Updated 07/22/2002

    Introduction - Welcome to my University at Buffalo Band History web page.  The following page is a piece that I have been working on for the past few years.  UB Band history is of great interest to me - just ask my future wife Liz.  I also believe that knowing UB's band history is a great service to the university and its present day bands.  If we know where we started and know how it relates to today, we then will always have a future.
    This page continues to change and grow.  This is due to the discovery of new information and the passage of time.  I am most concerned with and above all else interested in the truth and if something on this page is wrong please let me know and I will fix it.  I am always in search of more information to add.  If you know of certain facts about a band or bands that are not listed bellow please let me know so that it can be added!
    Thanks so much for taking the time to look things over.  Enjoy!

John Zaepfel, BA Computer Science, December 2000
Tuba - Formerly, UB Marching Band, Pep Band, Concert/Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony

MS Word Essay - A Brief History of the University at Buffalo's Marching Bands

Table of Contents

1. First UB Bands - 1919 - 1927
2. Pre-Cipolla - 1946 - 1961
3. Frank Cipolla: UB Marching Band "Pride of the East"  - 1961 - 1972
4. Frank Cipolla: Concert Band, University Band - 1961 - 1991
5. UB Pep Band - 1981 - present
6. Post-Cipolla: Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band / Concert Band  - 1991 - present
7. Kappa Kappa Psi - 1996 - present
8. UB Marching Band "Thunder of the East" - 1999 - present
9. Contributions to Band History

• 1919-20 - first appearance of band at the University (possibly before unable to locate yearbooks from 1913-1919)
• Performed at football and basketball games, and at social gatherings
• Commended for its "natty uniforms"
• Mainly dental and some medical students
• Ranged in size from 14 to 30 members
• Black ophthalmologist W. Yerby Jones played the cornet in the UB Bands of 1920 and 1921
• 1926-7 - last mention in yearbooks
• Faculty Manager/Music Director - A. B. Leman
• Student Directors
• A. H. Cummings, Medicine, Cornet, 1919-1922
• L. R. Stewart, 1922-1923
• Joseph Meekins, 1923-1926
• Kenneth Ross, 1926-1927

II. Pre-Cipolla - 1946 - 1961

• W.W.II Ends - G. I. Bill enables many young people to attend college
• Fall 1946 - history and government student Gerald Marx '48, a saxophone player, organizes the new  "UB Band"
• Approximately 50 members
• Performed at football - in the stands and marching - and basketball games
• Performed concerts at UB and also in Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo - Home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
• Other student musicians lead the band until 1950
• Fall 1949 - Amherst High School band director John "Spike" Krestic began conducting the UB Band (First mention of him and the band in the yearbook)
• Held combined concerts with Amherst High School Band
• Summer 1952 - Air Force ROTC unit activated
• John Krestic assisted in organizing the AFROTC band out of the membership of the UB Band
• Fall 1953 - Department of Music is established buy three men:
• Cameron Baird - department chair
• Dr. Robert Mols - instrumental music and music theory
• Herbert Beattie - vocal music
• Fall 1953 - UB Band performed only formal concerts and basketball games, Air Force ROTC Marching Band marched at football games and parades
• Fall 1956 - UB band reassigned football games
• After the first UB Bulls football game of the season, the new University Chancellor Clifford Furnas charged Department Chair Baird and Dr. Mols to "cleanup" the marching band after a terrible performance on the field
• Chancellor Furnas stated to Dr. Mols, "I never want to see that band on the field again!"
• After the meeting with the Chancellor:
• John Krestic was dismissed, Dr. Mols was assigned to direct the new UB Concert and Marching Band - depending on the season.
• Dr. Mols composed "Victory March" for the marching band to play only after scoring and at the end of the game
• New Uniforms for the Band where purchased: An ivy league look was desired: blue jackets, checkered slacks, white shoes and flat white hats
• A sousaphone was borrowed from Canisius College
• After several weeks the "new" Marching Band made its premiere at a Bulls football game
• Fall 1959 - Philharmonic member, Lowell Shaw, directed marching band activities, Dr. Mols continued to direct the concert component
• Size of the bands numbered 50-60 members

