Media advisory/Marching band practices, appearances

12/27/10

To: Media representatives

From: Dennis Chaptman, University Communications, 608-262-9406 or 608-712-6164, beginning Dec. 29

Re: MEDIA ADVISORY/MARCHING BAND PRACTICES, APPEARANCES

To help journalists planning coverage of the Badgers at the 97th Rose Bowl game, this advisory provides a summary of some of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band events that may be of interest in the days before the game. All times listed are Pacific Standard Time, unless otherwise noted.

In early December, the band was already out on its artificial turf practice field at Walnut Street and Marsh Drive preparing for its performances in the Rose Parade, the Rose Bowl game and other potential venues.

The band members were warming up and performing on the field in late afternoon and, despite the cold weather, snow and ice, some of them were still wearing shorts and tee shirts. Then they got a break, says band director Mike Leckrone.

“Because the temperatures were so frigid, the Athletic Department gave us time to practice in the McClain Center in the evenings and we worked in our practices opposite the football players’ practice sessions,” he says.

The band’s final practice on campus will be today, Monday, Dec. 27, at 4:30 p.m. CST at the McClain Center. It is tradition that at the end of the final practice session, the band members load all their equipment for transport to Los Angeles. The load-in will take place at approximately 6 p.m. CST.

More than 300 band members and members of the university’s Spirit Squad (20 cheerleaders who perform at football and basketball games, 16 dancers, and Bucky Badger) will fly out of Madison on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 28.

After the band arrives in Los Angeles, it will practice at Glendale Community College, 1300 N. Verdugo Rd., Glendale, Calif. and the practices will be open to the public. Here is the schedule:

• Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 29, 9:15 a.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 30, 8:45 a.m.
• Friday, Dec. 31, 1:15 p.m.

The band will make the following appearances:

• Disneyland, Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 3:15 p.m., inside the park near the train station;
• Santa Monica Pier pep rally, “Party at the Pier,” Thursday, Dec. 30, 3 p.m.;
• Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd. near the Staples Center, Friday, Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m. This will be a Fifth Quarter performance;
• Players Parents’ Breakfast and Rose Bowl Luncheon, Friday, Dec. 31 (not open to the public);
• Rose Parade, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, 8 a.m. PST
• Badger BLAST/HUDDLE, 12:30 p.m. PST, Brookside Golf Course, 1133 N. Rosemont Ave.
• The band, of course, will also appear at the 97th Rose Bowl game.