Pictured above:  (1925) John Phillip Sousa conducting the Penn Band in the Quadrangle

(Collections of the University of Pennsylvania Archives).
 

In 1897, a lone cornet sounded through the Quad to jeers of "Shut up, Fresh!"

 

The more understanding ear of John Ammon sought out the trumpeter, A. Felix DuPont, Class of 1901, and together they collected the 27 first members of the University of Pennsylvania Band. These 27 volunteers came from all departments of the University, but mostly from the professional schools.
 

The band was almost immediately in demand for official and unofficial student rallies, student parades, and even vaudeville. Then it gradually became customary for the band to parade down town from the campus to the Academy of Music for the Graduation Exercises; and beginning in 1898 for the annual Washington's Birthday Exercises on the 22nd of February which was known as "University Day." It was some time, however, before the Athletic Association fully realized the value of the Band. By 1915 it was a well established custom to have the Varsity Band play at all the football games and other occasions. It was seldom, in those early years, that other college bands appeared at the games. There were comparatively few Colleges and Universities that could boast of a band in those years for the University of Pennsylvania was a pioneer.
 

Up to 1922 the band had an annual membership ranging from 25 to 35, and also a number of student and professional directors. In that year, through the efforts of the Alumni, there was a graduate committee organized known as the "Musical Club"; and, following the example of Harvard University, all things musical were transferred to, and placed under the management of, this new graduate committee which included the "Varsity Band".The membership in the band increased from only 30 members to 144, including almost every known band instrument.

On three different occasions, Director Nitzsche had John Philip Sousa conduct the University of Pennsylvania Band. The following is an excerpt from a Philadelphia newspaper (May 31, 1925) advertising Sousa's appearance at Penn:

John Philip Sousa the "March King," will be the only guest conductor to wield a baton at the big Spring Field, University of Pennsylvania, next Wednesday night, June 8.... "

While the lieutenant is noted as a guest conductor, George E. Nitzsche, recorder at the University and manager of the festival, points out that the noted bandmaster has been so long identified with the musical, social and other activities of the city he is virtually regarded as a Philadelphian and coming within the rule [of an entirely Philadelphia production]. Lieutenant Sousa will lead the massed bands in several numbers, one of which will be "Stars and Stripes Forever."
 

The boys considered it a rare privilege to play under the great March King's direction. At a luncheon given in Sousa's honor at the Acacia Fraternity House, he promised that he would dedicate one of his marches to the University of Pennsylvania, but he died before he was able to carry out his noble desire. He did conduct the Varsity Band for Seitz's famous "University of Pennsylvania Band March"; and was gracious enough to tell Dr. Nitzsche that he thought it one of the best marches ever written, facetiously adding "except my own." This is probably the best band march ever written for a student band in the United States, and it has been adopted by scores of other institutions throughout the country.
 

In 1941, women expressed interest in joining the marching band and cheerleading squad, but the faculty forbade them from doing so. It wasn't until 1959 that Louise Erlich became the first woman allowed to play in the stands at football games and in concerts. However, women were not allowed on the football field according to Ivy League rules. Finally, in the early 70's, women became full marching members of the Band.
 

The Band of the 60's to the present day has played for many well known people and occasions. In 1964, the Band played the opening of the New York World's fair. For many years they were regularly seen at the Miss America Pageant, the races at Liberty Bell Park, and the Penn Band was the first college band to appear at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. More recently, the Band has played for Ronald Reagan, Lech Walesa, and Al Gore.
 

The slow metamorphosis of the Band from a military style marching band to a sweater and slacks scramble band began as early as the 1940's. Over the next few decades the Band began writing more satiric shows with marching between formations such as the highball. Along with the Ivy League trend, the Band became a true scramble band by the early 70's. With women now in the band and the cost of the blazers rising, the Band decided to don a blue all wool sweater with a red "P" and white pants. It wasn't until 1985 that they discovered they had inadvertently copied the Freshman Band uniform of 1931! In 1979, the Penn Band followed the Men's Basketball team to the Final Four, as well as to 16 of the last 30 Ivy League Basketball Championships. In 1997, the Penn band celebrated it's 100th Anniversary with the establishment of it's own endowment and Alumni Association (BAA), as well as a tour to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.