Tiger Pep Band at DePauw University
| Tiger Pep Band | |
|---|---|
 |
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| School | DePauw University |
| Location | Greencastle, Indiana |
| Conference | North Coast Athletic Conference |
| Founded | 1907/1995 |
| Director | Open as of Fall 2014 |
| Members | Open as of Fall 2014 |
The Tiger Pep Band at DePauw University (TPB) is a student-led, -organized, and -funded ensemble at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. The band has been recognized several times among the best in collegiate sports, promoting sportsmanship and civility, and has been hailed as "best pep band in Division III athletics ".
DePauw Bands began in the early part of the 20th century. The earliest incarnation of a DePauw Pep Band can be found as far back as 1907 when the newly formed band played for a "jollification" event for the first Old Gold Day (later to be known as DePauw's homecoming). The Tiger Pep Band's creation date (1907) would make it the second oldest "scramble band" in the country next to the Columbia University Marching Band which was founded in 1904. While never losing its purpose of bringing joy and support for DePauw, Marching Bands took over shortly thereafter and continued on in one form or another until its final performance during the Presidential Inauguration Parade in honor of Alumnus Vice President Dan Quayle, class of 1969.
During the later half of the 20th century, the DePauw Marching Band was led by Director of Bands and Alumnus Dan Hanna, class of 1947. Prof. Hanna, loved by his students, strongly believed that the Tigers playing on the field or the court should always know that regardless of the score, the musicians were always behind them. Hanna led bands at athletic events as large as 100 and as small as 15. Affectionately calling his marching band the Stumblebums, Hanna instilled a little zaniness into each performance including once having the marching band form the shape of a banana, begin peeling itself, all the while playing the stripper as they "stumbled" off the field during the Battle for the Monon Bell - which was televised nationally on ABC. He also created the long-standing "Tarnished Spit Valve Award" who he regularly gave to the largest "character" in the Stumblebums.
The DePauw University Band appeared at football games in 1993 and 1994 after an outpouring of requests by students, faculty, alumni, and fans that musical support to athletes competing on behalf of the University. No band performed between 1989 and 1992. The Tiger Pep Band was founded on September 9, 1995, and first appeared at a DePauw University football match against Albion College. The first student directors were Jason Dibler and Christine Russell, and were selected by Director of Bands Dr. Craig T. Paré.
The TPB continued the tradition, established by Prof. Hanna, by traveling to Crawfordsville, Indiana when it appeared at the 1996 Battle for the Monon Bell at Wabash College . However, it was not until 2002 that the band made its triumphant return to post-season performance, supporting the DePauw Basketball men's and women's teams in their NCAA championship runs in Ohio and Indiana. This was the first time since the DePauw Men's Basketball Team appeared in the NCAA Division III Championship at Calvin College in 1984 that the Band performed out-of-state.
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