Imagine
the following scenario: You are standing in front of a group of 50
students. They stand ready to march forward onto an open football
field.
They look onwards, fully-polished in their brand new shakos, gauntlets,
bibbers and jackets. You give them a brief speech to inspire them. You
tell
them that all of their hard work in training, practice and rehearsing
is
about to pay off. You give the command, and the band marches onto the
field to perform for a cheering crowd.
The McMaster Marching Band is a
student-led organization that was founded in 2009. I played tenor
saxophone and performed regularly with the band for three years. In
March 2010, I was elected to serve as vice president communications. I
served in that role from May
2010 to April 2011.
In May 2011, I was elected president of the McMaster Marching Band.
I served in that role until April 2012. I set the strategic direction
for the band with the target of developing the band to a level of
excellence comparable to that exhibited by university marching bands in
the USA. My hope was that one day the band would be invited to
participate in the prestigious
Drum Corps International Championships. To facilitate my vision for the
future, I restructured the organization and undertook a variety of
initiatives to improve the band's performance capabilities, community
standing and financial well-being.
My final contribution to the band was a speech at the Annual
General Meeting of
the McMaster Students Union where I asked the student body to approve
an
annual levy payable by all students to support the operations of the
band. After my departure, the McMaster Marching
Band eventually obtained permanent yearly funding by charging a fee to
all full-time undergraduate students of McMaster University.
The following video exemplifies the effect that my initatives had on the development of the band's performance abilities. It shows a comparison of the band's performance in the Hamilton Santa Claus parade in November 2010, and the band's performance in the Toronto Santa Claus parade in November 2011.
Below, I have included some photos from our various performances to
provide visual examples of what it was like to perform with this group.
Photos
From
the Canadian University Marching Band Conference in February 2012,
where the McMaster Marching Band (MMB) met with the Western Mustang
Band in London for an evening of collaboration and friendly
competition.
Our very first live TV performance on Much Music for the Annual Christmas Tree Toss in January 2012.
Another shot of the band in our TV performance.
The saxophone section playing for the Montreal Portuguese Band at a dinner they held for us when we visited Montreal for the St. Patrick's Day Parade 2012.
The entire band right before our performance in the Montreal St. Patrick's
Day Parade that took place on Sunday March 18 2012.
Josh and I posing with the executive officers of the Western Mustang Band.
The band in parade march in Montreal.
Our colour guard section in the middle of a dance
choreography.
A history of success; the band consistently won awards since its founding in 2009: New Club of the Year in 2010, Club of the Year in 2011, and Divisional Club of the Year in 2012. Additionally, the band received the MSU Spirit Award in 2011.
A
beautiful shot of the band in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade in 2011; I
spearheaded this performance opportunity and was granted permission to
perform in the same year that I applied; it usually takes bands
multiple years of waiting on a shortlist before a band is granted a
spot in this prestigious parade.
Another great shot of the band in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade 2011.
A
comparison photo demonstrating the changes in the band's appearance. The additions of a full colour guard section, and
the new uniforms are examples of the growth of the band.
Some of my initiatives that contributed to the band:
- Hired and managed additional
professional instructors to improve the performance quality of the band
- Designed and acquired the band’s first set of full marching band uniforms using $10,000.00 we had secured from donations.
- Obtained funding from McMaster University for the creation of a paid part-time employee to support the administration of the McMaster Marching Band.
- Restructured the governance of the organization by rewriting its constitution and bylaws to create an operational structure that would enable the band continue to grow sustainably into the future.
- Realized a 200% increase in revenue for the band by streamlining
the performance schedule, seeking out new performance opportunities and
negotiating higher honorariums.
- Procured unique high-profile performance opportunities for the
band including the Toronto Santa Claus Parade and a TV appearance on
MuchMusic.
My duties as president of the band:
- Managed the day-to-day operations of a band consisting of 50 members.
- Acted as the band’s liaison with university officials and as the band’s official spokesperson to the public.
- Reviewed all performance requests and scheduled bookings for performances, workshops and rehearsals.
- Served as chair of all executive and coordination committee meetings, as well as the annual general meeting of the membership.
- Organized and coordinated the band at all major performances.
- Provided motivation and inspiration to the executive team and membership.