LHU’s band is a student-run club focused on performing music as both a marching band and as a concert band. The club meets every Monday and Wednesday at 4:40 p.m. in Sloan 121. Members of the band practice songs chosen by the club during most meetings.
Regarding the process of music selection, Dominic Dijan, the band’s president, said the board creates an extensive list of songs for the members to vote on during concert band season in the spring.
Marching band season in the fall is slightly different, as the club votes on a musical theme rather than specific songs.
The band, however, nearly fractured after COVID-19. Dijan said, “If you look at marching band videos… from 2019, the size of the marching band [was] extensive.” Currently the club stands at only 10 members.
“Last semester we tried getting back into that big band feel,” said Dijan, “but the problem is the numbers got hit so hard by COVID, you can only do so much.” The lack of trombones, French horns, flutes, among other instruments have left the band in something of a hollowed state.
The executive board’s current solution to this problem is going to local high schools and promoting LHU and the band to potential students. But recruitment is not easy for the club due to their low number. Dijan stated that people would rather join a band that is larger in scale, but they need members to join to become a bigger band.
Despite the problems, Dijan believes the club is in caring hands. “We’re definitely hurting in numbers, but I think the people we have in the band are all very talented and committed.” Dijan cites the members’ dedicated teamwork as the reason behind last semester’s successful show.
Several shows are expected to occur over the spring semester. The band will be performing at these venues on these dates:
- Spring Concert – March 9 – Price Auditorium – 6:30 p.m.
- April 15 – Mansfield Campus
- April 19 – Triangle Park – 5 p.m.
- President’s Concert – May 4 – Price Auditorium
Students interested in band can contact Dominic Dijan at did7757@lockhaven.edu or Tristan Weber at tmw5060@lockhaven.edu.
Alex Ross
Alex Rossis a third-year Communication student at Lock Haven with a focus in Journalism. This is his second year as an active member of the Eagle Eye and has been the Arts and Entertainment editor, News editor, and an active writer. He focuses on writing reviews for the A&E section, but has written stories for news, sports, and opinions. Outside of the newsroom, Alex enjoys record shopping, reading classic literature, and analyzing films. Alex hopes to work for a film or music news site as a writer or editor after graduation.
