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The Pride of Arizona
SchoolUniversity of Arizona
LocationTucson, AZ
ConferencePac-12 Conference
Founded1902
DirectorChad Shoopman
Members250+
Fight song"Bear Down, Arizona", "Fight! Wildcats! Fight!"
Websitehttp://www.prideofarizona.org

The Pride of Arizona (PoA) is the marching band and pep band at the University of Arizona.[1] The band was founded in 1902 as the UA ROTC Band and contained 12 members.[2] The band is well-known for their performance at Super Bowl I and the Inaugural Parade of President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr.

History

Instrumentation and auxiliaries

The instrumentation of the Pride of Arizona is as follows, in score order:

The percussion section (drumline) of the Pride of Arizona is battery only and consists of snares, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals.

There are three auxiliary units that perform with the Pride of Arizona: the Pom Line (dance, pom-poms), Twirling Team (batons), and Color Guard (flags, rifles and other equipment).

Directors of the Pride of Arizona

This lists each director's tenure only as director of the marching band, not necessarily with the University of Arizona as a whole.

As the "ROTC University Band"

As the "ROTC University Band and Concert Band"

As one of the "University of Arizona Bands"

Halftime field shows

The Pride of Arizona historically fielded multiple short shows throughout each season, some having a central theme of a particular artist or style, and some made up of selections of unrelated individual songs. In 1995, director Jay Rees introduced a different format consisting of a singular long-duration primary show, performed in smaller parts throughout the season. Sometimes a short secondary show would be added late in the season.

The list below contains the artists and songs featured in the various field shows for years prior to 1995. From 1995 on, the artist or theme of each primary show is listed first, and the secondary show (if available) follows in parentheses.

Under Steve Steele:

Under Joe Hermann:

Under Eric Becher:

Under Gregg I. Hanson and John Yoon (Head Graduate Teaching Assistant):

Under Enrique "Hank" C. Feldman:

Under Jay C. Rees:

Under Allison Howard:

Under Chad Shoopman:

Band Day

University of Arizona Band Day[12] is a full-day marching band exhibition for high school bands to perform their half-time shows and be adjudicated by professionals in the music education field. Approximately 40 high school bands perform throughout the day at Arizona Stadium on the UArizona campus, and the Pride of Arizona also appears in two exhibition performances.[13]

Bands are rated in six professional categories under the standards set forth by the Arizona Marching Band Association: Music, Visual, Percussion, Auxiliary/Color Guard, General Effect, and Placement by Band Size (small to large is division A, AA, AAA and AAAA).[14] Award ceremonies occur twice during the day after the PoA exhibition performance and the distinguished “Nunamaker Award” is presented to the most outstanding group(s) of the festival at the end of the day.

References

  1. ^ "The Pride of Arizona". The Pride of Arizona. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Pride of Arizona". Arizona Alumni Association. August 2, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Grimes, Paul (1985). "The Pride of Arizona" A History of the University of Arizona Band 1885-1985. Tucson AZ: Arizona Lithographers.
  4. ^ Ruelas, Richard. "The first Super Bowl halftime show wasn't Beyonce. It was the University of Arizona marching band". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  5. ^ "CD". The Pride of Arizona. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "CD: Wildcats Legacy Lane". The Pride of Arizona. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "University of Arizona Band Celebrates Milestones". University of Arizona News. August 12, 2002. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  8. ^ "CD: Monkey Feet". The Pride of Arizona. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  9. ^ "UA Pride of Arizona performance gets love from band No Doubt". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  10. ^ "The Sudler Trophy". John Philip Sousa Foundation. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "The game's other score". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 31, 2006.
  12. ^ "Band Day | Fred Fox School of Music". bandday.music.arizona.edu. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  13. ^ "Band Day". October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  14. ^ "Resources - Arizona Marching Band Association". azmba.compsuite.io. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
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