The 107th season for the Golden Buffalo Marching Band steps off September 12 at the first Buffs home football game of the year.
This time of year, Farrand Field is the scene of 8-to-5s, pinwheels and the high step. The Golden Buffalo Marching Band is back for its 107th season.
It鈥檚 a hectic few weeks鈥攁long with 113 veterans, 97 new members are taking their first steps onto the field September 12鈥攂ut Director Matthew Roeder says he wouldn鈥檛 trade it for the world.
鈥淭he opening of the semester and football season is a very exciting time of year,鈥� he says. 鈥淓veryone is showing their school spirit and sharing in our traditions.鈥�
With fresh faces in almost every squad, band camp and the early days of the semester are filled with fundamentals鈥攍earning pre-game, mastering the fight song, memorizing stand music鈥攂ut Roeder says once the band gets into the heart of the season, things really start cooking on the field.
鈥淲e鈥檙e doing three different halftime shows this season. The 鈥楨volution of Funk鈥� will feature music by Blood, Sweat and Tears and Bruno Mars.
鈥淭hen, during Homecoming and Family Weekend, we鈥檒l bring everyone 鈥榖ack to Boulder鈥� in a sense. The 鈥楥olorado Throwback鈥� show will include John Denver鈥檚 鈥楻ocky Mountain High鈥� and a song by Colorado鈥檚 own One Republic.
鈥淔inally we鈥檒l perform a few of Earth, Wind and Fire鈥檚 most popular songs. A member of the group, Phil Bailey, is a CU graduate.鈥�
Leading the band this year are three veteran drum majors, Floyd Pierce, Eric Badovinatz and Evan Fern谩ndez. In his third year in the field director鈥檚 uniform, Fern谩ndez says even now, the idea of putting on a show in front of thousands can be intimidating. 鈥淵ou walk into the stadium and there鈥檚 all these people and you鈥檙e thinking, 鈥楬oly cow!鈥� But then the nerves settle down and you just remember that we鈥檙e there to support the Buffs, no matter what.鈥�
Like most band members (85 percent this season), Fern谩ndez is a non-music major. But he says his time spent with his band mates has enriched his history and Spanish studies. 鈥淎s a history major, it鈥檚 neat for me to know that our band has been playing for more than 100 years. So we have just as storied of a history as any other band in the country,鈥� he says.
Also a non-major and veteran band member, clarinet section leader Natalie Robertson says band practice is her release鈥攁 time to replenish among others like her to whom music is important. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a time when I take a break from chemistry class and biology class, and I come here and do what I love.鈥�
Indeed, Fern谩ndez says a deep love of music is what unites the diverse members of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band. 鈥淲e have so many people from all around the world, all around the country, different majors, different backgrounds鈥攃oming together, united by music,鈥� he says.
鈥淭he marching band is truly representative of the entire CU-Boulder student body,鈥� says Roeder. 鈥淣on-music majors help make the group well-rounded. But our music majors are also crucial to our success. Their expertise on their instruments and their love for music bring the performance and spirit of the band to a high level.鈥�
This year, as every year, the band will keep its four-word mantra close at hand. Tradition, heartbeat, spirit and pride. For biochemistry major Robertson, the spirit and pride are palpable. 鈥淭he best part of the Golden Buffalo Marching Band is the school spirit. Anytime, anywhere, if someone starts clapping we sing the fight song.
鈥淚n high school, band鈥檚 really more about pride in the band. Here, it鈥檚 about pride in CU,鈥� she says.
Fern谩ndez, meanwhile, has one big goal for his final year at the helm. 鈥淲in or lose, rain or shine, we鈥檙e there 鈥� we鈥檙e the heartbeat of the stadium.鈥�
Don鈥檛 miss the Golden Buffalo Marching Band鈥檚 first performance at the Pearl Street Stampede, Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., and every at Folsom Field.