III. Frank Cipolla: UB Marching Band "Pride of the East" - 1961 - 1972

• Fall 1961 - University President Clifford Furnas brought Frank J. Cipolla to UB as Director of Bands
• Band Camp was held for the first time
• New Uniforms and (possibly) Instruments where bought for the band
• Livingston Gearhart arranged the UB Alma Mater for band
• Fall 1962 - UB became part of the State University of New York
• Fall 1964 - Delta Chi Omega was established as the Band's service fraternity
• Sigma Beta Chi was established as the Band's service sorority some time after.
• Fall 1968 - The "headquarters" for the band was move from Baird Hall to the "band building" which is now Bissell Hall on the North Campus of UB
• Prior to its renovation and use by the university in 1966, the band building was a church or chapel
• The band was the first group to move to the North Campus
• 1969-1970 - Assistant Director Michael Sangarden assumed the role of Director of Bands for Director Frank Cipolla away for the year on sabbatical, including the Richard Nixon Presidential Inaugural Trip
• 1962-1967 - Band Day was held from
• Involved High School Bands from the area.
• These bands joined the UB Marching Band to perform a unified show and the alma mater
• Numbered about 1000 players on the field.
• Band Trips where taken every year until 1971 when funding for "nonessential" activities was removed
• Sept. 22-24, 1961 - Boston
• Oct. 19-21, 1962 - Philadelphia
• Nov. 9-10, 1963 - Boston
• Sept. 25-26, 1964 - Cornell
• Oct. 29-31, 1965 - Holy Cross
• Oct. 21-23, 1966 - Boston
• Nov. 10-12, 1967 - Philadelphia
• Nov. 1-3, 1968 - Philadelphia
• January 1969 - Washington D.C., Richard Nixon Presidential Inaugural Trip
• Nov. 7-9, 1969 - Boston
• Nov. 6-8, 1970 - Boston
• Size of the band peaked at 250
• Fall 1969 - Band Camp was canceled due to a cut in funding.
• Fall 1970 - Last Division IA football season
• Fall 1971 - Last Marching Band season
• was cut from the Music Department
• funding for the band was completely cut due to the absence of football
• End of Delta Chi Omega and Beta Sigma Chi
• Drum Majors
• To be added when known
• Student Presidents
• To be added when known
• Recording
• University Band, Marching Band, Concert Band/ Frank J. Cipolla, director - 1964
• Call Number: Record 8600, Music Library
• Performing:
• Victory March (Mols, Robert W.),
• Go for a Touchdown (Cheyette, Irving),
• Alma Mater (Goodale, Walter S.)

