University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band
Encyclopedia
The Razorback Marching Band (nicknamed the "Best in Sight and Sound") is the marching band of the University of Arkansas
. The 350+ RMB performs at all home football games (in Fayetteville, Little Rock, & Dallas) as well as all post season play(SEC Championship and/or Bowl Game). A small pep band travels to football games played elsewhere.
Razorback band was originally formed as the Cadet Corps Band. It was formed as a part of the Military Art Department in the University of Arkansas's fourth year of operation which makes it one of the oldest collegiate bands in the United States
. The Cadet Corps Band served in many functions of the campus life, not keeping exclusively to military events, but also played in football games, pageants, and commencement exercises.
On June 5, 1924, the Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi
, which is a National Honorary Band Fraternity, was formed at the University of Arkansas
. The fraternity's purpose was, and is to this day, to promote the existence and welfare of the University Band. In the time period directly following World War II
, the Arkansas band enjoyed a time period of what could be considered steady growth.
In 1947 the band divided into three bands: an American football
band, a concert
band, and an R.O.T.C. band.
In 1948, E.J. Marty became the Director of Bands and turned the 42 piece football band into the famous "Marching 100", known throughout America as one of the best bands in the nation.
On November 11, 1950, the Psi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
, National Honorary Band Sorority, was founded at the University of Arkansas. Together with the Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, they have aided in transforming the musical organization at Arkansas.
In 1956, Dr. Richard A. "Doc" Worthington became Director of Bands during a slump in band enrollment. Dr. Worthington was quickly able to turn the "Hopeful 78" into the University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band.
In 1995, Professor Eldon Janzen, Director of Bands and Lambda Chapter Sponsor, retired after leading the band after almost three decades. The University of Arkansas awarded him with the title "Director of Bands, Emeritus", the first such title to be given to any band director at the University of Arkansas.
In 2009, Mr. Timothy Gunter, stepped down as Head Director of the Razorback Marching Band, after 14 years as a director of the Athletic Bands.
Prior to his appointment at UA, Dr. Knighten served as Associate Director of Bands at East Carolina University. Under his direction the Symphonic Band performed at the 2005 NC Music Educators Association conference and the ECU Marching Pirates performed at seven bowl games and several NFL games for the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers. He has also served as Director of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band and taught instrumental music at Richland High School in North Richland Hills, TX.
Dr. Knighten has presented sessions on band literature and pedagogy at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, the Music Educators National Conference, and numerous state music education conferences. His articles on conducting and band literature have been published in The Instrumentalist, The Journal of Band Research, The North Carolina Music Educator, Today’s Music Educator, and in the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the SEC Band Directors Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band fraternity, and the Golden Key International Honor Society.
Dr. Knighten holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting and the Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baylor University. His primary conducting teachers were Michael Haithcock and Allan McMurray.
Benjamin A. Chamberlain joins the University of Arkansas Department of Music faculty this year as Assistant Director of Bands. His responsibilities include directing the Concert Band, teaching courses in the Department of Music, directing the Hogwild Bands and assisting with instruction of the Razorback Marching Band.
From 2002-2006, Chamberlain taught in the public schools of Forest Lake, Minnesota, where he conducted concert ensembles, directed the jazz program and taught courses in music theory. An active agent for school improvement, he served on the music curriculum review team and was a member of the Rigor and Relevance Committee, a forum of teachers and staff devoted to maximizing school value. From 2008-2010, he taught conducting classes at the National High School Music Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest university based program for excellent high school students. Professor Chamberlain also taught at the Music Institute of Chicago, appearing as a guest conductor with the New Horizons Band. In the spring of 2011 Chamberlain appeared as a guest with the West Point Band, conducting music by Michael Gandolfi on a program entitled “Great
American Works.”
