Bronco Pep Band
Encyclopedia
| Cal Poly Pomona Bronco Pep Band | |
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| School | Cal Poly Pomona California State Polytechnic University, Pomona California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States... |
| Location | Pomona, California Pomona, California -2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile... |
| Conference | California Collegiate Athletic Association California Collegiate Athletic Association The California Collegiate Athletic Association or CCAA is an intercollegiate athletic conference in the Division II of the NCAA. All of its current members are public universities, and all except for UC San Diego are members of the California State University system.It was founded in December 1938... |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Director | James Rodriguez |
| Assistant Director | James Rodriguez |
| Band President | Christian Garcia |
| Band Vice President | Neil Baxter |
| Members | 30+ |
The Bronco Pep Band is an entirely student-run band at Cal Poly Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
. The band is currently a group within the Athletic Department. It follows the tradition of marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
s such Stanford's
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
Stanford Band
Stanford Band
The Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band is the student marching band of Stanford University. Billing itself as "The World's Largest Rock and Roll Band", the Stanford Band performs at sporting events, student activities, and other functions...
or Rice's
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
Marching Owl Band
Marching Owl Band
The Marching Owl Band is the Rice University "marching band" in the sense that it is the official ensemble that performs during football games, some basketball games, parades, and other public events...
in the sense that the Bronco Pep Band
Pep band
A pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining and "pepping" up a crowd. Often members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble such as a marching band or a concert band. Pep bands are generally associated with...
focuses on the individuality of each one of its members. However, not having a football team, there is no need for this band to march. The pep band is entirely voluntary and all students at Cal Poly Pomona or anyone else in the area are free to join.
History
The first spirit band on campus was actually a marching bandMarching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
that was formed to support the Cal Poly Pomona football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team, however, the program disbanded due to financial struggles and progressively the Bronco marching band
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
did as well. For a while it survived as a pep band
Pep band
A pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining and "pepping" up a crowd. Often members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble such as a marching band or a concert band. Pep bands are generally associated with...
but around 1992, the band disappeared altogether. Nonetheless, Bronco athletics continued on playing at a competitive level without a band to support them throughout the 90s. As the new millennium arrived, the women’s basketball team achieved back-to-back NCAA Division II national championships and the men’s basketball started to become a dominant force, and the need for a spirit group became increasingly obvious to the university's Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. James E. Swartz, who suggested late in 2001 to then Director of Athletics Dr. Dan Bridges, that a Cal Poly Pomona pep band be revived. After a series of meetings they held with Dr. David Kopplin from the Cal Poly Pomona music department, student Daniel Sandt became the first director of what became known as "Bronco Pep Band version 2.0"
Traditions
- Before every game at Cal Poly PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
the band can be heard paying tribute to its marching roots with the playing of the popular DCI warm-up known as the "Cal Chords."
- At the completion of every half of Pomona athletics, the pep bandPep bandA pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining and "pepping" up a crowd. Often members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble such as a marching band or a concert band. Pep bands are generally associated with...
plays the fight song sequence, which features the school fight song as well as the unofficial school fight song "The William Tell OvertureWilliam Tell OvertureThe William Tell Overture is the instrumental introduction to the opera Guillaume Tell by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal...
". At the end of the music day the band plays "The Kids Aren't AlrightThe Kids Aren't Alright-Alternative pressing:-Second alternative pressing:-Third alternative pressing:-Music video:It features a room with a background of abandonment or family activity at different times. In the center of the room, there are scenes of various persons, including an appearance by Bif Naked, doing...
" in a victory arc.
- The basketball season begins with a lock-in held at Kellogg Gymnasium, at which time the band practices for the upcoming season, as well as many other activities. It is an all night long event that does not end till sunrise of the next day.
- In the Spring Quarter the pep bandPep bandA pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining and "pepping" up a crowd. Often members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble such as a marching band or a concert band. Pep bands are generally associated with...
has a retreat out into the unknown.
- During a basketball game when the opposing team misses a free throw, the band will yell "Aw, you blew it!", and if they miss a second continues with "Take me out coach, I suck!".
- When a rival pep band visits or is visited by the pep bandPep bandA pep band is an ensemble of instrumentalists who play at functions or events with the purpose of entertaining and "pepping" up a crowd. Often members of a pep band are a subset of people from a larger ensemble such as a marching band or a concert band. Pep bands are generally associated with...
, the band will always compete in a ruthless yet friendly band battle against the opposing band during and after a game.
Fight song & Alma mater
Bronco Fight Song Fight you Broncos Fight, fight, fight! Charge on in, get the win To-night, night, night. Broncos have the will to score Increase the lead and watch us soar That's the way, we end the day Po-mo-na is here to stay. Fight you Broncos Fight, fight, fight! Time to show the other team Our might, might, might! The green and gold will get the win, We are the best there's ever been, The Broncos of Cal Poly. |
The high-energy finale of the overture
Overture
Overture in music is the term originally applied to the instrumental introduction to an opera...
to the opera William Tell
William Tell (opera)
Guillaume Tell is an opera in four acts by Gioachino Rossini to a French libretto by Etienne de Jouy and Hippolyte Bis, based on Friedrich Schiller's play Wilhelm Tell. Based on the legend of William Tell, this opera was Rossini's last, even though the composer lived for nearly forty more years...
has served as the university's fight song. The overture is a very familiar work composed by Gioachino Rossini and is usually played at home games.
