University of California Marching Band

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The University of California Marching Band "The Pacesetter of College Marching Bands, the Pride of California"
The Cal band during the Armed Forces Bowl
School	University of California
Location	Berkeley, CA
Conference	Pacific Ten Conference
Founded	1891
Director	Robert Calonico
Members	240
Uniform	Dark Blue Military Jacket and Trousers with Gold Accents, and White Epaulettes; Military Cap with White Plume; White Crossed Vest with Silver Breastplate; Gold Cape; Black Shoes with White Spats

The University of California Marching Band, usually shortened to Cal Band, is the marching band for the University of California, Berkeley. While the Cal Band is student-run, it is administered under the auspices of the university, and represents Cal at sporting events and social gatherings. The name of the band is "The University of California Band" by the constitution, but is typically called "The University of California Marching Band" or "The Cal Band".

Unlike other collegiate marching bands, the Cal Band is not under the university's Department of Music but rather the Department of Student Musical Activities, with other student-led organizations such as the University of California Jazz Ensemble and University of California Choral Ensembles. Also, the Band is entirely student-run, save for the only University-paid employee, its Director. Five students, each heading a specific point of leadership within the band, are elected by their peers and serve for terms of one calendar year. The five student leaders and the Director form the Executive Committee. The Senior Manager is elected by the previous Executive Committee. All the other student Executive Committee positions are elected by a majority vote of the Band membership.

Presently the Band has approximately 240 members (no color guard or auxiliary) and is directed by Robert M. Calonico, himself an alumnus of the University and the Band, serving as its Student Director in 1976.

1 History
2 Performances
3 Football Performances
4 Instrumentation
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The Cal Band has its roots in the University Cadet Band established in 1891. In 1923, the Band was sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC) and its student leadership structure was formalized two years later.

After the 1950 Rose Bowl against Ohio State University, the Cal Band decided to adopt its present high-stepping style after they discovered their performance looked lackluster in comparison to Ohio State's marching band. The Straw Hat Band, a subset of the Cal Band, was also established that same year.

In the 1970s, the Band's leadership structure was reorganized, a new band constitution written, and sponsorship moved from ASUC to the university. Women were also admitted into the Band for the first time, by the influence of Title IX. Recently, the Band's membership has consisted of an even split of men and women.

In 1993, the Cal Band History Committee published a comprehensive history of the Cal Band. While this volume is now out of print, the text of the History Book can be found online at CalBand History Book

[edit] Performances

The Cal Band has been seen and heard at a variety of performance venues. In the recent past, the Cal Band has appeared at the San Francisco Symphony's "Black and White Ball," performed for such names as George Shultz (former U.S. Secretary of State), Peter Haas and family (UC Berkeley benefactors and the owners of Levi Strauss & Co.), and George Lucas. In addition, the Cal Band has been seen on the "Ed Sullivan Show," the nationally syndicated game show "Wheel of Fortune," Santa Rosa TV 50's morning program, KTVU Channel 2's "Mornings on Two," KRON Channel 4's newscasts, "Bay Area Backroads," and sportscaster Vernon Glen's "Mr. Involvement." The Cal Band sound has graced the airwaves of dozens of Bay Area radio stations, such as WILD 94.9 and KMEL 106.1, Live 105, and K101, and rounds out its exposure on the pages of numerous Bay Area newspapers.

Wintertime activities include playing at various on campus sporting events and trips to play at various ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe region.^[1]

Before 2002, in the spring, the Band performed a traditional "Spring Show" in UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Auditorium, combining the marching and playing talents of the band with other, hidden talents usually reserved for off the football field. Spring Show was discontinued in 2002 after financial burdens to the band resulting from funding cuts to the University of California system.

In a different sort of performance, the Cal Band was asked to help with the Nobel Lecture by George Smoot in 2006 by recreating the "big bang".^[2]

[edit] Football Performances

The Cal Band performs during a pre-game show

During weeks of home football games the Cal Band gives several performances. On Fridays before a game, the Cal Band plays at the noon rallies on Sproul Plaza. On game days the Cal Band gives a concert on Sproul Plaza an hour and a half before kickoff. During home football games the band gives a pre-game show, a half time show^[3], and typically a musical performance after the game as the crowd leaves.