In the realm of marching arts, Chamberlain has worked with several nationally acclaimed marching bands, percussion ensembles and drum corps. He was Program Coordinator for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003, leading the group to a third Drum Corps International title. He has also enjoyed a long association with Minnesota Brass, Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps. Chamberlain is an active conductor, adjudicator and clinician, recently serving in those roles in Arkansas, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisiana
and Hawaii.
Chamberlain’s formal training included undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He earned the Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University and has completed coursework for the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. His primary conducting teachers were Frank B. Wickes and Mallory Thompson. Chamberlain’s current research interests are Carlos Salzedo’s works for
winds and the unpublished music of Florent Schmitt.
Chamberlain is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society, Minnesota Band Directors Association, National Band Association, Percussive Arts Society and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society..
The University of Arkansas Marching Band has several student leadership positions, the most visible of which are the drum majors who lead the band on the field and direct the band in the stands. Drum major auditions start with an interview of each applicant by the directors and graduate teaching assistants. Those who pass the interview stage are invited to a teaching session, where each person gives a mock lesson on marching technique. Lastly, the best of these compete in front of the entire band by demonstrating the traditional drum major run-out, and then by leading the band in stands tunes.
Each section has one or two Section Leaders, depending on the size of the section. They oversee their section during sectional rehearsals, which could cover music or marching technique. During trips and other events, the drum majors often rely on the section leaders to help organize the band before parades and other performances. Section leaders are also responsible for administrative tasks for their sections such as ensuring attendance at events, and seeing that all necessary forms are filled out by their section members.
The section is further divided into small groups led by Squad Leaders. The drill captain is responsible for instruction and demonstration of marching fundamentals and distribution of drill cards.
The band usually has one or more students functioning as Librarians. They are responsible for ensuring that music, drill sheets, etc. are printed and ready for rehearsals, in addition to managing the band library. Other student leadership positions are offered through participation in the band service organizations.
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. The 350+ RMB performs at all home football games (in Fayetteville, Little Rock, & Dallas) as well as all post season play(SEC Championship and/or Bowl Game). A small pep band travels to football games played elsewhere.
History
In 1874, The University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
Razorback band was originally formed as the Cadet Corps Band. It was formed as a part of the Military Art Department in the University of Arkansas's fourth year of operation which makes it one of the oldest collegiate bands in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Cadet Corps Band served in many functions of the campus life, not keeping exclusively to military events, but also played in football games, pageants, and commencement exercises.
Kappa Kappa Psi
Kappa Kappa Psi is a fraternity for college and university band members. It was founded on November 27, 1919 at Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College in Stillwater, Oklahoma. William Scroggs, now regarded as the "Founder," together with "Mr. Kappa Kappa Psi" A...
, which is a National Honorary Band Fraternity, was formed at the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. The fraternity's purpose was, and is to this day, to promote the existence and welfare of the University Band. In the time period directly following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Arkansas band enjoyed a time period of what could be considered steady growth.
In 1947 the band divided into three bands: an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
band, a concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
band, and an R.O.T.C. band.
In 1948, E.J. Marty became the Director of Bands and turned the 42 piece football band into the famous "Marching 100", known throughout America as one of the best bands in the nation.
On November 11, 1950, the Psi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma
Tau Beta Sigma is a co-educational national honorary band sorority dedicated to serving college and university bands. The Sorority, headquartered at the historic Stillwater Station in Stillwater, Oklahoma, numbers over 3,500 active members in 145 active chapters, and over 40,000 alumni...
, National Honorary Band Sorority, was founded at the University of Arkansas. Together with the Lambda Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, they have aided in transforming the musical organization at Arkansas.
In 1956, Dr. Richard A. "Doc" Worthington became Director of Bands during a slump in band enrollment. Dr. Worthington was quickly able to turn the "Hopeful 78" into the University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band.
In 1995, Professor Eldon Janzen, Director of Bands and Lambda Chapter Sponsor, retired after leading the band after almost three decades. The University of Arkansas awarded him with the title "Director of Bands, Emeritus", the first such title to be given to any band director at the University of Arkansas.
