University of New Hampshire Wildcat Marching Band

Wildcat Marching Band
School	University of New Hampshire
Location	Durham, N.H. USA
Conference	CAA
Director	Casey S. Goodwin
Members	80-100
Uniform	black shako with mirror and black plume, black pants, black and royal blue jacket with silver trim and black/silver gauntlets

The University of New Hampshire Wildcat Marching Band (UNHWMB or WMB), "The Beast of the East," is the official marching band of the University of New Hampshire. The UNHWMB plays at the home football games, typically one away game, the Dover and Salem band shows, and various parades across New England. The band has traditionally had an equal mix of music and non-music majors and claims to have an average GPA consistently above the University average.^[1] The WMB usually marches between 80-100 members, depending on the year. Its largest roster in the past decade was approximately 125.

In 2001, the UNHWMB was invited to perform for Prince Rainier in Monaco as part of a nine-day tour through Italy and France.

Performance style and instrumentation

2002-2003 WMB snareline during the traditional pregame march to Cowell Stadium

The UNH Wildcat Marching Band is a corps-style band, which means it employs a roll step and other drill techniques taken from the tradition of Drum Corps International (DCI), and has in some capacity since 1965. The WMB's instrumentation comprises piccolos, flutes, clarinets, saxophones (alto and tenor, occasionally also baritone), trumpets, mellophones, trombones, marching baritones, sousaphones, and a battery consisting of snare, tenors (sextet), and 5 pitched bass drums, as well as cymbals. The WMB has used a pit (front ensemble) in the past, but since 1997, it is no longer standard. The WMB also fields a color guard that primarily uses flags, but sabres and rifles are often used in feature. A featured twirler is sometimes also used.

Organization

Directors

The director of the UNH Wildcat Marching Band is Casey Goodwin, a UNH alumna and former WMB Drum Major and Graduate Assistant. As Director of Athletic Bands, Goodwin is also the director of the Beast of the East Pep Band, a separate organization that performs for men's and women's ice hockey and basketball games, and the UNH Concert Band. She also teaches undergraduate courses in the areas of conducting and music education. Prior to her appointment at UNH, Goodwin was the Director of Instrumental Music at Marshwood High School in South Berwick, ME.

Recent directors^[2]

2006–Present Casey Goodwin
2003-2006 Erika Svanoe
1998-2003 Thomas Keck
1997-1998 Jeff Bolduc
1987-1997 Christopher Humphrey
1983-1987 Bill Reeve
1982-1983 Larry Lang
1965-1979 Stanley Hettinger
1961-1964 Donald Mattran
1959-1961 Alan Owen

Instructors and graduate assistants

Working directly under the director are a Percussion Instructor and a Color Guard Instructor. In addition, the Wildcat Marching Band typically fields a staff of Graduate assistants — graduate students from the UNH Department of Music — who help as drill technicians, arrange music for halftime shows, and assist with rehearsals and performances.

Student leadership

The WMB has traditionally fielded three Drum Majors of equal rank. However, for the 2012 season, there will be a designated "head" drum major, who will conduct the band from center podium during half-time shows, while one or two "assistant" drum majors will take turns on center podium for pre-game ceremonies and other special events.^[3] Additionally, each section has one or two Section Leaders, who are responsible for teaching music, running warm-up and drill block sessions, and generally serving as an example to the rest of their section.

WMB Council

The WMB Council was formed in 2007, made up of the student leaders and three at-large members. The WMB Council is responsible for assisting with recruiting, events, organization, alumni relations, and band camp. The members also serve as a representative voice for the general membership of the WMB.

2002-2003 UNHWMB brass during a halftime performance at Cowell Stadium

Trivia^[4]

The UNHWMB began as an offshoot of the ROTC in the early 1900s and became part of the Department of Music later on. Because no official records were kept, the exact date remains unknown.
Chuck Winfield of Blood, Sweat & Tears was a guest soloist on the UNHWMB recording of the 1986 BS&T halftime show.
In the late 1960s, Arthur Fiedler was a guest conductor for UNH Band Day.
Stanley Hettinger first introduced the Corps style of marching at UNH in 1965. Prior to that UNH had used the Big Ten style complete with high stepping and 270 degree turns.
In 1971, there was no UNH Marching Band due to funding issues
The UNHWMB marched a halftime show at a New York Giants game in 1985.
The UNHWMB performed at a Montreal Alouettes game in November 2000.
The UNHWMB performed for Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in December 2001.
The band marched at Walt Disney World's "Magic Kingdom" on December 31, 2009.

References

External links

Official Web site

University of New Hampshire

Academics	Business and Economics Law

Athletics	Men's basketball Women's basketball Football Men's ice hockey Women's ice hockey

Events	Battle for the Brice-Cowell Musket Colonial Clash New Hampshire–Dartmouth rivalry New Hampshire–Maine hockey rivalry

Facilities	Cowell Stadium Jesse Hepler Lilac Arboretum InterOperability Laboratory Lundholm Gym Memorial Union Building New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts New Hampshire Public Television Shoals Marine Laboratory University of New Hampshire at Manchester University of New Hampshire Observatory Thompson Hall Whittemore Center Williamson Hall

Programs	Green Launching Pad

Organizations	Carsey School of Public Policy New Hampshire Outing Club Not Too Sharp University of New Hampshire Wildcat Marching Band

Media	The New Hampshire WUNH

Related	Bill Knight Trophy List of University of New Hampshire alumni "On to Victory" "UNH Alma Mater" University Press of New England Wildcat Sports Network

Marching bands of the Colonial Athletic Association

University of Delaware Marching Band (Delaware)
Fire of the Carolinas (Elon)
James Madison University Marching Royal Dukes (James Madison)
University of Maine Black Bear Marching Band (Maine)
University of Rhode Island Ram Marching Band (Rhode Island)
Towson University Tiger Marching Band (Towson)
UNH Wildcat Marching Band (New Hampshire)
Villanova University Scramble Band (Villanova)
William & Mary Tribe Scramble Band (William & Mary)

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