UT band alumni step in to raise money for scholarships

Despite its long tradition and accomplishments, the band’s future is being threatened — like other parts of the university — by rising tuition, stagnant state funding and competition with other schools.

The band gets funding from the university, athletic department and endowments, but band leaders and alumni say it’s not enough to provide the kind of scholarships that will attract and retain high quality musicians.

An alumni group has planned a gala at Knoxville’s Tennessee Theater next month to raise $200,000 for 150 scholarships. The band spent half that last year to give money to about a third of the members.

“If we don’t raise money then the level of the group is not going to be the Pride of the Southland Band anymore. It’s going to be the Somewhat Happy about the University of Tennessee band, but certainly not the great pride that everyone has in their organization,” director of bands, Gary Sousa, said.

The Pride started as a military band in 1869 and marched in its first football game in 1902. The band has marched in 10 consecutive presidential inauguration parades.

The band offers scholarships that can range from $250 to $3,000 a year based on playing ability, the demand for a certain instrument and leadership positions like the drum major.

Sousa said he’s had parents be insulted by the offer of a small scholarship.

“They think we’re telling them they’re no good,” he said.

With tuition prices going up across the country, more scholarship dollars is a big incentive for prospective band members.

“The lure of playing for the Big Orange didn’t really excite them as did having the money to go to school,” said Bill Burkhart, a former UT drummer and chairman of the alumni band association.

Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee and other schools inside and outside Tennessee already offer more money and perks like housing, he said.

The university raised tuition 13 percent for undergraduates at the Knoxville campus, increasing in-state fees to $5,290 a year and out-of-state fees to $16,360 a year.

Last year, the band spent $578,400 on operating expenses, uniforms, equipment and scholarships. Some instruments like tubas can cost as much as $5,000.

The athletic department paid for the band’s travel to six football games and three basketball tournaments, which totaled a little over $702,000. Travel expenses include hotel rooms, transportation, game tickets and meals.

The athletic department also chipped in nearly $50,000 for the 80-member pep band, $11,000 for renting a sound system in the stadium, $5,000 for uniforms and $75,000 for scholarships.

Burkhart, who played snare drum in the band from 1973-77 and is now a Knoxville physician, said there is a misconception that the band is part of the athletic department and has no financial problems.

“Much of the business community and fan base for the University of Tennessee has no idea how little money is given to the band from the university. That is not a slam on the university,” he said. “There’s not enough money to spread around.”

The athletic department, dealing with its own budget difficulties this year, has reduced the number of away games the entire band will attend from five to three. Only the pep band will travel to Florida and LSU.

The athletic department would be hard pressed to find more money for the band this year, chief financial officer Bill Myers said.

“If you give more to the band, where are you going to take that money from? That’s not just true of athletics, that’s true of the university as well,” he said.

“Celebrate the Pride” will be held on Sept. 2, and tickets cost $50. The band is scheduled to perform, and football coach Phillip Fulmer said he will be there to help the cause.

“We appreciate what they do a lot,” Fulmer said. “They go way out of their way to support us. It’s the least we can do to support them.”

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On the Net:

Pride of the Southland Band: http://web.utk.edu/ 7/8utband