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WVU Alumni Band Michigan Tour
"A Tribute to Don Wilcox"
July 10-14, 2024
Activity Level for this tour:
Invoices have been emailed for balance payments! 4/15
Don Wilcox served as the Director of the WVU Marching Band for 27 years from 1971 to 1997. During his tenure, the band more than tripled in size from 88 to over 325 members and gained the reputation as one of the best university marching bands in the nation. This fact was confirmed in 1997 when the band received the Sudler Trophy naming the WVU Band as the nation's outstanding collegiate marching band for that year. After stepping down as the marching band's director in 1998, he continued to serve as WVU's Director of Bands until May of 2005. His retirement marked an end to a distinguished 34-year career with the WVU Bands program. In recognition of his years of outstanding service, Wilcox was honored by achieving the title of WVU Director of Bands Emeritus.
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To honor Mr. Wilcox, members of the WVU Alumni Band will be traveling to Michigan to perform a tribute concert to honor the legacy of a true Mountaineer. The group will be performing in concert with members of the Northport Community Band. This band is close to Mr. Wilcox's heart as he was the director of the ensemble for several years.
The plan is to have a concert band performance with the group playing a medley of pre-game selections as well. The concert band will primarily play several of Mr. Wilcox's favorite concert works. The band will players from many eras, it should be noted that the literature for this group will be more advanced.
A tour has been created around the concert event to allow participants an opportunity to experience the state that Mr. Wilcox calls home today. The group will stay overnight in Detroit, MI and visit the world famous Henry Ford Museum. Following the concert in Northport, the group will stay overnight (2 nights) in Traverse City, MI. The finale of the tour will feature a ferry ride and a day exploring Mackinac Island, MI.
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This tour is open to anyone who has performed with the WVU bands (marching, concert, wind ensemble/symphony) over the years. You do not have to be a member of the alumni band to participate in this tour. For those of you who played under Mr. Wilcox's tutelage, this is an opportunity to see him again and honor him for his contributions to the band program. For those of you who did not have Mr. Wilcox as a director, this is an opportunity to meet and honor the man who set the standard for WVU excellence over the past 53 years!
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Music/Info. Downloads
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Festival In Russia (Polonaise)
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Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon
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Personnel and Part Assignments
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Northport Community Band
Don Wilcox, Conductor
Mackinac Island
Day 1 (Wednesday) - July 10, 2024
Rehearsals in Morgantown - The first day of the tour is the rehearsal day (rehearsal beginning at 9:30am). John Hendricks (former director of bands and current director of the alumni band) will be running rehearsals and conducting the Michigan performance. Presently, the plan is to have the concert band rehearsal for most of the day and a marching band rehearsal later in the afternoon. All rehearsals will be at the Clay Concert Theater (CAC). Rehearsal times will be distributed to all participants once registration has closed and Mr. Hendricks has a better idea of the instrumentation for the tour. Special Morgantown hotel rates are available beginning for those who need accommodations for Tuesday/Wednesday night.
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Day 2 (Thursday) - July 11, 2024
Travel Day to Detroit - Departure will be from the Coliseum (tentative) parking lot. The tour will depart following lunch in Morgantown on your own (OYO). The group will travel (via Lone Pine Bus Lines) just like the band trips of old. The travel time from Morgantown to Detroit is approximately 6 hours with rest stops. Upon arrival in Detroit, the group will check into our hotel for the first overnight stay. Participants will have some time to explore Downtown Detroit and the riverfront area with Dinner* at Amore de Roma. NIGHT IN DEARBORN (Holiday Inn Express - Dearborn)
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Day 3 (Friday) - July 12, 2024
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Concert Performance in Northport - Following Breakfast* at the hotel, the group will tour the Henry Ford Museum in the morning. Lunch is included and will consist of a boxed Lunch* en-route to Northport. Upon arrival in Northport, there will be a catered Dinner* (school cafeteria) for the alumni band prior to the concert. There will also be a dress rehearsal before the concert. The concert is scheduled for 8pm in the auditorium of the Northport Public School. The concert, "A Tribute to Don Wilcox" will feature selections by the WVU Alumni Band that are some of Mr. Wilcox's favorites. Members of the Northport Community Band will be joining the group for the concert. Following the concert, the group will travel to Traverse City for overnight accommodations at our hotel in Traverse City, Michigan. NIGHT IN TRAVERSE CITY (Hampton Inn - Traverse City)
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Day 4 (Saturday) - July 13, 2024
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Explore Mackinac Island - Following Breakfast* at the hotel, the group will depart for Mackinaw City via motorcoach. After boarding the ferry, the group will have the entire day (approximately 1am-8pm) to explore and experience one of America's most popular tourist destinations... Mackinac Island! Lunch and dinner will be (OYO). At the end of the day, the group will again board the ferry back to Mackinaw City and then return to the hotel for the final night of the tour. 2ND NIGHT IN TRAVERSE CITY
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Day 5 (Sunday) - July 14, 2024
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Travel Day to Morgantown - Following Breakfast* at the hotel, the group will depart for Morgantown via motorcoach. Lunch* will again be a boxed lunch in the Flint, Michigan area. Arrival in Morgantown will be around dinner time and therefore, dinner will not be part of the tour.
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* = meal included in tour package
(OYO) = meal on your own
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**A performance shirt will also be included in the package price!
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