4/6/08 -
Three members of the Sacred Heart University Pioneer Bands program have been selected to participate in the 2008 New England Intercollegiate Band (NEIB) program. The concert, sponsored by the New England College Band Association (NECBA) features select students from colleges and universities from across the New England states. Students were selected from a competitive field, and were chosen on the basis of their musical abilities. The band will meet for the first time on Friday, April 4th for 2 days of intense rehearsals, and present a concert on Saturday, April 5th at 7:00pm on the campus of Gordon College in Wenham, MA.
Sacred Heart students selected to participate in the 2008 New England Intercollegiate Band are:
Jesse Gatten - Clarinet, a freshmen Math major from New Milford, CT.
Zachary Lane - Trombone, a freshmen business major from Hicksville, NY
Marc Wilson - Clarinet, a junior Math major from Meriden, CT
The 2008 NEIB will be lead by renowned conductor Anthony Maiello. In addition to his teaching duties at George Mason University, Professor Maiello travels worldwide presenting clinics, lectures, and workshops, as well as guest conducting and adjudicating numerous music festivals. Professor Maiello was also the conductor of musical activities, Gold Medal Ceremonies, 1980 Winter Olympics, Lake Placid, New York.
11/27/07 - Sacred Heart University's Lambda Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity, is teaming up with the Music and Arts Center for Humanity (MACH) in Bridgeport, CT to help enrich the lives of special needs students through music.
Since its founding 30 years ago MACH has expanded its services to include instruction in a variety of visual and performing arts for children and adults, particularly special needs students, the economically disadvantaged, and the artistically gifted. MACH is an accredited member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts and the winner of a 2005 Coming Up Taller award.
The brothers of Kappa Kappa Psi will be assisting the center’s faculty throughout the year in such areas as Cultural Drumming and Jazz, as well as special performances. On Wednesday, November 14th a small ensemble comprised of KKPsi brothers performed prior to MACH’s 2007 Fashion Show fundraiser at the University of Bridgeport. The event was sponsored on the UB campus by Sigma Gamma Rho, an international sorority that addresses concerns that impact society educationally, civically, and economically.
Kappa Kappa Psi is a student service and leadership organization whose chief aim is to assist the Director of Bands in developing the leadership and enthusiasm that is required of his/her band. Their goals are to provide the band not only with organized and concentrated service activities, but to give the membership valid and wholesome experiences in organization, leadership and social contacts. The honorary nature of membership is based on the premise that “it is an honor to be selected to serve” this band, its department of music, its sponsoring institution, and the cause of band music in the nation's colleges and universities. Kappa Kappa Psi is a National Co-educational Honorary Fraternity. Sacred Heart’s Lambda Nu chapter was founded in 2005.
11/20/07 - The Sacred Heart University Band Council and the Lambda Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi joined forces to donate canned food items and turkey's to this years Food Drive for St. Thomas Church.
The band donated over $400 in food items that will be combined with donations from other SHU clubs and organizations to help feed more than 600 families in the Greater Bridgeport area this holiday season.
There is still a great need this year at area food banks. To donate within CT please contact your local church, or find a local food bank at http://www.ctfoodbank.org/links/member.cfm
9/10/07 - On August 12, Sacred Heart University Director of Percussive Arts Tim Holcomb led the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps drum line in a performance with country music star Keith Urban. The Hurricanes were contacted by Urban’s management just a few weeks before the performance and asked if they would be willing to perform on stage for about 90 seconds. The drum line took stage at about 9:30 in a sold out Mohegan Sun Arena and played an unforgettable rendition of the song “Hot Pepper Cheese” for the overly enthusiastic crowd. During the event the drum line performers and staff were given there own dressing room back stage and were able to meet members of the crew and the band.
2/19/07 - Sacred Heart University Director of Bands Keith Johnston will be the guest conductor for the 2007 Connecticut Independent Schools Music Festival on Friday, April 13th, 2007. This event, held at the Choate Rosemary Hall school, will feature over 90 band members from across the state. Selected students gather for an intensive day of rehearsal, followed by a concert that evening. The concert begins at 7:00pm. Directions to Choate Rosemary can be found at http://www.choate.edu/aboutchoate/mapsdirections.asp.
2/1/07 - The list of Pep Band music for the 2007 season has been uploaded to the Pep Band Page. Check to see if you have all your music!
9/7/06 -
Band pictures from the 2005-2006 season have been put up! Check out the Multimedia section to see the photos.
7/5/06 - The Sacred Heart University Pioneer Bands announces that Mr. Tim Holcomb will be joining the Pioneer Bands as Director of Percussive Arts.
