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27 Years of Pep Band
27 Years of Pep Band
The Gaucho Pep Band was reformed in 1998 by Sarah Barnes and has had multiple conductors and presidents since then. The Pep Band has been completely student-run since its reformation in 1998, we choose all of our own songs and organize everything ourselves because we love music and our community.
The Gaucho Pep Band was reformed in 1998 by Sarah Barnes and has had multiple conductors and presidents since then. The Pep Band has been completely student-run since its reformation in 1998, we choose all of our own songs and organize everything ourselves because we love music and our community.
In 2017, the job of conductor and president were combined, with two presidents splitting the responsibilities. Band leadership is responsible for all the operational tasks that go on behind the scenes, as well as managing the band during practices and games.
In 2017, the job of conductor and president were combined, with two presidents splitting the responsibilities. Band leadership is responsible for all the operational tasks that go on behind the scenes, as well as managing the band during practices and games.
Historically, the Pep Band has been one of the official spirit squads on campus, attending all Big West Soccer and Basketball games with Cheer, Dance, and the Locos. The Band also traveled to support the Gauchos at the Big West tournament in Anaheim, California every year. You can find many videos on Youtube of the band playing at the basketball championships.
Historically, the Pep Band has been one of the official spirit squads on campus, attending all Big West Soccer and Basketball games with Cheer, Dance, and the Locos. The Band also traveled to support the Gauchos at the Big West tournament in Anaheim, California every year. You can find many videos on Youtube of the band playing at the basketball championships.
When the university moved online in March 2020, Big West was canceled and the season came to an abrupt end. The band went on full hiatus for over a year and lost all but 8 members as multiple classes graduated. In Fall 2021, UCSB began a gradual return to normalcy, and we were luckily able to hold practices again and play music again as an ensemble. We spent this unorthodox year getting the club off the ground. The 2021-2022 school year marked the first time the Pep Band had ever played at a club Ice Hockey game and the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, which are now a regular part of our calendar! After two years of recruitment and a lot of hard work, the band made a full return to the Big West basketball championships in Henderson, Nevada in 2023!
When the university moved online in March 2020, Big West was canceled and the season came to an abrupt end. The band went on full hiatus for over a year and lost all but 8 members as multiple classes graduated. In Fall 2021, UCSB began a gradual return to normalcy, and we were luckily able to hold practices again and play music again as an ensemble. We spent this unorthodox year getting the club off the ground. The 2021-2022 school year marked the first time the Pep Band had ever played at a club Ice Hockey game and the Santa Barbara Half Marathon, which are now a regular part of our calendar! After two years of recruitment and a lot of hard work, the band made a full return to the Big West basketball championships in Henderson, Nevada in 2023!
In 2024, for the first time in history, the Gaucho Pep Band attended Picnic Day 110 at UC Davis, joining the parade and the Battle of the Bands alongside seven other college bands from across California. The role of Conductor was also brought back for this event! We also returned to playing at UCSB volleyball games, as well as starting to perform at various other club sports games such as women's rugby and men's lacrosse!
In 2024, for the first time in history, the Gaucho Pep Band attended Picnic Day 110 at UC Davis, joining the parade and the Battle of the Bands alongside seven other college bands from across California. The role of Conductor was also brought back for this event! We also returned to playing at UCSB volleyball games, as well as starting to perform at various other club sports games such as women's rugby and men's lacrosse!
We are so proud of how far the band has come over the past 27 years and would like to give a huge thank you to all of the members who came before us and kept such an amazing community alive. If you visit us at a game, keep an ear out for your old favorites and some new tunes as well!
We are so proud of how far the band has come over the past 27 years and would like to give a huge thank you to all of the members who came before us and kept such an amazing community alive. If you visit us at a game, keep an ear out for your old favorites and some new tunes as well!
Pep Band Shirts Through the Ages
Conductors:
Sarah M. Barnes (1998-2001)
Cambria Bowers (2001-2002)
Amber L. Kaminsky (2002-2003)
Nikki St. Germain (2003-2005)
Melissa Wilkins (2005-2006)
Lorrin Lee Kwai (2006-2007)
Chris Hartney (2007-2008)
Hector Hernandez (2008-2009)
Grace Urata (2009-2010)
Taylor Lane (2010-2011)
Charles Cummins (2013-2015)
Sarah Kouklis (2015-2016)
Drew Liu (2023-2025)
Akim Torres (2025-present)
Presidents:
Sarah M. Barnes (1998-2001)
Jessie Vashly (2001-2002)
Vanessa Graeff (2002-2003)
Binh Vuong (2003-2005)
Melissa Weise (2005-2006)
Clark Beech (2006-2008)
Paul Rosenberg (2008-2010)
Evan O' Hara (2010-2012)
Jeff Carter (2012-2013)
Rebecca Howard & Emma Manley (2013-2015)
Charlotte Abrahamson (2015-2016)
Haley Darrow & Gabe Garvin (2016-2017)
Jalaal Ahmad & Emma O'Donnell (2017-2018)
Jalaal Ahmad (2019-2020)
Kevin Prough & Joseph Pinheiro (2020-2021)
Natalie Churchley (2021-2022)
Natalie Churchley & Katlyn Shaw (2022-2023)
Brendan Snow & Raymond Hughes (2023-2024)
Brendan Snow & Brynna Neves (2024 - 2025)
Brynna Neves & Joey Gray (2025-2026)
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