Eagle Band To Celebrate Century Mark At Home Football Game Vs. Walsh

A-S-H-L-A-N-D
Ashland University
Up on the hill above the town
Seen for miles around
Mighty spirits pounding
When the chapel bell is sounding
Out the strains of victory's cheer
That we love so dear
Come on boys and FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! For Ashland!
 
For 100 years, the Ashland College/University band has provided the soundtrack for home football games and so much more across campus.
 
On Saturday (Oct. 7) night, the Eagle band will be highlighted during the football game against Walsh at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli field.
 
"We're excited for 100 years," said Ashland Director of Bands Joseph Lewis, who will lead his 67-strong band on to the field for pregame and halftime on Saturday night. "Not every private university has a marching band. We are very blessed to have not only a marching band here, we have a marching band that is successful, that sounds good, they play well, they are doing things that I think the team and the crowd enjoy at football games.
 
"There is a history there that not every small school can say that they have."
 
Charles Mayes was the leader of Ashland College's first band in 1923, and that band played at various AC baseball games prior to playing at football games. Dr. Louis E. Pete and Curt Wilson were other notable Ashland band directors, and the most widely-recognized of the recent AU band directors is Leonard Salvo, who served as AU's Director of Bands for more than a quarter-century and is director emeritus.
 
"A lot of the traditions that you see the band do now…a lot of those traditions started when Len was here," Lewis noted. "Len and I still stay in touch, and it's been great getting to know him over the years. He's been a great help. He's certainly been a wonderful resource."
 
On Saturday night, the band will do a show that's geared toward the 100-year celebration – opening with Elton John's past hit I'm Still Standing, then bringing on Ashland High School's band to join in, as the Arrows' band just celebrated its first century of play.
 
One person in particular will be front and center on Saturday night, as 100-year-old Joe Denbow will be recognized for having been a part of both Ashland bands.
 
Seniors Ellie Lohr and Anthony Marchetta are excited to be a part of the celebration of the Ashland band's centennial.
 
"It's crazy that a small university like Ashland has had a band for 100 seasons," Lohr noted. "I've been doing marching band since my freshman year of high school, and band has been pretty much everything to me. So to be able to celebrate this wonderful milestone with this program is such an honor. I can't wait for everyone to come out and see us do what we do, hopefully enjoy what we do."
 
Marchetta said, "I've been doing marching band for eight years, I've been doing it since high school. The fact that I've been able to be a part of the band during the centennial celebration, it means a lot. I've had a lot of fun over the past four years, being a part of this marching band. I'm just really happy that I get to spend my last year celebrating its 100th anniversary."
 
The Ashland band's Alumni Day, as usual, will take place during the 99^th Homecoming game on Oct. 21 against Lake Erie.
 
In addition to football games, and a pep band at home men's and women's basketball games, Ashland's band also hosts a high school marching band festival, which recently took place at the football stadium, and does a concert at the end of the season at Kates Gymnasium.
 
"Obviously, the big thing is the football games. That's our main reason for existing, to support the football team, to create an atmosphere that is a college football atmosphere," Lewis noted. "Our job is to support the football team."
 
There has been a fundraiser for new band uniforms, and the link to give to that campaign can be found at the right of this feature.
 
"We're still looking for donations. We're on our way," said Lewis. "We're doing that through the month of December, and try to get as much as we can. Every little bit counts."
 
As for the next 100 years of Ashland University band, Lewis says the sky is the limit.
 
"I'd like to see us hit 100 members some day," he said. "That's kind of been a goal since I've started here. A more short-term goal would be 80 members. I'd like to hit the 80 mark with this group. We have a really great-sounding band, and I think we've had really good retention from last year to this year, along with a big freshman class.
 
"And if we keep those things happening…we can approach 100 pretty quick, so I'm excited for that."