For every home game, the Washington Huskies have a theme. On Sept. 10, the theme was “Seattle Music Heritage/Band Day,” where marching bands from across the state played alongside the Husky Marching Band during halftime. The MIHS Marching Band was included in this, playing recently learned music for one of the first times.
“We knew that we wanted something early in our season to get out in front of a big crowd, and to get out early and bring the whole band to something where they had to be able to deliver with a little bit of pressure,” MIHS Band Director Parker Bixby said.
Along with 26 other bands including the Husky Marching Band, the MIHS Marching Band played: “Danger Zone,” “Bow Down to Washington,” “Los Gallos” and “The Mandalorian.” This music was chosen by the Husky Marching Band Director, Dr. Brad McDavid.
Bands from all over Washington State come and participate in Husky Band Day, including bands from Camas and South Kitsap. Both Parker Bixby and David Bentley are University of Washington alumni, so they were happy to return to the field.
The band had only been given one week to rehearse this music, including another song that was cut from the set only a day prior to the performance.
For anyone who missed this performance and wants to hear some of this music, join the band at their next home football game, where they will play “Danger Zone” once more.
“Starting at our next game next week we start a “Top Gun” show that we’ll do three times,” Bixby said.
Bixby and Bentley remember similar things from their days at UW as this experience is similar to ones they had when they were teenagers playing in the Husky Marching Band.
“There’s obviously a reason why the band directors here are still doing these things. These were things that we did as teenagers and they were so exciting that we decided to do it for the rest of our adult lives,” Bixby said.
Known across the country as “The Greatest Setting in College Football,” Husky Stadium can seat up to 70,138 people, making it the largest stadium in the Pacific Northwest. With gorgeous views of Union Bay and Lake Washington, there is no question of how the stadium gained the reputation it has. Along with the beautiful views, Husky Stadium has also long been recognized as one of the loudest stadiums in the United States. Close to 70% of the stadium’s seats are between the two end zones and covered by cantilevered (of a projecting beam or structure; fixed or supported at only one end) metal roofs. These roofs easily trap the sound, leaving no question as to how it is one of the loudest. The loudest recorded volume of Husky Stadium was 133.6 decibels in 1992. At the time, this was the loudest recorded volume at a college stadium.
“I know it’s inspirational for the musicians, who have never done anything like it before. Using these skills and this instrument, I can have access to these types of things. That’s a cool lesson,” Bixby said. “My favorite part of Saturday was that it felt normal. It felt like band. We were at a band event doing band things with band people. It felt great.”
