Collegiate Marching Band Festival

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The Collegiate Marching Band Festival, also called the CMBF, is an annual event held in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which showcases college and university marching bands of all sizes and styles from across the Northeastern United States. First held in 1995, the event typically takes places in early October at J. Birney Crum Stadium, a renowned venue for marching band and drum corps performances. The festival is not a competition, but rather an opportunity for fans and band members alike to view bands that perform a variety of shows and exhibit different performance styles.

The West Chester University Marching Band at the 2004 CMBF
The West Chester University Marching Band at the 2004 CMBF


Contents

[edit] Management and Sponsors

The festival is currently managed by Vivace Productions, Inc. out of West Chester, PA and is sponsored by Vivace Productions[1], Marching Show Concepts[2], and Dinkles[3].

[edit] Different Styles

While many of the participating bands perform contemporary “corps style” shows using roll-step marching, other performance varieties abound. Morgan State University, from Maryland, performs a high-energy show typical of southern HBCU bands. Lehigh University and Penn State University, both of which have participated in the past, perform traditional "Big Ten" style shows with a high-step marching technique. Other bands, including Indiana University of Pennsylvania, West Chester University, and the University of Massachusetts, have developed unique styles all their own.

[edit] Traditions

Although still relatively young, the festival has a number of traditions, which spectators and performers have come to anticipate on an annual basis.

Order of performance

  • The order of performance is rotated on an annual basis, although it still follows a pattern where smaller-sized bands perform early in the day and larger bands perform later. As a custom, the first band to perform also plays the National Anthem to signify the start of the festival.


Vendors


Concessions

  • J. Birney Crum Stadium boasts some eccentric food choices. Among them can be found fried pierogies and giant Hawaiian Shave Ices that resemble softball-sized snow cones. Many festival-goers make these treats a regular part of the annual event.


Musical Organizations

  • After the festival is a time when members of the four largest Greek musical organizations – Phi Mu Alpha, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Tau Beta Sigma – gather together in their respective groups and socialize while engaging in their own particular traditions. Students, staff, and alumni from the participating bands take this opportunity to commingle with other members before departing the festival.


Tubas/Sousaphones

  • After the last band performs, the tuba and sousaphone players from several of the larger bands congregate at the center of the field to play traditional tunes, socialize with each other, and generally put on a humorous display for the exiting crowds.

[edit] Performing Ensembles (2003-2007)

[edit] 8th Annual CMBF

Sunday, September 21, 2003 - Order of Appearance


[edit] 9th Annual CMBF

Sunday, October 10, 2004 - Order of Appearance


[edit] 10th Annual CMBF

Sunday, October 2, 2005 - Order of Appearance


[edit] 11th Annual CMBF

Sunday, October 8, 2006 - Order of Appearance


[edit] 12th Annual CMBF

Sunday, September 30, 2007 - Order of Appearance