Greetings from Iowa City! It has been an exciting year since I became the thirteenth director of the Hawkeye Marching Band. My family and I are incredibly grateful to be home in Iowa! For us, this university represents friends, colleagues, mentors, and a community that are absolutely unmatched. I am proud to serve as Associate Director of Bands and Director of the HMB. I am thrilled at the progress we’ve made in the last year, and I am excited for the future!
2018 was a busy year for the Hawkeye Marching Band! We marched 250 members and accomplished a lot to be proud of.
We gave three landmark performances in Kinnick, including:
- Collaboration with country music star Pat Green in honor of the Iowa Wave
- Collaboration with the Stead Family Children’s Hospital, honoring the superheroes among us—our Kid Captains
- Veteran’s Day tribute in collaboration with the Iowa Spirt Squad and Dance Team and Iowa Army and Air Force ROTC, featuring a goal line to goal line American flag
We utilized fifteen custom arrangements, including five that were composed within 18 months of their performance in Kinnick. Additionally, with the help of Hawkeye Athletics, we launched a pre-game hype video at home games, and integrated video into many of our halftime performances (including collaborations with some of our favorite coaches). Our national spotlight is growing brighter, as our social media presence has exploded! We love engaging with fans, alums, and other members of the UI community on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
We have a lot to look forward to in 2019! Our audition numbers were up 55%, and the band will march nearly 270 this year. Pat Green returns to perform with the HMB on September 7. We are inviting high school band programs to join us on the field for a special performance of the official song of the Iowa Wave, Pat’s hit Wave on Wave. We have a wonderful season planned, with even more custom arrangements and drill that I know you will love.
I am excited to announce that on June 21, we held the inaugural meeting of the Hawkeye Marching Band Alumni Leadership Board. This board was hand selected from our pool of alumni, and I could not be more excited to work with them. At our meeting, they shared many ideas that will help enhance the impact HMB alumni have on the current band, the University of Iowa, and our community at large. I cannot wait for them to share their ideas with you!
During our board meeting, I shared some of my long term goals for the Hawkeye Marching Band, including:
- Increasing the band membership to 300
- Enhancements to our practice field and facility
- New instruments
- HMB owned transportation vehicles
- Scholarships
- Increased engagement between alums and the current band
We hope to see you in Kinnick on Game Day! I have met so many wonderful alums and supporters of the HMB; if I have not yet had the opportunity to meet you, I am looking forward to doing so in the near future (maybe at Homecoming!). Thank you for all you do to support this wonderful organization!
On Iowa, and Go Hawks!
Eric W. Bush
Associate Director of Bands
Director of The Hawkeye Marching Band