IV. Frank Cipolla: Concert Band, University Band, Symphony Band, and small ensembles - 1961 - 1991

• At the conclusion of marching season auditions where held and the Concert Band and University Bands where formed
• The Concert Band required an audition and usually contained music majors, consisted of 40-70 musicians
• Only the highest level of band literature was performed by the Concert Band
• The University Band was open to all students, consisted of 50-90 musicians
• Music was of a lighter nature and was specifically chosen to match the character of the group
• The two bands combined to form the Symphony Band
• usually performed one large concert at Christmas
• The Concert Band made several tours, 1966-68
• A week as the resident ensemble at the Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
• Concerts in Town Hall and the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church, New York City
• On the steps of the Capitol and at the Kennedy center in Washington, DC
• Performed at the 1966-1968 Commencements
• 1963 - Concert Band participated at 50th Anniversary of the College of Arts and Science ceremonies
• 1970's, 1980's prestigious composers, conductors, and soloists where inviting to appear with what had evolved into the UB Wind Ensemble.
• Internationally recognized composers conducted their major compositions for winds with the Wind Ensemble
• Virgil Thomson
• Ernst Krenek
• Vincent Persichetti
• Karel Husa
• diverse composers
• Donald Erb
• Betsy Jolas
• Warren Benson
• Sidney Hodkinson
• Robert Moran
• Robert Mols
• appeared with the Wind Ensemble
• Frederick Fennell, founding conductor of the Eastman Wind Ensemble
• Colonel Arnald Gabriel, Commander/Conductor of the United States Air Force Band
• artist soloists
• Knud Hovaldt, principal trumpeter of the Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra
• saxophonist Eugene Rousseau
• tubaist Harvey Phillips
• music department's faculty that appeared with the Wind Ensemble
• Sylvia Dimiziani and Gary Burgess from the voice faculty
• pianists Frina Arschanska Boldt and Ivar Mikhashoff
• oboists Ronald Richards and Nora Post
• organist Squire Haskin
• bassoonist Darlene Reynard
• clarinetist Allen Sigel
• trumpeter David Kuehn
• percussionist Jan Williams
• jazz saxophone player Sam Falzone
• Recordings:
• College of Arts and Sciences 50th Anniversary JUBILEE CONCERT - 1963
• Call Number: Record 7747A, Music Library
• University Band, Marching Band, Concert Band/ Frank J. Cipolla, director - 1964
• Call Number: Record 8600, Music Library
• Concert Band, University Band - 1969
• Concert Band, University Band - 1972

V. UB Pep Band - 1981 - present

• Fall 1977 - UB football returned to UB at Division III
• Fall 1981 - Spirited students organized the first pep band; members where encouraged by Frank Cipolla after hearing about the "Pride of the East" days and its successes
  • approximately five to twelve students to play at home football games from all disciplines of the university
• Fall 1982 - Athletics Faculty member Steve Wallace was asked to act as a faculty advisor to the pep band
  • Steve Wallace assisted the members of the band in acquirering funds for their first uniforms
• SA (Student Association) status gained on October 12, 1982 with the ratification of the band's constitution
• band responsibilities began to include performances at home basketball games as well as at Homecoming events such as the bon fire
• band size increased nearly every year until the early 1990's where it peaked at 120.
• Traveled several times a year to play at away games (depending on team success)
• the administration was composed of a part-time director, a graduate student assistant, and student officers and staff
• all functioned under the supervision of the Director of Bands
• March 21, 1986 - Pep Band has its first annual Banquet in the Tiffin Room of Norton Hall
• Fall 1987 - Norm Alexander, Band Director at North Tonawanda High School, NT, NY, began directing the band.
• 1989 - N.A.S.A. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) contacted the Pep Band to record "Victory March" to be played to wake-up UB alumnus astronaut on a spaceshuttle in earth orbit
• Fall 1996 - Mark Flynn, Band Director at Akron Central School, Akron, NY, began directing the band.
• Fall 1999 - football game duties where handed off to the newly created marching band; performing at basketball games became the band's primary responsibility
• 1999-2000 season - Pep Band rehearsals where held in Hariman Hall on the South Campus following Marching Band season
  • moved back to Baird Hall the next year
• Fall 2000 - the administration of the band began to act more independently of music department do to the departure of Director of Bands Sarah McKoin and the Director of Bands position; All decision making was done by the student officers and the Pep Band Director
• Fall 2002 - New Director Athletic Band James Mauck is brought to UB.
• Recordings:
• 1987-88 UB Pep Band
  • Recording made to coordinate cheers with the cheerleaders
• 1989-90 UB Pep Band
• <not sure>
• 1998-99 UB Pep Band
• All the major pieces regularly performed that year
• 1999-2000 UB Marching Band and Pep Band
• Marching Band piece performed on the field as well as new Pep Band Music
• 2000-2001
• Many regularly, as well as newly, performed music that year
• Directors
• "Moose": ~1983 - 1987 (please e-mail me if you know more about this guy!)
• Norm Alexander: 1987 - 1996
• Mark Flynn: 1996 - 2002
• James Mauck: 2002 - present
• Student Presidents
• 1981 - 1983: No president
• 1983 - 1985: Ralph Rugen (2)
• 1985 - 1987: Tim Maccallini (2)
• 1987 - 1988: Tim Maccallini / Joe Slater
• 1988 - 1989: Joe Slater
• 1989 - 1990: Geoff Cashman
• 1990 - 1991: Lori Hosmer
• 1991 - 1992: Diana Albert
• 1992 - 1993: Mike Simpson
• 1993 - 1994: Chris Randall
• 1994 - 1995: Michelle Ignaszak
• 1995 - 1997: Mark Krasynski (2)
• 1997 - 1998: Kyra Linse
• 1998 - 1999: Deborah Shriver / Kate Hughes
• 1999 - 2000: Elizabeth Steele
• 2000 - 2001: Valerie Bergeman
• 2001 - 2002: Frankie Nicole LaVarnway
• 2002 - 2003: Kristyn Rogers
• Currently
• Pep Band begins at the beginning of basketball season, overlapping briefly with marching band season in November, and runs until the end of basketball season in March
• can be taken for 2 credit hours
• rehearsals take place TBD in B1-Baird
• band size is approximately 50 members
• Director: James Mauck
• President: Kristyn Rogers

