BY ADAM QUANDT | The Statesman “Meet your pep band” will be a series highlighting members of the UMD Pep Band, which provides so much support to our UMD athletic teams.
With hockey and volleyball season well underway and basketball soon to start, the athletes aren’t the only ones busy at work.
The UMD Pep Band, led by assistant director of bands Dan Eaton, is striving to bring more and more energy to UMD sporting events.
Sophomore Amanda Fleming is currently participating in her second year playing clarinet in the pep band.
“I just love everything about music,” Fleming said. “The energy pep band brings to games is a really cool thing to see.”
Fleming is currently a music education major with aspirations to teach music at any level.
Though the pep band provides musical support to basketball and some volleyball games, Fleming explained that hockey games are the most fun for her.
“The pep band definitely feeds off of the energy of the students at the games. The more excited they get, the more we get into it,” Fleming said.
Fleming recalled her favorite pep band moment as last year’s hockey game against the Gophers.
“The amount of energy and student support brought to that game just made it that much more fun to play at,” Fleming said.
Fleming wanted to remind students that you don’t have to be in the music program or even be the best musician to be a part of the UMD Pep Band.
“I’ve made some really great friends through pep band and definitely plan on continuing with it,” Fleming said.
Photo: Amanda Fleming has been part of the UMD Pep Band for two years. ALEX GANEEV/STATESMAN