UNIVERSAL SHOW BAND
Under the musical direction of
Desmond Boone
We are Universal Show Band: a premier show band and dance group. Our mission, with a focus on Black students, is to provide talented young musicians with exciting and worthwhile experiences that foster musical, personal, and professional growth.
Sponsored by the Sara F. Gassman Foundation
WANNA PLAY?
Questions answered for prospective members:
WHO CAN JOIN?
Members must:
be 14 years or older
display proficiency on their instrument
marching experience is a plus, but not needed. (get ready to move it!)
be prepared to work!
IS THERE A COST TO JOIN?
There is no cost to join U.S.B.
Students will be provided:
grant money for rehearsals and performances.
brand-new instruments
customized uniforms
showtune/pop music
student mentorship
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO PLAY IN UNIVERSAL SHOW BAND?
Students can expect weekly/ biweekly practices and will perform at a variety of events to provide recognition and excitement for all participants and their families. The band will perform pop/showtune music along with original choreography to dazzle and entertain audiences young and old.
Students can participate in weekly mentorship calls with successful college student musicians.
U.S.B. instrumentation includes but is not limited to:
Sousaphone
2 trombones
2-3 trumpets
Percussion (snare / bass drum / cowbell)
IS THERE AN AUDITION REQUIRED?
Yes. Auditions for the 2021 edition of USB are closed, but details are provided below.
Virtual audition expectations:
2 prepared pieces (one lyrical, one up-tempo)
Concert B flat Scale (2+ octaves)
In-person audition:
Sight-reading
Dancing/Movement (dress casual)
If you're interested in joining us or learning more about the band, please send an email to our coordinator, Hiram Hazley, at hiramhazley@aol.com
WILL U.S.B. BE SAFE?
Yes, our students' safety and well-being is our top priority.
The band will follow all CDC safety guidelines to set a good example of safe and conservative distancing at all times.
HOW DO I APPLY?
An application (see download link below) should be filled out and emailed to Hiramhazley@aol.com.
Feel free to email Hiram with any questions you may have about the application, the audition, or any other aspects of U.S.B.
DESMOND BOONE
Director
Desmond Boone is an accomplished musician and band leader whose past accolades include notoriety for choreography, arrangements, and musical leadership. His band Distinguished Men of Brass won high esteem and praise on America's Got Talent in 2012. Past works also include The Mystic Sheiks of Morocco at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, FL, a show band that entertained and put smiles on the faces of millions by playing personalized arrangements of pop music and classics. Desmond can be reached at desmond1952@hotmail.com
UNIQUE MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCES
Every band member has the opportunity to be paired with members of the University of Florida Gator Band and other colleges through Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi: the national band sorority and fraternity. This program will form solid relationship opportunities between band members who excel not only in their band programs, but in academics as well.
In our opinion, students would benefit from having conversations and relationships with individuals of diverse backgrounds who share a common love of music. Gator marching band members have an average GPA of 3.71 and cannot wait to share their time and unique experiences with U.S.B.
Chaired by Lindsay Gassman, a junior member of the University of Florida Gator Band, participants of this program will follow established protocols for periodic calls, sharing goals, and all that comes with appropriate and nourishing relationships.