Tim is a native of Trumbull, Connecticut and is currently working as an instructor at the Jim Royle Drum Studio in Bridgeport, CT. He is also serving as caption head for the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps from Derby, CT, and as an arranger and instructor for the percussion section for Norwalk HS Marching Band. In high school Tim performed as a member of the Advanced Ensemble at Jim Royle Studio which performed at BOA for the first time in 1999. He graduated from Morehead State University in 2004 where he studied music and percussion under Frank Oddis and Brian Mason. While at Morehead, Tim marched for five years in the Morehead State University Marching Band, and was section leader for the drum line that won a national title in 2003. He also played in the percussion ensemble, and symphony band, which traveled to China in 2000 and Brazil in 2003.
Tim was a member of the front ensemble for the Phantom Regiment in 2001 and 2002, which took first place in the DCI individual Ensemble competition in 2001. He has performed with various artists such as Zoro, Dave Samuels, Arthur Lipner, and Ruben Alvarez. Tim has also traveled to Japan with the Honor Band of America in 1999.
Tim will be working with the percussion sections of the Marching Band, Pep Band, and University Concert Band.
4/19/06 - On Saturday April, 22nd the Sacred Heart University Pioneer Bands will present the 2006 Spring Concert featuring the Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble and University Concert Band. The concert starts at 6:00 PM and is in the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Sacred Heart University. Joining the University Concert Band will be two guest artists; the SHU University Choir will accompany the band on a celebration of the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Also local High School student, Dana Oertel from Notre Dame in New Haven will be a featured soloist on Music from Schindler's List.
Please come and join the Sacred Heart University community as we present the 2006 Spring Concert. Admission is free and a reception will follow the conclusion of the concert hosted by the SHU chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
3/5/06 - CSTV (College Sports Television Network) ran an article on the SHU vs. Holy Cross hockey game from 2/25. The article talks about the game and also mentions the Sacred Heart Pioneer Pep Band. Located below is an excerpt from the article plus the link to the full story at CSTV.com.
"I happened to be right there on the play myself, as I had made my way down to the other side of the rink from the press box to take some photos, and was standing next to the Sacred Heart band, which was playing at its third game of the day. Speaking of which, it should be noted that as good as the Cornell band is, Sacred Heart's band plays a better version of "Soul Bossa Nova" (a.k.a. the Austin Powers theme). Note to the Big Red Band: those eighth notes should start on the "and" of three. Fantastic work otherwise, though, Cornellians. Meanwhile, I was definitely enjoying the SHU band's repetoire."
http://slog.cstv.com/rinkrat/2006/02/pavilion_pandemonium_1.html#more
Check out another article about SHU hockey that again mentions the SHU Pioneer Pep Band:
http://slog.cstv.com/rinkrat/2005/11/ya_gotta_have_heart_1.html
2/14/06 - The Sacred Heart Men's Basketball game on Thursday, February 16 will be televised LIVE on MSG Networks. The game is slated for tip-off at 7:30PM when the Pioneers take on the 1st place Fairleigh Dickinson Knights at the Pitt Center in Fairfield, CT. The game will also be shown LIVE on Fox College Sports (Atlantic).
Tune into the game and watch for the Sacred Heart Pioneer Pep Band which will be performing during the game in the stands. Last year the NEC had an interview with Keith Johnston, Director of Bands at SHU to talk about the best Pep Band in the Northeast Conference, the Sacred Heart Pioneer Pep Band! Don't miss your chance to see and hear the band LIVE on MSG and FCS! (Check your local listings for channel lineup.)
1/19/06 - Audition dates have been finalized for Friday, March 10 and Sunday, March 12. Check the auditions page for up to date information on the audition process. We have also put up the Guard and Percussion requirements for those who wish to audition for those sections. Wind instrument requirements are located on the scholarship page. For more information please contact Charles Bennedum.
12/16/05 - The booklet for the Marching Bands trip to Disney is now online. If you need any information about the trip to Disney (i.e. Call Times, Schedule, Important phone numbers, What to bring) please download the Disney Info packet by clicking here MB Florida Booklet.
9/26/05 - Pioneer Band member Jon Parsons has been selected to participate in the 2005 DCI Honor Corp. This select band is comprised of the top 10% of DCI performers from the 2005 competition season. They will be performing in the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade televised on ABC television this December.
8/7/05 - SHU Pioneer Bands is proud to announce the finalization of the Lambda Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Service Fraternity on the campus of Sacred Heart University. The chapter was installed on May 21, 2005 at Sacred Heart University.
7/15/05 - SHU Band on MTV2 - On Wednesday, June 8, members of the Pioneer Marching Band where in Brooklyn, NY for the filming of a new sketch comedy series for MTV2 entitled Stankervision. The episode will air on July 29, 2005 on MTV2. Check your local listings for times.