to limited funding. In those 30 years, the band has thrived, thanks to the support of you, our alumni. The founding of the alumni association and the subsequent creation of its endowment marked pivotal moments for the band. We are now about to embark on another important stage in the band’s history.
Although Barton Hall has been our home for many decades, it was never the perfect facility for the band, acoustically, ventilation-wise and especially in terms of storage space. It was always the dream of alumni for the band to have a better location for the only real marching band and the best pep band in the Ivy League, and today I want to share with you exciting news—that this dream is becoming a reality. I’m pleased to announce that within the next few years, the band will be relocating to a new location—its own building—to be located outside of the Schoellkopf Crescent—with construction slated to commence within the next year!
It is without doubt that this building is a financial undertaking, and naturally we will be depending on you, band alumni, even more for your support, to make additional donations beyond what you give annually to the band (although we still need you to maintain your annual gift as well). We have already asked several former band leaders to help lead us through this campaign, and you will be hearing from them in the months ahead.
The new facility is also reason to celebrate. During this year’s Homecoming weekend (September 17), we will have a ceremonial groundbreaking and are inviting alumni from the band who marched during the 1970s to participate, as well as all former head managers, drum majors and pep band managers to attend (if you are in any of these groups, you should be receiving an additional e-mail shortly, but if for some reason you don’t get one, please join us). And if you’re not in one of these groups you are, of course, invited to come back as well.
In addition, if you plan to attend Reunion 2011, I, along with other members of the alumni leadership of the band, invite you to an alumni reception in the band room in Barton Hall on Saturday, June 11 from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., with refreshments served. We will be on hand to answer your questions.
For an artist’s conception sketch of the new building here. We will provide you with continuous updates throughout the course of this exciting new project, so please check the website and also make sure you’re a fan of the Big Red Band on Facebook.
Thank you all for your support of the bands now and in the future. I hope to see many of you in September.
Let’s Go Red!
Eva Chiamulera ’97
Chair, Big Red Bands Alumni Association