From the Desk of...
Sam McIlhagga, director of bands

March 5, 2004

When I first learned that I would be the new director of bands at Albion College, my first thought was, “Thank God graduate school paid off!” My second thought was, “Holy cow! I have a marching band to prepare for football games and I don’t even know when the first game is!”

When I arrived at Albion, I realized this was the least of my worries. I wasn’t even sure how many students were in band, who the leaders were, or what the instrumentation was. I had dreams of pre-season practice with 23 piccolos, a trumpet, and six cymbals!

And I felt a great weight.

A few days prior to the first meeting with my new band, I met the band council. They all came over for a barbecue at my home and we talked about what would happen during the week of camp. This was the beginning of my realization that something special was happening here on campus. They quickly assured me that everything was under control, that they had all done this before, and that I should not worry about anything.

Easier said than done… but I took their word for it. With their help we got music copied, schedules made, and I got a crash course on the British Eighth.

And a weight was lifted.

At last the big day had arrived. I was nervous but felt confident that I could put together a presentable group to represent Albion College. As I walked into the chapel for our first meeting as a band, I looked around at their faces and saw smiles, heard laughter, and felt a spirit that was later to become quite intoxicating.

And a weight was lifted.

As we began to get to work, I noticed over and over again that people were genuinely excited to be there… at 8 a.m.! There must be some mistake. Are they really young adults?! No, I was not mistaken, these students were serious!

And a weight was lifted.

We completed our pre-season work by learning the entire first show, pre-game, plus all the music they would play in the stands and on the field. Where am I?! Not only was everything learned, but the spirit that I noticed at the beginning of the week was now working its full force on the entire group! The Io Triumphe! cheer completely took me by surprise. It was the loudest it had been, the music and marching had an extreme level of intensity, and the closeness of the group became very apparent.

And the weight was gone.

I can’t tell you how many times I came home from a rehearsal this past fall and said to my wife, “They amaze me day in and day out!” The group of Albion College students, some music majors, but the vast majority not, who call themselves the British Eighth are by far the closest, tightest-knit group of students I have ever met. They are a family. And I consider myself lucky to say I am a part of that family. Thank you all for a wonderful first year.