As with any outstanding organization, strong leadership is a key to making it run. The Wisconsin Band is no exception. This year we are fortunate enough to have two very experienced students serving as our leaders ... Drum Major Alex Waskawic and Assistant Drum Major Jon Alfuth. Both Alex and Jon are profiled below:
Drum Major: Alex Waskawic |
Assistant Drum Major: Jon Alfuth |
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Alex Waskawic is in his fifth year as a member of the University of Wisconsin Band. He was selected as Drum Major for the 2009 season after marching for four years in the Euphonium section. Alex is from Omro, Wisconsin and is currently a majoring in Mechanical Engineering. |
Jon Alfuth is in his fourth year as a member of the University of Wisconsin Band and has been selected to be Assistant Drum Major for the 2009 season. Hailing from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, he is a junior in school, majoring in Political Science and International Studies. |
Not only is the Band blessed with strong leadership, the Band is comprised of extremely dedicated and enthusiastic students whose focus on making the Band better is unquestioned. The Band instrumentation consists of clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, flügelhorns, mellophones, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, and percussion. Below are the instruments you will see on the field on Saturdays at Camp Randall and some tidbits of information about each one. Click on the picture to meet the members of each section.
Clarinets
Provide the Band with the much needed higher overtones. Particularly known for their trills and marching style, the clarinets are among the first out onto the field to perform run-on. |
Saxophones
Also very good marchers, the saxes consist of both alto and tenors. They give the Band a well-rounded sound and an unmatched enthusiasm. |
Trumpets
By far the most numerous of any section, all of our trumpets are B-Flat and often carry the melody, along with the trombones. The trumpets furnish the Band that powerful, crisp sound you hear. |
Flügelhorns
The flügelhorns traditionally consist of the best marchers from the trumpet section. With "Wank & Drive" as their motto, the flügelhorns, along with the mellophones and euphoniums, provide the color that rounds out the sound of the Wisconsin Band. |
Mellophones
Also known as the marching french horns, the mellophones, in conjunction with the flügelhorns and euphoniums, also provide the Band's sound a great deal of color with their high note riffs at the end of songs. By far, this is the loudest section in the Band based on a per person basis. |
Trombones
The trombones, as well as the trumpets, are the primary carriers of the melody. They provide the Band with the base of their powerful and deep sound. |
Euphoniums
Comprised of both bass and treble clef parts, the euphonium are the most difficult instrument to march with. They, along with the flügelhorns and mellophones, provide the color for the sound of the Wisconsin Band. |
Tubas
Also known as the sousaphones (but tuba is easier to spell), the tubas are the most recognizable section of the Band. From leading the Band onto the field for pre-game through the traditional "cranking," to the ever important bass line, the tubas provide the Band with an irreverent enthusiasm. |
Percussion
Perhaps the flashiest section of the Band, the percussion is made up of snare and bass drums, cymbals and duos. They are the hardest working section in the Band and infuse the Band with the rhythm and drive that keeps the Wisconsin Band engine churning. |
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