The West Chester University 'Incomparable' Golden Rams Marching Band is the marching band for West Chester University. The band currently has about 265 members and is directed by Andrew Yozviak and John Villella. The Golden Rams Marching Band plays half-time and pre-game shows at all home football games and frequently travels to away games and high school marching band competitions. The band has also performed at Cavalcade of Bands championships in Hersheypark Stadium, and has the honor of being the host band of the annual Collegiate Marching Band Festival, held in late-September or early-October at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
History
The West Chester Marching Band was founded in 1936 at then West Chester State Teachers College. Throughout its history the Golden Rams Marching Band has been one of the most influential ensembles on other marching related groups throughout the northeastern United States.
In the mid-1930s, the marching band was simply an addition to the college's football games. Under the direction of director Mr. Powell Middleton, the band was comprised of 50 male students. Over the next few years, the "Girls Trumpet Corps" was added to the marching band which was said to "add considerably to the effectiveness of the group".
In the early years of World War II, the band was chosen to play at many military ceremonies, including when many West Chester State students left for military service. The Golden Rams Marching Band had progressed from being just a football band to having an active role in the community.
Following the war years, the directorship was assumed by Mr. Paul Carson. Carson, as director, added new service style uniforms for the band and the band increased in size from 50 to 65 men. In 1954, the band earned the reputation as the "best small college band in the Country." By the end of his time as director, Mr. Carson had raised the marching band to the size of 90 playing members, and West Chester was named "the biggest and best band in the east" in 1965. The mid to late 1960's saw a number of changes. New uniforms including shakos and rams on the uniform jacket were introduced as well as a new director, Mr. Richard Boerlin. In 1968, the band travelled with the football team to Orlando, FL for the Tangerine Bowl game.
The biggest step yet in the development of the marching band came in 1970 with the introduction of director Mr. James R. Wells. Under his leadership the band expanded to over 200 members, including an all female colorguard and band front. In 1974, women were allowed entrance to the band proper, not just the colorguard. It was also at this point that some of the most prominent graduates of the Golden Rams Marching Band were taking part in the program. John Villella, current director of the marching band, George N. Parks of the Drum Major Academy and UMass fame, Anthony Yaklick, Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member, and Tom Hannum, former Crossmen drum corps percussion instructor.
In the 1980s, the marching band continued to increase in size and reputation, taking on the name "Incomparable". Few bands in the country could match the quality of performance of the Golden Rams, and no one could compare with the name of West Chester State College Marching Band. Also in the decade, famous marching members such as Michael Klesch, former Crossmen and Phantom Regiment brass instructor and current assistant director at UMass, Tom Aungst, Cadets drum corps percussion instructor, Dan DeLong, current Bluecoats drum corps percussion instructor, and Todd Marcocci, current WCU colorguard designer and former director of Field of View indoor guard.
In the early 1990s, Dr. John Villella took over the Golden Rams Marching band. A uniform change and a new, more modernized style were trademarks of the new directorship. As marching band changed and adapted, so to did West Chester University with a "corps style" technique and modern colorguard. In 1996, the marching band shifted to a themed show concept from the previous and old fashioned varied repertoire shows. In 1999, the marching band received new uniforms, based off a highly modern drum corps design. In the last few years, the Golden Rams Marching Band has continued to serve the school at football games, the community with parades and political rallies including a performance for then presidential candidate George W. Bush, and the marching band and drum corps community with performances throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. West Chester is now known as a state-of-the-art marching band program, bringing in marching members from many states.
In 2006, Mr. Andrew Yozviak began co-directing the Golden Rams Marching Band along with Dr. Villella, bringing a new spin to the themed show concept. The fall of 2007 featured the debut of the newest uniforms to date, also featuring the themed show "What Happens in West Chester, stays in West Chester", a salute to Las Vegas which is widely considered the most difficult and most technical field show in recent Golden Rams history.
Traditional Songs
The Golden Rams Marching Band changes it's show every year but also retains a special selection of songs for use every season.
