The Sunday after the last football game
at Camp Randall Stadium marks the annual Band Banquet. This
tradition was started by Edson W. Morphy
during the 1927 - 1928 school year. The banquet allows the Band
members to look back at the marching season that was, swap stories
and celebrate a job well done.
The banquet itself is a formal yet informal affair. The dress is formal yet skyrockets fly all over the room and the percussion section performs cadences with plates and silverware. The banquet has been held at various venues on and off campus. For many years the banquet was held at Great Hall in Memorial Union where fudge-bottom pie was the big hit. In recent years the banquet has been held at the Concourse and Edgewater Hotels.
After dessert, time is taken to reflect upon the season and also honor the lifeblood of the Band ... the students. First-year members receive ... well ... nothing ... except for a hearty "Thank You," second-year members receive a Band letter, third-year members receive a Band lapel pin, fourth-year members receive the much coveted Band blanket while a beautiful scroll is given to fifth-year members. Individual awards are also given out. These awards include the Steve Singel Award, the Custer Awards, the Most Valuable Percussionist and the Karl Strieby Award. These awards are given to those students who give an outstanding effort all year long and who represent the spirit and determination of the Wisconsin Band. After a slideshow of the past season is shown, the banquet traditionally ends with an emotional rendition of Varsity because for many graduating seniors, this is the last time they will experience the camaraderie of the Wisconsin Band.