In 2009, Mr. Timothy Gunter, stepped down as Head Director of the Razorback Marching Band, after 14 years as a director of the Athletic Bands.
Staff
Dr. Christopher Knighten is Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Professor in the University of Arkansas Department of Music. His duties include directing the 350-member Razorback Marching band, overseeing all aspects of Athletic Bands, conducting the Symphonic Band, and teaching conducting and music education courses.Prior to his appointment at UA, Dr. Knighten served as Associate Director of Bands at East Carolina University. Under his direction the Symphonic Band performed at the 2005 NC Music Educators Association conference and the ECU Marching Pirates performed at seven bowl games and several NFL games for the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers. He has also served as Director of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band and taught instrumental music at Richland High School in North Richland Hills, TX.
Dr. Knighten has presented sessions on band literature and pedagogy at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the College Band Directors National Association Conference, the Music Educators National Conference, and numerous state music education conferences. His articles on conducting and band literature have been published in The Instrumentalist, The Journal of Band Research, The North Carolina Music Educator, Today’s Music Educator, and in the "Teaching Music Through Performance in Band" series. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the SEC Band Directors Association, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band fraternity, and the Golden Key International Honor Society.
Dr. Knighten holds the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting and the Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Baylor University. His primary conducting teachers were Michael Haithcock and Allan McMurray.
Benjamin A. Chamberlain joins the University of Arkansas Department of Music faculty this year as Assistant Director of Bands. His responsibilities include directing the Concert Band, teaching courses in the Department of Music, directing the Hogwild Bands and assisting with instruction of the Razorback Marching Band.
From 2002-2006, Chamberlain taught in the public schools of Forest Lake, Minnesota, where he conducted concert ensembles, directed the jazz program and taught courses in music theory. An active agent for school improvement, he served on the music curriculum review team and was a member of the Rigor and Relevance Committee, a forum of teachers and staff devoted to maximizing school value. From 2008-2010, he taught conducting classes at the National High School Music Institute, the nation’s oldest and largest university based program for excellent high school students. Professor Chamberlain also taught at the Music Institute of Chicago, appearing as a guest conductor with the New Horizons Band. In the spring of 2011 Chamberlain appeared as a guest with the West Point Band, conducting music by Michael Gandolfi on a program entitled “Great
American Works.”
In the realm of marching arts, Chamberlain has worked with several nationally acclaimed marching bands, percussion ensembles and drum corps. He was Program Coordinator for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps in 2003, leading the group to a third Drum Corps International title. He has also enjoyed a long association with Minnesota Brass, Inc. Drum and Bugle Corps. Chamberlain is an active conductor, adjudicator and clinician, recently serving in those roles in Arkansas, Minnesota, Illinois, Louisiana
and Hawaii.
Chamberlain’s formal training included undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota. He earned the Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University and has completed coursework for the Doctor of Music degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. His primary conducting teachers were Frank B. Wickes and Mallory Thompson. Chamberlain’s current research interests are Carlos Salzedo’s works for
winds and the unpublished music of Florent Schmitt.
Chamberlain is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society, Minnesota Band Directors Association, National Band Association, Percussive Arts Society and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society..
Student Leadership
Each section has one or two Section Leaders, depending on the size of the section. They oversee their section during sectional rehearsals, which could cover music or marching technique. During trips and other events, the drum majors often rely on the section leaders to help organize the band before parades and other performances. Section leaders are also responsible for administrative tasks for their sections such as ensuring attendance at events, and seeing that all necessary forms are filled out by their section members.
The section is further divided into small groups led by Squad Leaders. The drill captain is responsible for instruction and demonstration of marching fundamentals and distribution of drill cards.
The band usually has one or more students functioning as Librarians. They are responsible for ensuring that music, drill sheets, etc. are printed and ready for rehearsals, in addition to managing the band library. Other student leadership positions are offered through participation in the band service organizations.