MARCHING BEYOND THE MUSIC:
Leadership With A
'Touch of Class'
The Husky Marching Band (HMB) is a 240-member ensemble utilizing the traditional chair-step and toe-point style of marching. The HMB is a year-round ensemble that actively participates in supporting all of the Universities’ 20 athletic teams. Current members participate during the fall to help support Husky Football at each home football game, and even select away games. Selected members also have the chance to support other sports such as Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer, Rowing and even some Golf and Gymnastics! The HMB is also used as a valuable community promoter for the University of Washington, making appearances for local businesses, non-profit/charitable organizations, professional sporting events, and participating in events such as the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade.
Within the Spirit Team, there are the squads of Cheer, Dance, and Mascot. Harry the Husky is the official mascot in costume and typically appears at Husky Athletics and community events throughout the school year and summer. Harry’s popularity on campus and throughout Husky Nation is unmistakable. Since his debut in 1995, he has clearly found a place in the hearts of all Husky fans, young and old alike. The Harry the Husky mascot team consists of 5 mascots, and they work closely with the 'live' mascot team of handlers who take care of Dubs Ⅱ—the 14th official live mascot of the University of Washington. Harry the Husky performs at football, volleyball, women’s basketball and men’s basketball as well as participates in other athletic events and community activities each year. Harry the Husky competes at UCA Nationals in the D1A Mascot division.
Together, the University of Washington Husky Marching Band and Spirit Program play a pivotal role in creating a vibrant and engaging environment for the University of Washington community. They are symbols of pride and tradition, embodying the spirit and energy of the university through their performances and appearances
Being a part of Husky Band & Spirit is something that goes way deeper than the surface level… It is more than just the ‘entertainment’ and ‘pep’ of sports. The Band & Spirit team is the heart of the collegiate experience; without it, there would be no fight song, there would be no chants, there would be a campus without high levels of energy and joy. While serving on ‘Student Staff’, I was able to apply my work ethic countless hours to diligently ensure that the 240+ member marching band ran smoothly, and that all necessary tasks were accomplished at both a high quality and in an efficient manner. There were many times I had to push through to my limit and continue delivering the highest quality service to the organization—I am all the better for it! I am more prepared than ever to lead a large musical ensemble and know what it takes ‘behind-the-scenes’ to make things come together in a smooth and glorious fashion.
- Engaged Husky Nation, brightens the day of the fans, and entertains to the best of our ability
- Designed and built props using creative measures in order to deliver a unique experience for entertainment as well as competition
- UCA Nationals D1A Mascot Division Competition: 4th Place (Spring 2021)
- Auditioned and granted membership into the Trumpet Section assigned on ‘1st Part’
- Assisted the 240+ member Husky Marching Band at the University of Washington, which performs a new halftime show at every home game in Husky Stadium
- Engaged in teamwork within the band, utilizing the traditional chair-step & toe-point style of marching, while incorporating elements of contemporary corps-style technique & choreography at times
- Efficiently communicated to carry out the proper technique of performance marching & pep-style music
- Performed for live audiences (which includes ‘high profile’ people such as celebrities, government officials, etc) with upward capacity of 110,000, and virtual audiences of up to 28,000,000 (data from the 2024 CFP National Championship game against Michigan)
- Participated in active music making to support Husky Football at each home football game, and even select away games.
