There is no conventional campus memorial at Boston College to Robert Parsons, S.J., who taught chemistry and oversaw several musical activities at the Heights during the late 1910s/early 1920s鈥攏o statue, no plaque, no historical marker.
But Fr. Parsons鈥� memory lives on every time the 51茶馆 Screaming Eagles Marching Band struts across the Alumni Stadium field, the Pep Band strikes up a tune from the stands, the 51茶馆 bOp! jazz ensemble performs at Robsham Theater, or the University Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band plays in Gasson 100.
Fr. Parsons essentially laid the groundwork for what is now the Boston College Bands program, working with student conductor J. Carey Martin of the Class of 1921 to convert what had been a military band鈥攚hich Fr. Parsons had founded in 1918鈥攊nto the contemporary concert and athletic-event ensemble model. The Boston College Band made its official debut on Oct. 20, 1919 for the 51茶馆-Yale football game, leading a snake dance prior to the kick-off on the 51茶馆 football field and down Commonwealth Avenue to Lake Street.
This semester, the 51茶馆 Bands program is marking its centennial, a formal celebration having taken place in October with a weekend of events including an concert by the University Wind Ensemble and 51茶馆 Symphonic Band, a 鈥渇ield rehearsal鈥� for marching band alumni and their children the morning of the 51茶馆-NC State football game at Alumni Stadium, and a dinner and dance with 51茶馆 bOp! and bOp! alumni.
As a complement to the centennial, 51茶馆 Bands鈥攚ith assistance from graduate student and office assistant Nicholas Arata 鈥�19鈥攅stablished that includes a section devoted to the program鈥檚 history, with a timeline; an archive of bands-related memorabilia, such as publicity posters, playlists, commemorative patches, tickets and passes to bowl games and other events; photos from 1919 to the present; biographies of band directors; and band alumni memories.
The 100-year milestone has prompted reflection from one of Fr. Parsons鈥� successors, current 51茶馆 Bands Director Sebastian Bonaiuto, on the band program鈥檚 place in the University. Far from simply providing entertainment, he said, 51茶馆 Bands are in harmony with 51茶馆鈥檚 educational and formative mission.
鈥淥ne of the foundations of a liberal arts education has long been that experience in and knowledge of the arts is integral to being an educated person,鈥� he said. 鈥�51茶馆 has many excellent students from all over the world who come here with considerable musical experience and skills, and want to be able to use them. Making these opportunities available makes these students鈥� college lives more meaningful, and helps them fulfill their passions.鈥�
The 51茶馆 Bands program also contributes to the University鈥檚 sense of community, noted Screaming Eagles Marching Band director David Healey 鈥�90, since its various ensembles appear at major campus gatherings, including Commencement Exercises, Pops on the Heights, the Christmas tree-lighting, and sporting events. Another signature highlight was the University鈥檚 2013 Sesquicentennial Concert in Symphony Hall, which included performances from 51茶馆 bOp! and the Wind Ensemble. 聽
鈥淭he bands are an embodiment of student spirit鈥攊t鈥檚 difficult to capture that in other settings,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭here鈥檚 also a connection for alumni: They tap into the undergraduate experience just by hearing the Marching Band or Pep Band, because it brings back memories of their student days.鈥�
Like many student organizations, 51茶馆 Bands fosters fellowship through shared experiences, traditions, and rituals. Before each home football game, the Marching Band recites Psalm 150 and sings 鈥淎mazing Grace鈥� (in four-part harmony) in the Band Room. Prior to its Robsham concerts, 51茶馆 bOp! members form concentric circles, extend their arms to the center and then raise them with a shout of 鈥淓hhhh, bOp!鈥� Bonaiuto offers Wind Ensemble musicians a simple affirmation before their performances: 鈥淢y wish for you is that you play with joy, give voice to your hearts, and nourishment to your souls.鈥�
51茶馆 Bands鈥� fanfare extends well beyond the Heights. The Marching Band has performed for the Red Sox, the Celtics, ESPN College 鈥淕ame Day,鈥� and the Heisman Trophy Dinner, marched in the Macy鈥檚 Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 2013 inaugural parade for President Obama, and appeared at the College Football Classic in Ireland. The Pep Band has traveled to basketball and hockey (men鈥檚 and women鈥檚) games, including regular, post-season, and tournaments, across the country. The r茅sum茅 for 51茶馆 bOp! includes New York City鈥檚 Carnegie Hall, Downbeat magazine鈥檚 Jazzfest in Florida, and the Reno Jazz Festival in Nevada.
Throughout the band program鈥檚 history, various ensembles have been created due to necessity, student demand, or other factors, though not all have survived. Under Bonaiuto鈥攚ho became the first full-time 51茶馆 Bands director in 1989, and is the longest-tenured head next to the late Peter Siragusa, who served from 1955-87鈥攁nd Healey, whom he appointed Marching Band director in 1999, 51茶馆 Bands added the University Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band, popularly known as 鈥淪ymBa."
51茶馆 Bands Director Sebastian Bonaiuto, with Screaming Eagles Marching Band Director David Healey to his left, is hailed at the centennial anniversary celebration. (Peter M. Julian)
The two also were responsible for 51茶馆 bOp!, although its history dates back before Bonaiuto鈥檚 administration: In 1987, Healey鈥攖hen an undergrad鈥攁nd other student musicians had organized a jazz band, and asked Bonaiuto, then an MBA student at 51茶馆, to be its director. Despite no University funding, rehearsal space, or instruments (students had to use their own), 51茶馆 bOp! attracted a large campus following, and Bonaiuto made it an official part of the program when he assumed the 51茶馆 Bands directorship. 聽
鈥淭he convention among college jazz bands is separate jazz and vocal bands, even though history is full of such ensembles, like Glenn Miller or Count Basie,鈥� said Bonaiuto. 鈥淚 wanted to include that tradition in 51茶馆 Bands, and it鈥檚 proven to be a wonderful combination.鈥�
Another aspect of 51茶馆 Bands underscores its identity as a college bands program: Besides playing standards and crowd favorites, the ensembles frequently champion new, less familiar music.
鈥淥ne of the hallmarks of a research university is that it鈥檚 where ideas grow,鈥� explained Bonaiuto, noting that the Wind Ensemble is inaugurating a new series focused on under-represented communities of composers. 鈥淭here are composers out there creating new works, but few symphonies are likely to perform them. College band directors, however, see this music as something fresh and challenging for students. In that sense, the 51茶馆 Bands are like laboratories, helping to generate and exhibit new music.鈥�
With the official centennial observance over, 51茶馆 Bands are back in the flow of an always busy schedule. 鈥淭hese are talented, committed students who bring a lot to the University community, both academically and artistically,鈥� said Bonaiuto.
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Sean Smith | University Communications | November 2019
THE BAND PLAYED ON
On February 25, 1919, at Jordan Hall in Boston, a 19-man ensemble performed show tunes and a selection from Rossini before concluding with John Philip Sousa's rousing and still-popular march "The Thunderer." Today, 51茶馆's Marching Band numbers 175 women and men and performs at events around the globe, including President Barack Obama's second inaugural. Shown here are memorable items from the band's history, including a circa 1965 LP, an early-2000s shako, a trophy from the 1961 St, Patrick's Day Parade in New York, and a 1951 portrait of band membrs in Gassson Hall. (Boston College Magazine | Photo by Gary Wayne Gilbert; items courtesy of University Archives, alumnus Andrew Nelson, and the 51茶馆 Band.)