Lawrence Pep Band returns as student-led collaboration

"We do have high expectations in our band: we want you guys to have fun and we want to sound awesome," said Lawrence University junior Rebecca Reynolds, a dual degree student pursuing a Bachelor of Music in flute performance and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science.

In January 2024, Reynolds formally revived the Lawrence University Pep Band, alongside her co-president, Ella Lysne, a junior soccer player seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in biology and environmental studies. The group has already seen successes at a variety of campus sporting events, but they're just getting started in this musical collaboration.

"It's important to mention that Pep Band has been around in many iterations over the years, and this is just the most recent," Lysne explained.

The duo thoroughly researched earlier variants, "trying to find the ghost of the old pep band," as Reynolds put it.

The Lawrence University Pep Band performs at a women's hockey game in January.

While a pep band is similar to a marching band, it is highly distinctive. A marching band is typically a mobile ensemble that plays during breaks in the action at sporting events. In contrast, a pep band is stationary and plays throughout the game, generally for a wider variety of sporting events.

"We noticed that there wasn't a pep band [anymore] at Lawrence, but that it would be really fun to play in," said Reynolds, of Gaylord, Michigan. "We knew there was a lot of interest."

The co-presidents had a vision: A low-stress ensemble that valued collaboration, inclusivity, and opportunities above all else.

"We want to keep this fun and light-hearted," Reynolds said.

Members are paid through the Office of Student Life and given both manageable repertoire and flexible rehearsal expectations. Facilitating collaboration between the Athletics department, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Conservatory is central to the ensemble's identity.

"Collaboration was a big part of our story when we created this group," said Lysne, of La Crosse, Wisconsin. "Rebecca is a dual-degree student and a high-level flute player, and I am a student-athlete as a goalkeeper on the women's soccer team. We worked together to create this group in order to foster more connection between the different aspects of Lawrence. We wanted our athletes to be able to hear the talents of musicians on campus and our musicians to see the talents of our athletes."

Students gather for rehearsals for the Lawrence University Pep Band.

Their approach worked. The Lawrence University Pep Band now includes about 30 regular members, featuring a wide variety of woodwinds, brass, and percussion instrumentalists from all parts of the university.

"We have a team-it's a team effort for sure, it's not something we'd be able to do by ourselves," Lysne said.

Such a large ensemble requires careful planning and organization. That's where the Pep Band's leadership team comes in, including an equipment manager, treasurer, social media coordinator, secretary, and music librarian.

"Our leadership team has been really great in making everything run from a logistics standpoint," Reynolds said.

Another key element of the Lawrence Pep Band is its emphasis on student conductors. This opportunity gives conducting-inclined musicians opportunities to lead a sizable ensemble in rehearsals, everyday operations, and during game action.

"Leading a pep band or a marching band can be a huge part of any band director's job; we really wanted to make sure we were giving students more opportunities to get experience leading these ensembles before they get into the professional world," Reynolds said.

The conductors are split into teams. One team leads a rehearsal and its following game; then, the whole roster rotates to give the opportunity to as many students as possible.

Both the leadership team and student conductors work closely with Athletics, aiming to seamlessly integrate the new ensemble into game action.

"We're so thankful for all of the athletic organizations that have welcomed us to the games. … They've been absolutely wonderful to work with," Reynolds said.

When asked about Pep Band's first gig, both presidents responded in unison: January 20, women's hockey.

"I think that date is burned in my memory," Reynolds said.

"There was such a big build-up to that," added Lysne. "It was their senior night as well, and it was a big moment for us."

Since then, Pep Band has worked with numerous Lawrence sport teams, including men's hockey, men's basketball, and women's basketball. Oftentimes the band's repertoire is custom-suited for individual teams.

Seven Nation Armywas a popular request from women's hockey, while women's basketball asked for Industry Baby. Arrangers from within Pep Band often adapt songs for a band format; sophomore John Henderson arranged This Girl to be the women's hockey goal song, and junior Joey O'Connor wrote an original, Lawrence-inspired tune: Viking War Song.

The co-presidents also surveyed the group for their own favorites. The lineup includes pep band classics such as Hey! Baby, Eye of the Tiger, and Crazy Train.

"It's a really great experience that extends beyond the classroom," Reynolds said.