It takes dedication to run the Boilermaker and also for the volunteers that work the water stations and the music venues along the course. You have to be in place and ready to go very early in the morning because of all the road closures.
The Red Band was in place on the Parkway at Tilden Ave. at the end of the International Mile by 7:15am – well before the 1st wheelchair participants whizzed by to the tune of our “Marche Reale”. Because they pass us mostly one at a time at such a fast pace – playing The Royal Italian March for each racer gives them a great fanfare to encourage them in their quest.
Once the runners approach we play almost non-stop. They all respond with cheers and arms waving with some runners coming up to Arlene, our Director, for a high-five or a quick spin of the Tarantella. We play a selection of fast moving numbers to get them going – Polkas, Marches, and Italian songs such as Funiculi Funicula and the Tarantella.
We saved our best song for those runners at the end – the ones who need it the most to spur them on – a wonderful rendition of John Philip Sousa’s Washington Post March.
There was another display of dedication within our own Band – trumpeter John Piazza has had a minor medical problem that has prevented him from playing the trumpet. Loyal Mitchell has been helping to coach him with a Baritone Horn - the larger mouthpiece works as a musician’s physical therapy.
John has made great progress but his inability to resume the trumpet was a torture. It has not stopped him from performing with the Band. He carried the Banner in the Bell Parade and joined the percussion section for the Boilermaker. Not only dedication but versatile.
After the last runner came by and we were packing everything up – a photographer from the Utica OD captured us to post online at the ISpy at the International Mile photo gallery.
The Red Band was in place on the Parkway at Tilden Ave. at the end of the International Mile by 7:15am – well before the 1st wheelchair participants whizzed by to the tune of our “Marche Reale”. Because they pass us mostly one at a time at such a fast pace – playing The Royal Italian March for each racer gives them a great fanfare to encourage them in their quest.
Once the runners approach we play almost non-stop. They all respond with cheers and arms waving with some runners coming up to Arlene, our Director, for a high-five or a quick spin of the Tarantella. We play a selection of fast moving numbers to get them going – Polkas, Marches, and Italian songs such as Funiculi Funicula and the Tarantella.
We saved our best song for those runners at the end – the ones who need it the most to spur them on – a wonderful rendition of John Philip Sousa’s Washington Post March.
There was another display of dedication within our own Band – trumpeter John Piazza has had a minor medical problem that has prevented him from playing the trumpet. Loyal Mitchell has been helping to coach him with a Baritone Horn - the larger mouthpiece works as a musician’s physical therapy.
John has made great progress but his inability to resume the trumpet was a torture. It has not stopped him from performing with the Band. He carried the Banner in the Bell Parade and joined the percussion section for the Boilermaker. Not only dedication but versatile.
After the last runner came by and we were packing everything up – a photographer from the Utica OD captured us to post online at the ISpy at the International Mile photo gallery.
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