On Oct. 12, the Red Flash Marching Band welcomed more than 70 high school students from 17 different area school districts to play alongside its members during SFU’s football game against Duquesne.
This marked the largest number of high schoolers the band has welcomed to campus for a “side-by-side” event.
“Working with high schools is important from a University standpoint because of recruitment,” said SFU Band Director Jonathan Neff.
“We want to bring students here. The more they’re on campus, the more engaged they are with us, the more likely they are to join us as students.”
The SFU Marching and Pep Bands each host a side-by-side event every academic year. These events provide high schoolers the opportunity to see what it’s like to be a member of a University band.
“I think the side-by-sides are very important because it allows students to feel included, especially if their high school band program is small,” said SFU senior low brass section leader and tenor saxophone player Taylor Harris.
At the SFU football game on Oct. 12, high schoolers got the chance to perform the Red Flash Band’s standing song “Big Noise from Winnetka” at halftime.
They also played pep songs in the stands for fans and provided music for tailgaters before the game.
All high school students who participate in side-by-side events receive an SFU Band shirt.
Participants wear their high school uniforms during their visits.
“As a former high school teacher, I love this sort of outreach,” said Neff. “Even if they don’t come here, it’s still educationally valid.
“It’s giving them a band experience that is outside of their norm and showing them that there’s music beyond high school.”
The SFU Band hosted another event on Sept. 28, during which five area high school bands visited campus and performed their halftime shows. Afterwards, all five of the visiting bands, as well as the SFU Band, played “Land of a Thousand Dances” on DeGol Field.
“As someone who went to side-by-sides here (at Saint Francis) in high school, it helped me feel like I was a part of something bigger and made me realize how much I enjoy music,” said Harris.
