Out with the old, in with the new
The UNLV Star of Nevada Marching Band shares excitement with the football team playing at the Allegiant Stadium next year.
UNLV fans are saying farewell to Sam Boyd Stadium which has been the site of Rebels football since 1971. The Allegiant Stadium is projected to open summer 2020 and will be home not only to the Oakland Raiders but the UNLV football team. Providing entertainment for the crowd and support for the team at football games is the UNLV Star of Nevada Marching Band.
“We’re ready for a change,” said Tony LaBounty, UNLV Star of Nevada Marching Band director. “I’m not losing sleep on nostalgia thinking of a loss.”
The marching band consists of over 100 members. To help prepare for game days, rehearsals are held three times a week, every week, leading up to game days. Rehearsals start off with the “block.” The block helps the musicians get focused and polished by addressing marching technique and tone quality. Then, it’s warm-up time. The marching band, drumline, twirlers and the Scarlet Dance Line go to their separate groups to get performance-ready. The block and music warm-ups allows the group to move on the field to review pregame and halftime performances with drill forms written by the staff.
LaBounty holds the band to a higher expectation when it comes to performance ability and how to effect the crowd when the ball is in play as they transition into playing for a bigger crowd. He emphasizes to the group to “practice how you want to perform,” by focusing more on the importance and value of practice in rehearsal and executing good marching skills.
LaBounty observes a noticeable talent group from last year to this year. Within the group, there are well trained musicians that came from good high school bands that have developed good marching technique. The new members of the group have been a good asset and determine the direction of the program of the year.
The number of members in the group is expected to go up with the added element of the new stadium. Word of mouth goes around about joining the group through UNLV and high school students promoting themselves as a fun, spirited group that also go on road trips to away games every other year. LaBounty visits high schools in the Las Vegas area to conduct music clinics. Potential members are able to learn his teaching style, level of expertise and how the band run things.
“Regardless of stadium, we want to encourage the football team how they play with how the band plays in the stands,” said Marlee Witt, drum major with the UNLV Star of Nevada Marching Band. “The crowd will enjoy the game if the band’s energy feeds off of them, no matter the score.”
“The design of the pregame and halftime shows has improved from last year,” Witt said. “I feel like the show design is more tailored to the groups’ capabilities. It was all over the place last year.”
Every pregame, the audience can spot out the UNLV spell out and rebel mustache that has been part of tradition for the past 40-60 years. Although no new types of visuals will be added in pregame at the moment, LaBounty wants to keep the old, but build on it. The tunes part of the pregame performance include a fanfare, the UNLV fight song, “Viva Las Vegas” and “7 Nation Army.”
He also wants to take a tune section in the pregame performance entitled “Rebellion” to a new level. This concept is about going against things that restrict new ideas and avenues to success. He wants to relate this concept back to UNLV students encouraging them to accomplish their goals no matter where they are.
The theme of this year’s halftime performance is bands based in Las Vegas using music from Panic! At The Disco, Imagine Dragons, and The Killers. Past halftime themes have ranged from movies, disco, Broadway to rock ‘n’ roll and the staff is open to new ideas for the future. Students are encouraged to attend the annual spring meeting led by the band staff to hear about new suggestions for halftime themes and songs to play for the upcoming year.
Aside from being able to play in a new stadium next year, the group has been fortunate enough to be granted new uniforms and instruments. This was long overdue, said LaBounty, as they needed so many more things than what was granted. The band is continuing to work with stakeholders on this. The band staff is still rendering designs that is more edgy and showy with a collegiate design that will be ready for the new stadium.
No matter where they play, the UNLV Star of Nevada Marching Band hopes to continue elevating their program.
“It’s a physical building, but it is still symbolic. Everyone will be able to relate this stadium to UNLV and it brings value,” LaBounty. “We are at a unique place geographically. It’s a great time to be a Rebel with all of the good opportunities that come with it.”
This story has been published on the UNLV Scarlet & Gray Free Press.
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