Friday Jun 19, 2015

"Husky Marching Band"

Brad McDavid

Director of Athletic Bands University of Washington

Introduced by: Dennis Newell

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Dr. Brad McDavid, the 4th Director of the Husky Marching Band since  1929, will discuss the band and its musicians and history. The University of Washington Husky Marching Band HMB) is a 240-member ensemble. It is one of the few bands outside the Big Ten Conference to utilize the traditional chair step style of marching.

The HMB is a year-round ensemble that actively participates in supporting all Husky sports. Members participate during the fall to help support Husky Football at all home football games and even selected away games. The 2015 season will be the 86th for the HMB. In 1981, the Husky Band, under the direction of Bill Bissell, is credited with the invention of  the Wave. An event for local high school bands, Band Day at Husky football games began in 1950 thanks to Walter C. Welke, then band director.

The HMB has played as far afield as the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend Indiana. It has also traveled and performed in Japan, China, and Europe. In addition, the HMB plays at various community and local school events.

About the Speaker

Dr. Brad McDavid is in his 21st year as Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Washington. His primary duties as director of the 240-member Husky Marching Band includes principal field conductor, show coordinator, and program administrator.

Having previously taught at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in central Ohio and Tempe, Arizona, Brad received his Bachelor’s Degree and Ph.D in Music Education from The Ohio State University and Master’s Degree from Arizona State University.

Brad is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor and has led the Husky Marching Band on performance tours of Australia, China, Scandinavia, Japan, France and Italy. In 2008 he was selected to serve as the head artistic director for the 1700 member international Beijing Olympic Orchestra. In May of 2015, Brad was also selected by the Kansai Bandmaster’s Association to conduct a 7300 member mass marching band in Osaka, Japan.

Dr. McDavid is currently on the selection committees for the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield and Sudler Trophy awards recognizing outstanding high school and collegiate marching bands around the world. He is also the founder and director of the Washington All-State High School Marching Band. McDavid is also the co-author of the two-volume DVD instructional series, “The Marching Band Director’s Video Toolbox” (published by GIA Publications).

Brad, his wife Janie (who is also a longtime music educator), and son Skylar, reside in Bothell.