VI. Post-Cipolla: Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band / Concert Band - 1991 - present

• Spring 1991(1990) - Professor Cipolla retired
• 1991-1994 - A period of interim directors
• Fall 1994 - Sarah McKoin joined the faculty as a full-time member of the Department of Music and Director of Bands.
• Two concert groups existed: UB Wind Ensemble and UB Symphonic Band
• Fall 1996 - UB Wind Ensemble performed at the University's 150th anniversary celebration
• Premiered a new composition by Lucas Foss specially written for the occasion
• Fall 1998 - Trumpetist and Assistant Professor Jon Nelson joined the music department
• Fall 2000 - Wind Ensemble discontinued and Symphonic Band renamed Concert Band
• occurred due to departure of Director of Bands Sarah McKoin and dismantling of the music education program three years prior
• Wind Ensemble:
• approximately 45 musicians of any major, audition required
• Two credit hour course.
• One to three concerts per semester in Slee Hall
• Occasional assistant conductors (graduate students)
• Past Conductors:
• Charles Peltz: not sure - 1994
• Dr. Sarah McKoin: 1994 - 2000
• Symphonic Band / Concert Band:
• membership peaked at 100, no audition was required
• Concerts where held once a semester in Slee Concert Hall
• Two credit hour class
• Occasional assistant conductors (graduate students)
• Past conductors:
• Dr. Sarah McKoin: 1994 - 1998
• Jon Nelson: 1998 - present
• Concert Band Currently:
• size is approximately 50 members
• rehearsals take place on Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:30 - 5:45 in B1-Baird
• can be taken for 2 credit hours
• smaller ensemble such as a brass quintet or woodwind groups are organized through the semester
• UB Concert Band Conductor: Jon Nelson

VII. Kappa Kappa Psi - 1996 - present

• February 24th 1996 - the Kappa Eta colony was installed as the 247 chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
• Four band Members, April Ezzell, Heather Harris, Heather Wheeler, and Mike Bauman are the founders of the chapter
• Dr. Sarah McKoin was sponsor -
• Dr. McKoin was a sister of Tau Beta Sigma the sister sorority of KKPsi while an undergraduate (not sure which university but it was some where in the mid-west)
• Syracuse University's ETA Phi Chapter over see Kappa Eta's development as a colony at its "big brother" chapter
• Kappa ETA served the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Pep Band
• Spring 1996 - First Membership education class (alpha class) began
• Service projects included concert receptions, setup and cleanup, band pizza parties, and others
• Summer 1999 - "renovation" of Clark Hall on the South campus for use buy the new marching band
• Fall 2000 - Departure of Dr. McKoin, Assistant Professor Jon Nelson (Symphonic Band conductor and trumpetist) becomes the new sponsor of the chapter
• Summer 2000 - major project for the marching band, including the building uniform closets and the formation of a small parade band named "Kappa Konvicts" to march in area parades and raise money for the chapter
  • The Konvicts dressed up in striped uniforms, chained them selves together, and play Jail House Rock
  • The Konvicts, "Where caught stealing candy from children and must now march in parades and give it back to them."
• Presidents:
• 1994-1996: April Ezzell (Colony President)
• Spring 1996: April Ezzell
• Summer 1996: Heather Harris
• 1996-1997: Mike Bauman
• 1997-1998: John Zaepfel
• 1998-1999: Shannon Sykes
• 1999-2000: John Zaepfel
• 2000-2001: Daryl Zbrzezny
• 2001-2002: Heather Sowder
• 2002-2003: Mathew LaPoint
• Currently:
• Chapter President: Mathew LaPoint
• Service is to the Concert Band, Pep Band, and Marching Band
• Sponsor: Jon Nelson
• Twenty active/conditional brothers

