William D. Revelli Band Rehearsal Hall

Revelli Hall, April 3, 2024, by Mikaila Leonard.

A Home For Excellence

by Mikaila Leonard

Excitement fills the air on a fall Saturday afternoon on Hoover Ave as a crowd eagerly waits for the doors of Revelli Hall to swing open. Energy is already high after the Michigan Drumline performed their “Step Show” on the front steps, and it will soon ramp up again as hundreds of students come marching out the doors during their notorious “Revelli Exit'' as they head towards the Big House.

The William D. Revelli Band Rehearsal Hall, known just as Revelli Hall, was named after one of the most celebrated Michigan band directors. It was dedicated in his honor on October 20,1973, just a few short years after he stepped down as director (“William”). Revelli was the Conductor Bands and Assistant Professor of Wind Instruments from 1935 to 1971 at the University of Michigan. His renowned career began as the supervisor of music at Hobart High School in Indiana in 1925 where he stayed until he was hired at Michigan in 1935. He almost didn’t apply for the position here because the pay was significantly lower than what he had previously been earning (Bolin). Fortunately for Michigan, Revelli knew the impact he could have on the marching band was far greater than anything money could do.

Willam D. Revelli taking the field for the last time in 1970. Photo Courtesy of the Ann Arbor District Library.

Rehearsal space inside Revelli Hall, April 3, 2024, by Mikaila Leonard

Before the band was able to call Revelli Hall its home they had two previous rehearsal halls, Morris Hall and Harris Hall. Morris Hall had served as the bands’ rehearsal hall until Revelli required all male wind instrument majors to become a member of the Marching Band (“History”). This greatly increased the size of the band leading to Revelli claiming Harris Hall as their new rehearsal space. Harris Hall provided a large rehearsal space and great acoustics that was perfect for the “Michigan Marching Band Sound” (“History”). For over 50 years Revelli Hall has been home to the Michigan Marching Band, along with the basketball, hockey, and volleyball bands, as well as the University and Campus bands. The building offers a large rehearsal space, offices, student lockers, meeting spaces, music and media libraries, and historical displays (“Facilities”).

The name Revelli is derived from the Latin word revello, meaning “fierce” or “fiercely enduring” (“Surname Revelly”). Revelli is quite an uncommon name as it doesn’t even make the top 1000 surnames list. For a man who is one of a kind and so fiercely dedicated to his work, this name suits him perfectly.

The Michigan Marching Band encountered a lot of change during Revelli’s time at Michigan, and many of those things have stuck. It was under Revelli’s direction where the Michigan Marching Band was the first band to synchronize music with movement and use an announcer (“William D. Revelli”). The annual Band-O-Rama fundraiser and Band Day were also started during the Revelli years. The band grew tremendously thanks to Revelli’s coach-like recruitment. Through his efforts to be self-disciplined, be a teacher of the people, and to be the best he possibly could at what he does, the spirit of the Michigan Marching Band continues to showcase the effects of an outstanding leader (Froehlich). When he were to project a proper image of himself, the band would follow and grow together because of it, leading the public to see Revelli as an unforgettable leader who leads an extraordinary band.

As Revelli Hall continues to be a space for creativity and inspiration, it leaves behind Revelli’s legacy of dedication and devotion for generations of musicians and others alike to keep the positive impact of music alive.

Works Cited

Bolin, Daniel. “William D. Revelli.” https://www.indianabandmasters.org/PhiBetaMu/revelli.pdf. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024

“Facilites.” Michigan Marching Band, https://michiganmarchingband.com/facilities. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024

Froehlich, Hildegard. “William D. Revelli’s Message to Music Educators.” Music Educators Journal, vol. 75, no. 8, Sage Publications, 1989, p. 22-26, doi: 10.2307/3400292

“History.” Michigan Marching Band, michiganmarchingband.com/history. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.

Leonard, Mikaila. Rehearsal space inside Revelli Hall. 3 Apr. 2024. Author’s personal collection.

Leonard, Mikaila. Revelli Hall. 3 Apr. 2024. Author’s personal collection.

“Surname Revelly - Meaning and Origin.” Surname Revelly: Meaning Origin Variants, www.igenea.com/en/surnames/r/revelly. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.

“William D. Revelli at the Fifty Yard Line for the Last Time, November 1970.” Ann Arbor News, Ann Arbor District Library, https://aadl.org/N083_0576_004. Accessed 14 Apr. 2024.

“William D. Revelli Papers.”, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan, https://findingaids.lib.umich.edu/catalog/umich-bhl-9622. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024

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