It’s hard to imagine a Marquette athletic event without the entertainment and energy of the pep band. Fans seldom get to see the band’s hours of behind-the-scenes preparation prior to game time. From getting to the arenas early, to staying late to play the team off the court, the pep band is a dedicated group of students always ready to “Ring Out Ahoya.”
Pre-game
Energy fills the air as eager band members arrive at the Varsity Theatre two hours before game time, water bottles are filled. Music is numbered and sorted in a small folder so the musicians can find each song quickly. The students go over the night’s playlist as they chat and prep their instruments.
Senior sousaphone player Will Steininger is the treasurer of Marquette Bands. He says despite the obvious enjoyment of playing, his favorite part of the pregame routine is the camaraderie among his bandmates.
“Band is a great community of people,” says Steininger, a double major in accounting and finance. “Starting at Marquette can be scary, but joining band is a great way to ease yourself into making tons of new friends who all share the same passion for creating music and having fun while doing it.”
At call time, the band gathers in the lobby while listening to instructions from the student director. When they arrive at the arena, there’s soon the familiar chaotic buzz of a band tuning its various instruments. Soon, they will come together in harmony.
Game time!
Marquette Pep Band uses pregame playlists to know what songs to play and when. Some of the songs have been a part of the band’s repertoire for generations.
Junior English major Jakita Fleck has played saxophone in the band for the past three years. She serves as the band librarian, doling out the right sheet music to the student musicians. Despite the countless times the band plays the song “The Impression That I Get,” she still gets excited.
“I love it because of its high energy, and my dad played it when he was here, so it feels timeless,” Fleck says.
The band trades sets with the D.J., playing music as the crowd arrives. When the team runs out, “Ring Out Ahoya” echoes through the arena.
Much of the band’s gameday duties happen during timeouts. Dr. Erik Janners, director of music and professor of practice in the Diederich College of Communication, explains the importance of paying attention during the timeouts.
“If the referees feel that the band’s playing is egregious, they can call a technical foul on the band for unsportsmanlike conduct,” Janners says. “That’s why it’s important to cut off the band the instant the ball is inbounded. No pressure though.”
At men’s basketball games at the Fiserv Forum, sousaphone players get to walk on the court during timeouts.
“I was definitely scared the first time I did it, but I’ve gotten over it,” explains junior sousaphone player and band vice president Kian Howe. “Now it’s just a fun thing you get to do if you don’t think about the thousands of people watching.”
After a win, as the crowd cheers and starts to pack up, the Marquette Band plays “Ring Out Ahoya” one last time before playing the championship song.
Post-game
With the arena nearly empty, the band packs up and heads back to the Varsity Theatre to discuss the game while sorting music and stowing their instruments.
“I hope everyone who sees us at games can tell how much fun we’re having,” Howe says. “In turn, I hope everyone else has more fun at the game because of us.”