VIII. UB Marching Band "Thunder of the East" - 1999 - present

• Fall 1998 - "Mission Division IA" preparation for UB football to return to Division IA
• Summer 1999 - Creation of UB Marching Band titled "Thunder of the East"
• Strong support from UB President William Greiner, Student Affairs and Athletics
• $50,000 donation from the John R. Oshei Foundation for Permanent Uniforms for 2000 football season
• Temporary uniform where bought and instruments where borrowed from area high schools
• Marching Band membership evolved out of the of the UB Pep Band
• Fall 1999 - UB Footballs returned to Division IA
  • Marching Band is headquartered on the South Campus in Clark Hall
  • Internal rehearsal space and other areas was renovated by the brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi
  • The band was bussed back and forth to north campus on game days
• August 22-27, 1999 - First band camp in almost 30 years was held
• September 11, 1999 - First football game
• November 9-11, 2001 - band travels to West Point Military Academy to perform at the UB Bulls verses Army Black Nights football game on Nov. 10;
  • the Bulls won 26-19
• 2002 - Departure of Mark Flynn and introduction of James Mauck as Director of Athletic Bands
  • Student Affair decided to move the position of Marching Band Director to a full-time position ; a position that also incorporated the responsibilities of direction of the Pep Band.
  • Mark Flynn declined the new position due to his full-time position at Akron High School
  • A national search was conducted and James Mauck, Graduate Assistant Director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania Marching Band was brought to UB.
• Fall 2002 - A new Thunder of the East appears!
• Director:
• Mark Flynn 1999 - 2002
• James Mauck 2002 - present
• Drum Majors:
• 1999 - 2000: Nathan Kress
• 2000 - 2001: Nathan Kress, Valerie Bergeman
• 2001 - 2002: Valerie Bergeman, Kristen Nagy
• 2002 - 2003: Valerie Bergeman, Kimberly Ahokas
• Currently
• Located at the Center for Tomorrow Parking lot and Baird Hall
• Director: James Mauck
• Drum Majors: Valerie Bergeman, Kimberly Ahokas
• First game of the season: Thursday, August 29, 2002
• Rehearsals: Mondays, Wednesdays, Friday 6:30 - 8:30
• Can be taken for 2 credit hours

IX. Contributions to Band History

• Frank J. Cipolla, Emeritus
  Former Director of Bands

• John Zaepfel B.A. Computer Science '01, Currently

• Sources:
• UB Archive
• Yearbooks, 1920-7, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1957-9, 1961-66
• "Music" box
• Mr. Rodney O'brian - Archivist
• UB Music Library
• Librarians
• Mr. Frank J. Cipolla, Former Director of Bands, Emeritus
• "UB Band History"
• Dr. Robert W. Mols, Former Band Director, Emeritus
• Interview
• Miscellaneous papers and files in the band offices of Baird Hall
• Various band alumni who have contacted me over time
• Recordings:
• College of Arts and Sciences 50th Anniversary JUBILEE CONCERT - 1963
• Call Number: Record 7747A
• University Band, Marching Band, Concert Band/ Frank J. Cipolla, director - 1964
• Call Number: Record 8600
• Concert Band, University Band - 1969
• Concert Band, University Band - 1972