- Supported the Universities' 20 athletic teams such as Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Volleyball, Softball, Soccer, Rowing and even some Golf and Gymnastics
- “Gigs” at various functions, events, and occurrences
*Made appearances for local businesses, non-profit/charitable organizations, professional sporting events, and other events such as the annual Seafair Torchlight Parade, Candy Cane Lane, and Windermere Cup
- Offered to play internationally in Canada for the BC Lions Football Team; to play locally for the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field
- Assisted in carrying out various tasks for annual events such as “Band Day” and “Jr/Sr Day”
- Marched under Dr. Brad McDavid’s guidance during his final two years as Director of Athletic Bands and participated in post-season travel (including the 2022 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas; 2023 Final PAC-12 Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada; 2024 Sugar Bowl in NOLA, and CFP National Championship in Houston, Texas)
- Served as a Staff Assistant to the Director of Athletic Bands (Dr. Brad McDavid), Graduate Assistants (Corey Jahlas, Roger Wu Fu, and David Stewart), Senior Staff, Program Coordinator, Student Staff, other University Officials, HMBAA, and the UW Spirit Program
- Worked closely with the Undergraduate Assistant to help to ensure that all staff work assignments are completed in a timely fashion
- Provided administrative support for the Director of Ops as necessary, to meet deadlines, handle organization details, plan and arrange activities, react with appropriate urgency to situations, and support all general operations
- Communicated between staff & students to ensure successful performances, events, and practices
- Lead tasks among members of the Leadership Team (Student Staff, Section Leaders, Drum Majors, Siren Squad, etc)
- Delegated appropriate responsibilities to ensure the program runs efficiently, and takes initiative under high pressure and time sensitivity
- Organized setup & teardown of field equipment, audio equipment/sound systems, radios, podiums for rehearsals, games, and other occurrences taking place in a variety of environments including athletic facilities
- Transported necessary items using Vans, Golf Carts, Gator Utility Vehicles, Trailers, etc
- Printed and distributed Marching Drill Charts
- Helped organize logistics for Gameday scenarios and interstate/international travels
- Sought to communicate clearly, speak confidently in public to share any new information, enforce policy, motivate others, represent the team, share positivity, implore optimism, lead with charisma, empower others, and accept responsibility
- Integrated leadership methods learned from the retreat to build a positive team atmosphere
- Employed critical thinking skills, collaboration, and time management
- Conducted the Husky Band
***Revised processes and made transition manuals
***Helped to integrate the largest ‘Rookie Class’ in HMB history (110 new members)
With so many differing ‘gameday’ scenarios, rehearsal issues, location changes, there is never a day in-service that is problem-free. Over the course of the year, there are a plethora of events that require setup, active-facilitation, and teardown… which means there are tons of chances for problems to present themselves! From transporting heavy equipment, to conducting halftime shows in a packed stadium, there are so many moments where things can ‘go-wrong’. It is said that character is define by how one reacts to adversity; as a member of the HMB Student Staff, there are many situations full of varying degrees of adversity, and those situations always become the most memorable when quick-decisions are made to solve the issue at hand. There is rarely the ‘right’ way to fix the problem at hand, but some solutions are definitely more efficient than others, and are more replicable for future scenarios.
When it comes to serving such a large organization (one that has MANY elements & moving parts involved) it is very much an “all-hands-on-deck” situation. An organization of this size can never be a one-person-show… It calls for multiple leaders to band together and constantly brainstorm new ideas, new ways of doing things, and for as many people as possible to help out with the laborious tasks that are necessary for the organization to function at the highest possible level. As Staff Assistant, it is vitally important to lead in such a way that ‘lightens the load’ for all involved; to essentially make it so no one feels spread too-thin… and so burnout does not occur. Within such a large group, there are many people who carry differing strengths, and it is up to the Student Staff to figure out where everybody’s efforts should be designated towards. If the Student Staff are focusing on utilizing others’ contributions in an effective and efficient manner, the toughest goals set can be accomplished in a graceful manner.
We are given two ears and only one mouth… meaning we should listen twice as much as we speak. As Staff Assistant, there are times where there needs to be extra eyes & ears on the field during rehearsals; eyes to assist the visual designs/formations of the show, and ears to assess the musicality and encourage musicianship of the highest degree. Outside of conducting and assisting with rehearsals, much of the roles of the members of Student Staff are reliant on verbal communication from directors and staff. Sometimes, this verbal communication is presented during loud scenarios (sometimes through static-filled walkie-talkies) where the adrenaline is high and everyone is moving at a fast pace. Due to the reality that sporting events and marching band music is extremely loud, it is imperative to stay focused and tune the ears to the requests made from the higher-ups. Failure to do so can result in a collapse of functions among the staff members since everyone would be assuming different versions of one piece of intended information—much like the game ‘telephone’ but on a larger scale with real-life implications. In addition, the members of the marching band approach the Student Staff to provide insight, opinions, concerns, and the like… which requires careful attention to listen to the needs of the members and see them as individuals who have value.