Alma mater In Pomona’s verdant valley stand our Alma mater Gentle rolling hills ‘round a campus so fair. Near the mountains clothed in grandeur symbol of the mighty Ever present strength for the standard we bear. Students here of many nations, rise as one is acclamation, Proud of our Cal Poly destiny So we sing in praise of our beloved Alma mater Praise the green and gold of our college so fair. Sing we now in praise of CAL POLY! |
Venues Performed At
- Anaheim Convention CenterAnaheim Convention CenterThe Anaheim Convention Center is a major convention center in Anaheim, California. It is located across from the Disneyland Resort on Katella Avenue. Much of the Anaheim Convention Center has been renovated in recent years with state-of-the-art facilities...
- Disney’s West Coast Tip-Off Classic '08 - University of California, IrvineUniversity of California, IrvineThe University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
- Bren Center - '08 - Relay for LifeRelay For LifeRelay For Life is the main volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, the Relay For Life event has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and in cyberspace...
- Claremont High School - '07, Cal Poly PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, PomonaCalifornia State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
- '08 - CCAACalifornia Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe California Collegiate Athletic Association or CCAA is an intercollegiate athletic conference in the Division II of the NCAA. All of its current members are public universities, and all except for UC San Diego are members of the California State University system.It was founded in December 1938...
Division II Basketball Tournament - Semi Finals & Finals'08, Semi Finals'09 - California State University, San BernardinoCalifornia State University, San BernardinoCalifornia State University, San Bernardino, also known as Cal State San Bernardino or CSUSB is a public research university and one of the twenty three general campuses of the California State University system. The main campus sits on in the suburban University District of , United States, with...
- Coussoulis ArenaCoussoulis ArenaFormally known as the James & Aerianthi Coussoulis Arena, the "Coussoulis Arena" is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in San Bernardino, California, USA. It is home to the California State University, San Bernardino Coyotes basketball team. It opened in 1995.- External links :*...
- '04,'08,'09 - California State University, Dominguez HillsCalifornia State University, Dominguez HillsCalifornia State University, Dominguez Hills is a public university located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County and was founded in 1960...
- Torodome - '08 - California State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los Angeles is a public comprehensive university, part of the California State University system...
- Eagles Nest - '03,'04,'05,'06,'07,'08 - California State University, Monterey BayCalifornia State University, Monterey BayCalifornia State University, Monterey Bay is a small public university in the California State University system on the site of the former U.S. Army base Fort Ord, on the Central Coast of California. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.CSUMB was founded in 1994 with...
- Otter Sports Center - '05 - University of California, San DiegoUniversity of California, San DiegoThe University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
- RIMAC Arena - '04,'05,'06,'07,'08,'09 - University of ArizonaUniversity of ArizonaThe University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
- McKale CenterMcKale CenterMcKale Memorial Center is an athletic arena located at 1756 E University Blvd on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. It is primarily used for basketball, but also features state-of-the-art physical training and therapy facilities. Its construction is marked with a large...
- '05 - University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los AngelesThe University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
- Pauley PavilionPauley PavilionEdwin W. Pauley Pavilion, commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located in the Westwood Village district of Los Angeles, California, on the campus of UCLA. It is home to the UCLA Bruins men's and women's basketball teams...
- '06 - Cal State Northridge - MatadomeMatadomeMatador Gymnasium, most commonly known by its nickname the Matadome, is a 1,600 seat, indoor multi-purpose stadium on the campus of California State University, Northridge in Northridge, California.-History and renovations:...
- '07 - Cal State BakersfieldCalifornia State University, BakersfieldCalifornia State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
- Rabobank ArenaRabobank ArenaRabobank Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena, Bakersfield, California, USA. Located downtown at the corner of Truxtun Avenue and N Street, it was built in 1998, and was originally known as Centennial Garden. The city-owned arena sold naming rights to the Dutch cooperative bank Rabobank in...
- '06, Icardo Center - '07
Directors
- Daniel Sandt (2002–2005) - Daniel is credited for founding the band and is thus known by the band as "The Godfather."
- Steven Corral (2005–2009) - Steven Corral graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Cal Poly Pomona in 2009. During his tenure, Corral led the band to hostile environments such as UCLA'sUniversity of California, Los AngelesThe University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
Pauley PavilionPauley PavilionEdwin W. Pauley Pavilion, commonly known as Pauley Pavilion, is an indoor arena located in the Westwood Village district of Los Angeles, California, on the campus of UCLA. It is home to the UCLA Bruins men's and women's basketball teams...
and USC'sUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Galen CenterGalen CenterThe Galen Center is a multipurpose indoor arena and athletic facility owned and operated by the University of Southern California. Located at the southeast corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Figueroa Street in the Exposition Park area of Los Angeles, it is right across the street from the campus and...
.
- James Rodriguez (2009 - current)