December 2013

In This Issue

Football Empire Clash

Staff Spotlight

Student Spotlight

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Give to the Band

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Upcoming Events:

Saturday 12/21

WBB vs. Monmouth

2 pm Pritchard Gym

Sunday 12/22

WBB vs. Wagner

2 pm Pritchard Gym

MBB vs. Cornell

6 pm Pritchard Gym

Wednesday 1/8

WBB vs. Hartford

7 pm Pritchard Gym

Wednesday 1/15

PEP BAND DAY

MBB vs. Binghamton

7 pm Pritchard Gym

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Beat Box Version of Alma Mater Created by Freshmen

Freshmen flute players Winnie Lewis and Pamela Stevens recorded their very own version of Stony Brook University's Alma Mater. Their unique version, which features beat boxing, was created this summer during Band Camp. Read their story. Watch their video.

Stony Brook Takes Over MSG

On December 7th, the band traveled to Madison Square Garden to cheer on the men's basketball team during the Holiday Festival as they faced La Salle University. The Seawolves fell to the Explorers 65-57. The band looks forward to playing at both the women's and men's basketball games throughout the winter break.

Windmill Lighting

On December 6th, the band traveled with Wolfie to Stony Brook Southampton for the annual lighting of the windmill. Band members played holiday tunes as the attendees made their way to the windmill. Wolfie assisted Provost and Senior VP for Academic Affairs Dr. Assanis in lighting the windmill. It will be lit each night through the holiday season. If you are ever in the Southampton area, be sure to check it out!

Veterans Day Performance

On November 6th, the band performed at a ceremony in the SAC Auditorium in honor of all United States Veterans. The band performed "Anchors Aweigh" (Navy), "The Caissons Go Rolling Away" (Army), "The Marine's Hymn" (Marines), "The U.S. Air Force" (Air Force), and "Semper Paratus" (Coast Guard). The band also performed these songs on November 9th, during the halftime show of the football game.

Festivus 2013

The band celebrated its annual holiday celebration, Festivus, on the last day of fall semester classes. Everyone enjoyed heroes and salads while a talent show of skits, singing and musical performances was put on by band members. There was also a viewing of the fall semester video that was made by the band's Historian, Michelle Doyle. Watch here.

Congratulations Winter Class of 2013!

We are so proud Scott Rossano, one of our seniors, who has graduated this month. Scott played the tenor saxophone in the band and was also section leader in 2011-2012. We would like to thank him for all of his time and service that he committed to the Stony Brook Athletic Bands program during his time as a member. We officially welcome him to the Spirit of Stony Brook Alumni and wish him all the best in all of his future endeavors!

Thank you and Congrats to E-Board!

Congratulations to the newly elected 2013-2014 E-Board! President: Jaclyn Lattanza; Vice President: Jenny Nussbaum; Secretary: Dan Wood; Historian: Luis Tobon; Color Guard Liaison: Geena Golon. The band is excited to have you all in your new roles! To the 2012-2013 E-Board: Thank you very much for all of your hard work and dedication

to the administrative tasks of the band for the

past year.

Men's & Women's Basketball

Basketball season kicked off with a men's and women's doubleheader on November 8th. Both teams won their games: men vs. Marist, 71-55; women vs. NJIT, 50-44. The record of each team heading into the winter session is, men's: 6-4 and women's: 6-3. Let's Go Seawolves!

Volleyball Gives Thanks to Band

This fall, a volunteer group of band members played at several home volleyball games. It was the first time the band has ever done this. Not only was supporting the team fun, the band created a great atmosphere that the girls never experienced at home before. The team was very appreciative of the band this season.

#EmpireClash - Football Recap

On November 23rd, the band supported the football team in the "Empire Clash" - Stony Brook's annual rivalry game against SUNY Albany. The band cheered the Seawolves on to a 24-3 victory. The team finished their inaugural season in the CAA with a 3-5 record. For halftime, the band, performed three musically challenging Latin Jazz tunes followed by the Fight Song as the graduating seniors walked off the field for the last time.

Staff Spotlight - Michael Ayala

Michael Ayala - Percussion Instructor

Transitioning to Staff

It wasn't easy transitioning from being a student band member to a professional staff member. I had to change the way I approached things, what I said, and how I said it. Although being "Mr. Ayala" has been strange at times, becoming the percussion instructor has allowed me to try things that I thought were necessary during my time as a student.

For us to be successful as a drumline, it starts with trust within leadership as well as between the leadership group and myself. To foster this environment of trust, I stress my openness to any of their thoughts, ideas, or concerns at all times, and hold monthly meetings to ensure we stay on the same page. It is my goal for drumline to progress every day, and I push the leadership to continually improve, as they are the driving force behind the development of their individual sections, and in turn, the line as a whole.

This drive to improve was seen by the work drumline put in this semester. Individual sections held weekly sectionals and the entire line held rehearsals before each game, and this dedication paid off. Met with challenging music, they rose to the occasion and stepped up their precision and execution. I'm proud of the work they have all put in this semester, and I am looking forward to the challenges they can conquer next semester.

Student Spotlight - Chris Blount

Chris Blount

Hometown: Farmingville, NY

Instrument: Trumpet

Deciding where to go to college was one of the most stressful experiences in my life. There are so many things to consider when choosing where to go. Do I want to go away? Do I want to stay at home? How much can I afford? Believe it or not, one of the bigger reasons of my decision was that Stony Brook had a marching band.

I cannot even find the right words to express how much fun my first semester of college has been because of joining this band. It definitely helped my transition from High School to College, because once the semester began, I already knew about two hundred awesome people from band camp the week before.

Something else that I truly love about being in the Spirit of Stony Brook Marching Band is that the rest of the campus respects us, and genuinely loves hearing and seeing us perform. This was something that I never really felt when I was at High School. It always feels good to be appreciated. I definitely couldn't be any happier with my decision, and I look forward to the rest of my time that I'll be playing in this band.