Staff Assistant is one of those roles that is a never-ending journey from the moment you are hired to the moment you pass the baton to the successor. Every day is an adventure; every day presents new opportunities—opportunities to learn, to grow, and to achieve the fullest potential of one’s self-development journey. There are moments that push to the limit, and moments where it feels like giving up is the easiest thing to do; however, through these situations are where the most growth occurs, the most skills are honed-in, the joy shines through. From learning how to drive unique vehicles, organizing events, running sound equipment, leading rehearsals, conducting shows, and entertaining crowds that push decibels into record-setting-limits, there is never a dull moment!
Within the Husky Marching Band, there are varying levels of authority: Senior Staff, Student Staff, Drum Majors, Section Leaders, Squad Leaders, and so on. Within each category, there are clear power dynamics at play, and create checks-and-balances so no decision made goes without oversight and refinement before it gets put into action. Staff Assistant particularly is a role that is in a very unique spot on the power scale: it is technically above the rest of the students (section leaders, etc) but drum majors almost hold as much power. The Staff Assistant answers to the Undergraduate Assistant (essentially the president of the undergrads) who answers to the members of the Senior Staff (Director, Director of Ops, Graduate Assistants, etc). Staff Assistant & Undergraduate Assistant serve together and do the same tasks, but there are slight power differences in terms of final-say during the day-to-day basis. Outside of the HMB, there are external power dynamics at play… especially during sports events where there are so many other authority figures telling everyone where they can & cannot go, and what they can & cannot do.
To hold a position on ‘Student Staff’ is to hold a role that is synonymous with the idea of service. Service is the backbone of all leadership positions within the organization, and if one were to try and carry out the duties without a focus on servant-leadership, one would quickly become disheartened after most likely becoming burnt-out. Service requires a proper heart-posture—one that places the needs of others above the needs of self; one that seeks to uphold the values and morale of the organization far beyond the reach of negativity. From filling waters for everyone, to serving dinner and cleaning up when messes are made; from applying first-aid to wounds to being there when someone is going through moments of anxiety and needs someone to talk to… The Staff Assistant does it all, and does it all with a smile & positive attitude. It is a pure joy to serve such a wonderful organization!
Similar to problem-solving, having the ability to respond to ambiguity is a necessary skill one must have—or at least be willing to develop—to adequately fulfill the duties of Student Staff positions. Due to the fact that things are in constant flux, and there are a ton of members in the organization, things can become unpredictable quickly… so quickly that the response has to be formed during the ‘fight-or-flight’ mode of the brain. This may sound dramatic and exaggerated, but it is completely true. Anyone who has ever served as a Student Staff member of the Husky Marching Band can confirm that there is constant ambiguity that takes place during high-stakes situations where the circumstances are less than ideal and people are pulling the leaders in every direction at the same time. At times, the ambiguity comes from lack of clear communication due to the varying levels of power and so many ‘telephone’ scenarios that require authority figures to clear-up. Sometimes when this happens, decisions need to be made without clarity since time is of-the-essence. This requires the ability to have great judgment, critical thinking skills, and the ability to be flexible and patient with others. If done properly, the moments of ambiguity can turn into moments where everyone can thrive and celebrate the successful outcome.
Throughout my journey on the mascot team, marching in the band, and serving as Staff Assistant, I have learned a plethora skills I would not have learned anywhere else. I have also been granted many opportunities for interstate & international travel that has broadened my worldview and has exposed me to cultures—cultures I can now understand more on a personal level. During the entirety of this experience, my leadership abilities were always transforming, experiencing gains in some aspects while stagnating in others. Yet, the constant was my relentless progression and self-improvement; my character was sculpted through trials, demanding conversations, and times when I was called to give beyond my capacity. All of the competencies that I have developed can be summed up in the notion of having a “Touch of Class” (ToC for short). Being the band’s motto & guiding principle, ToC refers to the way we all carry out our behavior in every situation that comes our way… no matter how frustrating or difficult things become. Having a Touch of Class in all that I have done for the Husky Band & Spirit is a virtue I will carry with me through all the days of my life—especially as a music educator!
Celebrating 4th Place at the UCA Nationals D1A Mascot Division Competition
Husky Marching Band | Washington vs Arizona | Tribute to Epic Movie Soundtrack Anniversaries Video
Conducting the Husky Marching Band | Washington vs California