Pitt Band
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A History and Notable Events for the UPVMB:
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-October 14, 1911 was the first time the Pitt Band, eight men strong, took the field at the Pitt-Ohio Northern Game. The next year the band received their first uniforms and membership slowly increased so that by 1917, Pitt Band was 50 strong and would make regular trips to away games.
-The band took a short break from operations due to WWI but resumed in 1919. By 1926, Pitt Band had students from the College, Schools of Engineering, Law, Business Administration, Medicine, Dentistry and the Graduate School and no other campus activity enlisted students from as many schools. In 1930, the band was moved under the direction of the Military department of the university, all members were required to be in ROTC, and the band was capped at 120 members.
- 1937, national recognition for the band when the "Big Apple" ushered in a new era of popular musical maneuvers during halftime performances. A few years later, Pitt Band introduced the Pitt Panther fanfare entry and handwritten music to go with the 176-beat per minute steps, which was 56 beats more than military cadence.
- Pitt Band took a short break in 1943 and 1944 while their director fought in WWII and other than a brief return during the summer of 1944 for the Pitt-Penn State game, they remained on their break.
- The band's director returned in 1945 and in 1946 the first band camp was held in Camp Kon-O-Kwee with about 150 bandsmen. By this time, Pitt Band was so popular on campus that it was limited to upperclassmen and a second, 120 piece band was formed - a Junior Varisty Marching Band to complement the Varsity Marching Band. This second band sometimes performed at home games where no visiting band attended.
- February 14th, 1948, the Alpha Omega Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi was installed at the University of Pittsburgh
- 1955, Pitt Band performed at the Sugar Bowl and earned a standing ovation
- 1958, the esteemed Herald Trumpets were introduced to open pregame with fanfares
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- 1960, the band receive their own headquarters in Pitt Stadium
- 1964, Pitt's first game was televised nationally on the National Broadcasting Network. This proved to be a milestone for TV as the band staged the longest half-time show ever done on television up to that time (15 minutes and 11 seconds).
- 1968, when Pitt played Miami in the Orange Bowl, spectators were so thrilled by the half-time performance that they gave the Pitt Band a standing ovation, something no other band had received before in the Florida stadium.
- April 19th, 1969, the Gamma Omega chapter of Tau Beta Sigma was installed at the University of Pittsburgh
- 1972, the new director allowed women to finally join the band
- 1975, the Pitt Band had a "new sound" and a majorette corps, combined with the revamped style of shows and new uniforms, completed the "new look" of the Pitt Band. The majorettes were called "The Golden Girls" because of their gold sequined uniforms.
- 1975, the band traveled to the Sun Bowl and defeated Kansas, causing an increased interest in the band allowing the then 96-member unit to expand to a 140-piece ensemble entering 1976
- 1977, Pitt Band continued to expand its membership (following Pitt Football’s Championship win the previous year) to over 180 members including alternates, with 160 marching on game day.
- 1977, Gator Bowl performance, where the Band did its Star Wars show for a national TV audience.
- 1978, Kappa Kappa Psi – Alpha Omega was disbanded
- 1980, the band would make a repeat trip to the Gator Bowl, participating in the Main Street U.S.A. parade at Disneyland.
- 1980, Tau Beta Sigma – Gamma Omega was disbanded
- 1982, Band Camp moved from Camp Kon-O-Kwee to Pitt's Johnstown Campus where the band now had hot water and indoor restrooms
- 1985-86, a new, high-stepping marching style was incorporated to replace the old Pitt Band style of arm swings, spat flashes and chairs. The addition of a 16-member Color Guard made their first appearance in Morgantown at the annual "Backyard Brawl" with West Virginia.
- 1987-88, Band Camp moved from Pitt-Johnstown to Edinboro University of PA. This Pitt Band was a young band with a large freshman class
- November 1st, 1987, Tau Beta Sigma - Gamma Omega is reinstalled at Pitt
- 1989, Band Camp moved to Pitt Bradford
- 1991-92, the inaugural game for the Big East Football Conference featured Pitt and West Virginia in Morgantown, a game televised nationally by ESPN which the Panthers won 35-3. The band was flown to Las Vegas to perform for a national conference of the National Association of Home Builders, whose president was a Pitt Band and Kappa Kappa Psi Alum, J. Roger Glunt.
- 1995, Jack R. Anderson was named interim director of the band (later being named Director of Bands that spring). The band decided to switch from traditional flank and 8 to 5 step to the newer free-flowing "corps style" marching, although pregame and some halftime numbers still remained traditional.
- 1996-1997, Pitt Band's morale was at an all-time high and due to widespread recruiting efforts by Anderson and his staff, the band had a freshman class of 80 members, bringing total enrollment to around 200. They traveled to Ohio State University that season, where the band received a standing ovation by the crowd, something rumored to never happen for away bands.
- April 15th, 1996, Kappa Kappa Psi- Alpha Omega is reinstalled at Pitt
- 1999, the Pitt band and Pitt football would be changed forever, for this would be the last season in Pitt Stadium. This final season in the 70+ year-old stadium was highlighted with a 37-27 win over Notre Dame, the last game in the stadium, and a personal victory for the band when a standing ovation was received on the march back to the busses from the Penn State game
- 2000, the band and football team played in Three Rivers Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Pitt-Penn State rivalry was temporarily ended with a Pitt victory of 12-0
- 2001, Pitt Band began a new tradition in the newly built Heinz Stadium, sharing the facility with the Pittsburgh Steelers
- 2011, Pitt Band celebrated its 100th anniversary
- 2013, Pitt Band moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference under Dr. Brad Townsend
- 2015, Pitt band had its first female Assistant Drum Major
- September 10th, 2016, the renewed Pitt-Penn State rivalry is renamed the Keystone Classic and Pitt wins the first of four scheduled games 42-39, with the visiting Penn State Blue Band and an all-time record of attendance in Heinz Field for any sporting event
