The Georgetown Pep Band is a student band that performs at various Georgetown athletic and community events. While the band is probably best-known on campus for its performances at basketball games, it also performs at football, basketball, and lacrosse games.
Origins
The Georgetown Pep Band was originally established in 1922 as an ROTC band1, playing at Hoya football games2. The band performed at the 1941 Orange Bowl, Georgetown football's first and most significant bowl appearance3. The first iteration of the band lasted until 1951, when Georgetown dissolved its football program4. However, since Georgetown's concert and pep bands have historically had the same members, the band did not disappear entirely. The modern Georgetown Pep Band dates back to 1963, when Georgetown formed a Stadium Committee to promote interest in university athletic events5. The Committee's plans included the reestablishment of a pep band, which would initially consist of 15-25 members and perform at halftime6. While the pep band was a relatively minor student organization at the time, it did include one notable member: future president Bill Clinton (SFS '68)7.
History
The Pep Band experienced significant changes in the 1970s and 80s. After a 1970 NIT performance, the band did not play at basketball games for the next four years, though it continued to perform at football games8. During the 1974-75 season, the band once again began performing at basketball games and traveled for a conference tournament game for the first time9. At the time, the band was still a subject of derision among some students, one of whom wrote a 1976 piece in The Hoya bashing the band and calling for its abolition10. The band's leaders responded with a riposte of their own, defending the band and urging the writer to "do your homework first"11. The band continued to grow in the following years, with the university athletic department giving it more prominent seating at basketball games12.
By 1981, boosted partly by Georgetown men's basketball's success and growing popularity, the band had grown to 70 members13. Its rendition of the Hawaii Five-O theme song was one of the band's more popular performances in the 1980s14. The band's reputation continued to grow alongside the basketball team's; the Big East 1987-88 Basketball Yearbook named Georgetown's pep band the best in the conference15. Ron Lignelli, appointed coordinator of performing arts and director of the band in 1985, was widely credited with improving the band's musical caliber.
Throughout the years, the band's music has diversified. From Georgetown's "Alma Mater" and "Fight Song" to jazz and swing in the 80s, the band has expanded its repertoire to match the evolving music scene. More recent pop song additions include The Weeknd's "Blinding Lights' and Lil Nas X's "Industry Baby."16
On April 9, 2022, The Georgetown Band celebrated its 100 years at the Copley Formal Lounge with generations of the band's members. Today, the Pep Band performs at various Georgetown athletic events, including football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer games16. The band does not hold auditions and describes itself as open to all members of the Georgetown community17.
- 1Georgetown University Pep Band, About. https://www.georgetownpepband.com/what-we-do.
- 2Sippel, Bridget. "Pep Band Celebrates Centennial Year." The Hoya. 21 April 2022.
- 3Firestein, David. "Georgetown Band Program Comes of Age." The Hoya. 5 February 1988.
- 4Ferraro, Bill. "The Georgetown Hoya Band: A Hit, But Not Overnight." The Hoya. 2 October 1981.
- 5"GU Agency Formed To Boost Enthusiasm For Athletic Events." The Hoya. 31 October 1963.
- 6"GU Agency Formed To Boost Enthusiasm For Athletic Events." The Hoya. 31 October 1963.
- 7Georgetown University, 10 Things You Might Not Know About the Pep Band's 100-Year History. https://www.georgetown.edu/news/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-pep-bands-100-year-history/.
- 8Ferraro, Bill. "The Georgetown Hoya Band: A Hit, But Not Overnight." The Hoya. 2 October 1981.
- 9Ferraro, Bill. "The Georgetown Hoya Band: A Hit, But Not Overnight." The Hoya. 2 October 1981.
- 10Firestein, David. "Georgetown Band Program Comes of Age." The Hoya. 5 February 1988.
- 11Cooper, Bob et al. "Rostrum." The Hoya. 30 January 1976.
- 12Ferraro, Bill. "The Georgetown Hoya Band: A Hit, But Not Overnight." The Hoya. 2 October 1981.
- 13Ferraro, Bill. "The Georgetown Hoya Band: A Hit, But Not Overnight." The Hoya. 2 October 1981.
- 14Firestein, David. "Georgetown Band Program Comes of Age." The Hoya. 5 February 1988.
- 15Firestein, David. "Georgetown Band Program Comes of Age." The Hoya. 5 February 1988.
- 16"10 Things You Might Not Know About the Pep Band's 100-Year History." Georgetown University, Oct 20, 2022. https://www.georgetown.edu/news/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-pep-bands-100-year-history/
- 16Sippel, Bridget. "Pep Band Celebrates Centennial Year." The Hoya. 21 April 2022.
- 17Georgetown University Pep Band, About. https://www.georgetownpepband.com/what-we-do.
