School spirit in the stands
Senior Andrew Christ plays the trombone in the Tiger Stand Band at football’s home opener against Howard Payne University. Photo by Aidan Kirksey.
It’s football season, and with it come hot dogs and beer and tailgating and, for the students of Trinity University, a bigger Tiger Stand Band. This fall, the Trinity University Tiger Stand Band gained 20 new first-year members, six new sophomore members and $9,000 from the Association of Student Representatives for new instruments.
“This is a record year because we improved our recruiting strategies and we have improved our relationship with the music department,” said senior Jacob Hugentobler, the Stand Band president. Hugentobler was elected as president last semester, along with vice president Ethan Krohn (’14)
Hugentobler decided to seek help from ASR because a lot of the new members play instruments such as the tuba, which people don’t typically own.
“People in the Trinity community seem to enjoy them at games. We just want to make games more of a big deal, and we wanted to give the stand band the support that they needed,” said Evan Lewis, a sophomore ASR senator.
The band brought in a two page proposal, as well as witnesses, when asking for financial help with the new instruments.
“To me, it’s mostly a place for camaraderie, and it’s really hard to have a band without having the proper equipment for it,” said Laurel Meister, one of the first-year recruits new to the Tiger Stand Band.
“The football team loves the stand band,” Lewis said. “We have one player on ASR, and we had another player brought in by the Stand Band just to talk about what they think of the Stand Band.”
“I think it’s really great. I heard that the band is bigger this year and that gives me hope because the bigger we are, the bigger sound we have,” Meister said.
With the added members, the band is already making itself heard at games.
One of the things the band has been doing to reach out to potential new members is joining an information session during NSO for students interested in not only the band but also various other musical groups on campus such as the orchestra or the music fraternity, Mu Phi Epsilon.
“I first heard about them, I think, on the Trinity 360 day. I was talking to one of the music workshops and I wondered if Trinity had a band so I kind of looked for it myself,” said Meister, who didn’t sign up until she found the Tiger Stand Band table at the involvement fair.
“My favorite part is just having a set time for relaxation where I know I’m not going to have to do homework and just relax and play my instrument, and get to talk to other people who are also interested in music.”
Meister plays clarinet and is also learning to play the piano.
As far as the band expanding even further, Hugentobler said that one third of the current members are set to graduate in May.
“It really depends on leadership and how you can make the band a visible presence on campus,” Hugentobler said.
This weekend, the football team will be taking on Sul Ros State in Alpine, Texas, and the band will be taking 28 members to cheer them on.
“Tiger Stand Band really loves playing for the football and basketball teams, and we especially love it when the crowd sings along with us. Those are the rewarding parts of it,” Hugentobler said.
