Cal Poly Mustang Band
The Cal Poly Marching BandSchoolCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityLocationSan Luis Obispo, CAConferenceGreat West / Big WestFounded1916DirectorWilliam Johnson, Christopher J. WoodruffMembers130+UniformDark green wool trousers and coat with green, gold, and white trim, green & gold capes on the left shoulder, white shoes, white gloves, white Shako hats with gold 12″ feather plumesThe Mustang Band, also known as The Pride of the Pacific, is the official marching band of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Although the band is not a competitive marching band they serve as a school spirit organization. The band functions in two different forms throughout the year. In the fall the band marches as The Mustang Marching Band and during Cal Poly’s winter quarter they function as a pep band. The band attends many athletic events during the year to encourage the school’s athletic teams and audience support/involvement. As of 2006, the marching band is conducted by three directors: William Johnson (the band director), Christopher Woodruff (the associate director), and Len Kawamoto (the assistant director).Many members of the Mustang Band participate in Iota Pi, Cal Poly’s chapter of the national honorary band fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi. Iota Pi continually finds ways to serve the Mustang Band as well as many of the other Cal Poly music ensembles by creating many social events for band members to participate in.

History
[edit] Timeline1916: Marching band established.1916: First band director was D.W. Scholosser.1921: First women join the band.1936: Harold P. “Davy” Davidson used white ducks and FFA jackets as uniforms1936: Broke tradition of Sousa marches for football; half time shows began to emphasize popular music1958: Began concert Band tours1960: First women join band since 1921 and first women’s band uniforms purchased1961: First Dixieland Band, First Band Day, Lettergirls formed1966: First indoor concert of the Marching Band (Band-O-Rama)1978: Brass Band formed. Marching Band played their first professional basketball game for the LA Lakers at the The Forum.1992: Band suspended.1995: “Stadium” band reinstated; plays in the stands only1996: Full Marching Band reinstated, now known as the Mustang Band[edit] DirectorsD.W. Schlosser (1916-1919)H.M. Whitlock (1919-1925)Merritt “Pop” Smith (1926-1936)Harold P. “Davy” Davidson (1936-1956)Clarence Coughran (1956-1959)George Beatie (1959-1963)J. Marty Baum (1963-1966)William V. Johnson (1966-1992)Under Johnson’s direction the band gained prominence performing in the first indoor Marching Band concert, Band-O-Rama. In 1970 the band performed at professional football games, only to later perform for the L.A. Lakers in 1978. This year also represents the addition of the Brass Band, complimenting the already polished more traditional sections. Johnson is currently the coordinator of instrumental music, also conducting the university Wind Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.Between 1993 and 1995, Johnson served as the President of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE). Preceding his presidency, he was the secretary from 1987 to 1991. Johnson was instrumental in the formation WASBE as the Executive Director for the International Conference for Conductors, Composers and Publishers held in Manchester, an event resulting in the formation of WASBE. Unsurprisingly, Johnson served as the Conference Chairman for the 9th WASBE Conference held in San Luis Obispo, California, July 5-11, 1999. Currently he is the Chairperson of the WASBE Foundation. Johnson received his Bachelor’s Degree in music from Indiana University School of Music studying the euphonium with the late William Bell, a former tuba virtuoso of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a life member of Kappa Kappa Psi national band fraternity and is the Sponsor of Cal Poly’s Iota Pi Chapter.Alyson McLamore (1992-1995)David Rackley (1995-2005)A native of Modesto, California, Rackley received his bachelor of music and master of arts degrees in theory and composition from San Francisco State University studying conducting with Lazlo Varga, and composition with Luigi Zaninnelli, Roger Nixon, Peter Sacco, Carl Sitton, and Pulitzer Prize winning composer Wayne Peterson. Upon completion of his studies, Rackley entered the United States Air Force Bands and Music Program rising to commander and conductor of Air Force Bands. A published and award winning composer, Rackley has scored video and film productions for the Library of Congress, the A&E Channel, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC, and the Discovery Channel. His production music credits include Days of Our Lives, America’s Most Wanted, Cheers, Nurses, Picket Fences, L.A. Law, All My Children, General Hospital, Home Improvement, Quantum Leap, and Seinfeld. He has received six Telly Awards, two Onmi Awards, a CINE Golden Eagle Award, the Gold Apple Award from the National Education Media Network, a Gold CINDY from the International Association of Audio-Visual Communicators, and a Bronze Award from the WorldFest-Charleston International Film and Video Competition.William V. Johnson (2005-present)Christopher J. Woodruff (August 2006-present)[edit] Marching band seasonDuring football season, the Mustang Band typically fields between 120 and 140 members. The 2007 Marching Band has around 137 marching members. The marching season starts off each year with an annual band camp where each member learns the techniques of marching such as the traditional High Step for the Pre-Game run-on and the glide step used during regular marching. The rest of the band’s marching season relies on Tuesday and Thursday rehearsals from 3:10-5:30 pm and some extra weekend rehearsals to perfect their shows.[edit] Pre-game performanceThe Mustang Band plays at every home football game and attends at least one away game per year. Popular travel places are Davis, Sacramento, and San Diego. Before each football game, the march down to Alex G. Spanos Stadium becomes a show in itself. The band marches to Cal Poly’s own traditional drum cadences, such as: Red Dog, Tick Tock, and George, which is by far the most popular. Each section also has their own moves as they progress down to the field. Once the band leaves the music building, they make a stop at the president’s house where they perform a few numbers for the president and his guests. The band then proceeds to the BBQ/Tailgate party, where they perform a few more songs before they make their way down to the field for the pre-game performance. The Pre-Game Show begins with a high-step run-on and at the end of each performance the band plays the Star-Spangled Banner while the ROTC brings the flags to the field. At the conclusion of the national anthem the band marches to the front of the Cal Poly crowd and plays the fight song while the team runs on to the field. This performance is usually the same for each game the marching band attends.

Pep band season
From the end of Cal Poly’s fall quarter and throughout winter quarter the marching band transforms into a pep band. During this time of the year, the band is strictly a stadium band and plays during both the women’s and men’s home basketball games and the women’s home volleyball games. The band plays popular tunes, the fight song, alma mater, and the national anthem. The band also changes from traditional marching band uniforms to yellow and green pep band shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes.On a volunteer basis the pep band also performs at certain events throughout the year such as Cal Poly’s Open House and Cal Poly’s Week of Welcome (WOW). By playing at the Open House and WOW events the band is able to show themselves to all prospective students, which also makes these events an excellent time for recruitment.The pep band also attends the volleyball and basketball tournaments. Every March they travel with the basketball teams to Anaheim to perform as a thirty-member ensemble at the Big West Tournament.