homecoming

September is here, which means one thing: band season is about to start! We’re planning to have our annual reunion at Homecoming on October 17 – but we’re also adding a twist this year. In addition to our regular gathering up at Baker Field, we’re going to be getting together with the current band to have an evening of singing after the game. We’re still hammering out details but mark the date in your calendar!

Also, we’ll have a table in the big tent on the day of the game and will be selling CDs of the band’s appearance at Carnegie Hall.

Homecoming 2015
Columbia vs. Penn
Saturday October 17, 2015

Kickoff: 3:30 PM (halftime is estimated at around 4:45).

After game gathering: around 8:00 at the Morningside campus.

You won’t want to miss another great gathering of band alumni, centered around Homecoming 2014 — Columbia vs. Dartmouth on Saturday, October 25!

Annual Homecoming Reception & Reunion
On Friday, Oct. 24, alumni of the Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band will again gather at the Columbia Alumni Center, 622 West 113th Street, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. If you’re in or near New York, please join us to munch some light snacks, reminisce with other Band alumni of your era and meet some new alums of all vintages. The current Marching Band will be there too, eager to meet you.

Play Along!
As usual, alumni who still have the chops are invited to play at the Homecoming game vs. Dartmouth, Saturday, Oct. 25. (Kickoff is 1:30 PM.) Luisa Cruz CC97 will guest conduct “Sans Souci” at the end of halftime. If you’d like to bring your instrument or borrow one and play on the field or just in the stands, please let us know soon. We can even provide sheet music for “Roar, Lion, Roar” if you’ve forgotten your part.

Share Your Band Stories
The University-wide Columbia Alumni Association has launched a community-building initiative to gather stories and experiences from alumni around the globe this month. They’d love to have Band memories in the mix. You can tell the world here.

The Fall Season Has Begun!
Back on campus, the Wind Ensemble is preparing for its autumn concert, probably to take place in late October. The Marching Band, bigger than it has been in some time, is having its growing pains partly softened by support from your Association’s instrument drive; look for some new instruments and some newly restored ones when you next see the group in action.