Bronco Pep Band

The Bronco Pep Band is an entirely student-run band at Cal Poly Pomona. The band is currently a group within the Athletic Department. It follows the tradition of marching bands such Stanford's Stanford Band or Rice's Marching Owl Band in the sense that the Bronco Pep Band focuses on the individuality of each one of its members. However, not having a football team, there is no need for this band to march. The pep band is entirely voluntary and all students at Cal Poly Pomona or anyone else in the area are free to join.

History

The first spirit band on campus was actually a marching band that was formed to support the Cal Poly Pomona football team, however, the program disbanded due to financial struggles and progressively the Bronco marching band did as well. For a while it survived as a pep band but around 1992, the band disappeared altogether. Nonetheless, Bronco athletics continued on playing at a competitive level without a band to support them throughout the 90s. As the new millennium arrived, the women’s basketball team achieved back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships and the men’s basketball started to become a dominant force, and the need for a spirit group became increasingly obvious. Thus in October 2002, with advising help from Dr. David Kopplin from the Cal Poly Pomona music department, student Daniel Sandt became the first director of what became known as "Bronco Pep Band version 2.0" [http://www.csupomona.edu/~pepband/history.html Bronco Pep Band History] ]

Traditions

Though the band is roughly new in the whole scheme of things, it is already developing its own traditions.

*Before every game at Cal Poly Pomona the band can be heard paying tribute to its marching roots with the playing of the popular DCI warm-up know as the "Cal Chords."

*At the completion of every half of Pomona athletics, the pep band plays the fight song sequence, which features the school fight song as well as the unofficial school fight song " The William Tell Overture". At the end of the music day the band plays "The Kids Aren't Alright" in a victory arc.

*The basketball season begins with a lock-in held at Kellogg Gymnasium, at which time the band practices for the upcoming season, as well as many other activities. It is an all night long event that does not end till sunrise of the next day.

*In the Spring Quarter the pep band has a retreat out into the unknown.

*During a basketball game when the opposing team misses a free throw, the band will yell "Aw, you blew it!", and if they miss a second continues with "Take me out coach, I suck!".

*When a rival pep band visits or is visited by the pep band, the band will always compete in a ruthless yet friendly band battle against the opposing band during and after a game.

Fight Song

The high-energy finale of the overture to the opera "William Tell" has served as the university's fight song. [cite web | title= Untitled Page | url= http://www.csupomona.edu/~pepband/history.html|format=HTML| work= Bronco Pep Band | accessdate=2008-09-02] . The overture is a very familiar work composed by Gioachino Rossini and is usually played at home games.

Venues Performed At

*Relay for Life - Claremont High School - '07, Cal Poly Pomona - '08
*CCAA Division II Basketball Tournament - Semi Finals, Finals - '08
*California State University, San Bernardino - Coussoulis Arena - '04,'08
*California State University, Dominguez Hills - Torodome - '08
*California State University, Los Angeles - Eagles Nest - '03,'04,'05,'06,'07,'08
*California State University, Monterey Bay - Otter Sports Center - '05
*University of California, San Diego - RIMAC Arena - '04,'05,'06,'07,'08
*University of Arizona - McKale Center - '05
*University of California, Los Angeles - Pauley Pavilion - '06
*Cal State Northridge - Matadome - '07
*Cal State Bakersfield - Rabobank Arena - '06, Icardo Center - '07

Directors

*Daniel Sandt (2002 - 2005) - Daniel is credited for founding the band and is thus known by the band as "The Godfather."

*Steven Corral (2005 - current)

*James Rodriguez (2008 - current)

ee also

*Cal Poly Pomona Broncos

References

External links

* [http://www.csupomona.edu/~pepband Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Pep Band Homepage]