It Must Be Summer! - All American College Band 2016

[TP2000]

One of the special charms of visiting Disneyland in summer is getting to see the All-American College Band perform and liven up a crowd. Disneyland has been hosting this group every summer for over 40 years, and they never fail to impress and entertain. A 21 member band made up of marching band musicians from all over the country, selected from America's finest colleges and universities, its a prestigious gig to get for these college kids (and I imagine a great way to spend the summer).

WDW used to have their own version of the All-American College Band in the 1970's through the 1990's, but then they were axed by the wise and savvy WDW management years ago and the concept never returned to Orlando.

But through August they perform daily throughout DCA and Disneyland, although their afternoon sets in front of the Castle and Main Street Train Station are their most popular.

Here's the 2016 troupe in action on their first day, with the band leader introducing each member and which college they are from. Great talent and fresh All-American faces! Bravo kids, and bravo Disneyland!

 

[Curious Constance]

I had hoped my daughter could try for this some day, but doesn't look like they have flutes.

 

[FerretAfros]

I have several friends who are alumni of the band, and they all said that it was a lot of fun. Of course they all hated the terrible polyester uniforms (so dated that they're almost retro chic!), but it was a pretty solid summer gig and they seem to get a lot more leeway than the regular entertainment CMs

Somehow through all my countless visits, I've never managed to catch a performance of theirs. I tend to avoid the parks in the summer, but even when I was local I never happened to see them

I had hoped my daughter could try for this some day, but doesn't look like they have flutes.

Flutes are so quiet that they're essentially useless outdoors. Most marching bands use piccolos to supplement the flutes, but that's often not enough to actually hear them. It's not unusual for flute players to learn a secondary instrument for marching band, with anything from French horn/mellophone, to ensemble percussion, to bass drum, to tuba. My high school had a particular glut of flutes, so many of them ultimately switched full time

Given the musical style of the All-American College Band, it doesn't seem like they'll be using flutes any time soon. Maybe she better start dusting off her sousaphone chops!

 

[TP2000]

The band does sets at DCA's Hollywood Backlot Stage every day, a setting that would be better for a flutist.


Surely they've had a flutist some years. I thought I'd remembered a young lady playing a flute, or piccolo, or some wind instrument like that. I'll research it @Curious Constance.

 

[FerretAfros]

Surely they've had a flutist some years. I thought I'd remembered a young lady playing a flute, or piccolo, or some wind instrument like that. I'll research it @Curious Constance.

According to the audition page, they encourage the saxes to double on flute/piccolo or clarinet:
https://disneyauditions.com/other-opportunities/collegeband/

I assume most of the sax players started on clarinet and then switched over at some point; that's how most schools do it. Flute would be a bit more of a challenge, but there are still some similarities between the two

 

[Curious Constance]

Thanks guys! It sure seams like it would be a lot of fun.

And those uniforms really are horrid aren't they?!

One of the worst I've seen ever lol it's almost distracting.