The genesis for the Alumni Band began at the Memorial Service for a former Marching Band member, John Montgomery. John was a very unique individual who gave an incredible amout of energy and spirit to the Marching Band and the University Music Department. John was not everyone's cup of tea, but whether you loved or hated John, you knew him. Many who attended his service were former Band members who had not seen each other for several years. Although it was avery sad and solemn occasion, there was a very large sense of being at a family reunion, a "Big Chill" of sorts.
The Band director, Mack McGrannahan, had been contemplating the idea of an Alumni Band for a few years, and seeing former students and friends resolved his commitment to make the Alumni Band happen. He felt that one of the best ways to honor John, and other former Band members who had passed away, such as Ajit Koshie and Terry Flannigan, would be to renew and continue in the tradition of the Band by making the Alumni Band a reality. And so, the Wolf Pack Alumni Band was born.
The only requirements for membership in the Alumni Band is that you had to have played in the U.N.R. Wolf Pack Marching Band for at least one semester, but are not currently a member of the Marching Band now. This requirement includes both the current incarnation of the U.N.R. Wolf Pack Marching Band since 1981 and the U.N.R. Marching Band that was disbanded in the late 1960's.
Since the Alumni Band is just getting started, there is no definite agenda, but almost everyone who attended the Alumni Band's first gathering felt very strongly about continuing to make this an annual tradition, at the very least. There were a lot of idea passed around, including fund-raisers, and public performances outside the realm of 1997's performance with the current Wolf Pack Marching Band.
If you were a member of the U.N.R. Wolf Pack Marching Band, old or new, and are are interested in joining the Alumni Band or even just helping out, please send email to Mack McGrannahan or contact him at:
Dr. A. Graydon McGrannahan
Band Department
Music Department/MS 226
University of Nevada
Reno, Nevada 89557-0049
You can also email Kevin Freels, the Webmaster for this web page.