'Notes' from the Director

Brad McDavid

I find it hard to believe that we’re not only through another exciting football and basketball season but here we are just a few short days away from the annual spring football game.

It was great to see so many of you at the Holiday Bowl in December, especially at the UWAA’s pre-game Warm-Up event where an estimated 6,000 fans gathered to hear the band’s performance. After seven years of no bowls, as well as an 0-12 season, I could not have been happier that our incredibly dedicated 46 senior members of the band and cheer squad were able to go out on such a high note (so to speak)!

Whether it was one of the three "Battles of the Bands" that were scheduled during the bowl week, the kickoff luncheon, or the pregame and halftime shows in front of a near-capacity crowd, the students gave some absolutely incredible performances. In fact, Mr. Gary Rectenwald, who has been the band/cheer liaison to the bowl for the last 22 years stated that "the Husky Marching Band is, without doubt, the most entertaining marching band that I have experienced in my role as College Bands Chairman! The Husky Band and Cheer Squad energized and won over the San Diego fans throughout their stay in San Diego."

The Husky Purple and Gold basketball bands were treated to yet another exciting season of Husky Hoops. And although the members and I were disappointed when our postseason travels concluded in the round of 32 in Charlotte, N.C., the band wowed not only the diehard Husky contingent (who traveled the 3,000 miles) but also the fans from Duke, Michigan, North Carolina and Georgia who comprised our bracket in the east region of the NCAA Tournament.

The Husky Marching Band takes a break at Fort Sumter, S.C.

The trip started off rather stressfully for the students as the first week of the tournament always conflicts with winter quarter final exams. Fortunately most professors on campus were fine with me proctoring the exams at our hotel (thankfully the engineering students didn’t need clarification on any of their exam questions!). After winning our first-round game against Georgia, we had a free day to kill so we loaded everyone up and traveled south to Charleston, S.C., to give them some time at the beach and view some Civil War historical sites as well. It was a real thrill to be able to conclude the day by loading the students onto a ferry and taking them out into Charleston Harbor for a wonderful tour of Fort Sumter, where the Civil War officially began.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier, we are only a few days away from the spring football game. If you attend the game, you’ll likely notice a lot larger band than usual at this year’s game. That’s because this year we are hosting our first ever Husky Band Junior/Senior Day! The intent is to give high school students who are considering attending the UW a chance to experience a little slice of what membership is like in the HMB as well as Husky gameday excitement. Plus, with it becoming more and more difficult into get into the University, we’ll also give the attendees and their parents the chance to meet with a representative of the admissions office and, hopefully, help more high school band members attain their dream of becoming a Husky!

If we don’t see you at the Spring Game or the Windermere Cup this spring, then I certainly hope you’ll plan to attend the band’s annual Sneak Preview or the alumni band golf outing this August. (For up-to-date information check the band’s website at huskymarchingband.com or the alumni band site at HMBAA.org.)

As always, thanks for your support and…GO HUSKIES!

Brad McDavid
Director