* "ABC Theme/Rams Fight" - the Golden Rams fight song, beginning with the opening of the Olympic Fanfare. This song is played during the pre-game, half-time, and after every touchdown.
* "Pre-game Opener" - The opening of the pregame show which is a take off of the WCU Alma Mater, where the band forms the letters, W-C-U on the field
* "WCU Alma Mater"- a tribute to West Chester University played after each football game.
Seasons
2007 Season: "What Happens in West Chester, Stays in West Chester"
The 2007 show was a salute to Las Vegas, opening with parts of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" and Frank Sinatra's "Luck be A Lady". The show also featured a tribute to Cirque du Soleil, Céline Dion's "When I Fall in Love", and The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love". The band's pregame song selection included the Pregame Opener, "Grits Ain't Groceries" by, and the ABC/Rams Fight Song.
*
*
*
*
2006 Season: Train Show
The Golden Rams Band featured original music for the 2006 season, simulating a ride on a train.
Colorguard
The colorguard is renowned for their excellence in spinning flags and rifles. The 2007 season featured original costumes such as Vegas showgirls, blackjack dealers, and other Las Vegas symbols to coincide with the Vegas field show. The WCU Colorguard was featured in 2007 as part of the opening act for the 6abc Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Style
The Golden Rams Marching band marches using a corps style, forming precise drill sets and shapes. The band moves from set to set using a "roll step" or "glide step" and members stay in the form while in motion. Usually, for the main show theme, traditional marching band styles will be used and then there will be some songs that are looser and less rigid and members are frequently encouraged to have fun to excite the audience during these tunes.
History
The West Chester Marching Band was founded in 1936 at then West Chester State Teachers College. Throughout its history the Golden Rams Marching Band has been one of the most influential ensembles on other marching related groups throughout the northeastern United States.
In the mid-1930s, the marching band was simply an addition to the college's football games. Under the direction of director Mr. Powell Middleton, the band was comprised of 50 male students. Over the next few years, the "Girls Trumpet Corps" was added to the marching band which was said to "add considerably to the effectiveness of the group".
In the early years of World War II, the band was chosen to play at many military ceremonies, including when many West Chester State students left for military service. The Golden Rams Marching Band had progressed from being just a football band to having an active role in the community.
Following the war years, the directorship was assumed by Mr. Paul Carson. Carson, as director, added new service style uniforms for the band and the band increased in size from 50 to 65 men. In 1954, the band earned the reputation as the "best small college band in the Country." By the end of his time as director, Mr. Carson had raised the marching band to the size of 90 playing members, and West Chester was named "the biggest and best band in the east" in 1965. The mid to late 1960's saw a number of changes. New uniforms including shakos and rams on the uniform jacket were introduced as well as a new director, Mr. Richard Boerlin. In 1968, the band travelled with the football team to Orlando, FL for the Tangerine Bowl game.
The biggest step yet in the development of the marching band came in 1970 with the introduction of director Mr. James R. Wells. Under his leadership the band expanded to over 200 members, including an all female colorguard and band front. In 1974, women were allowed entrance to the band proper, not just the colorguard. It was also at this point that some of the most prominent graduates of the Golden Rams Marching Band were taking part in the program. John Villella, current director of the marching band, George N. Parks of the Drum Major Academy and UMass fame, Anthony Yaklick, Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member, and Tom Hannum, former Crossmen drum corps percussion instructor.
In the 1980s, the marching band continued to increase in size and reputation, taking on the name "Incomparable". Few bands in the country could match the quality of performance of the Golden Rams, and no one could compare with the name of West Chester State College Marching Band. Also in the decade, famous marching members such as Michael Klesch, former Crossmen and Phantom Regiment brass instructor and current assistant director at UMass, Tom Aungst, Cadets drum corps percussion instructor, Dan DeLong, current Bluecoats drum corps percussion instructor, and Todd Marcocci, current WCU colorguard designer and former director of Field of View indoor guard.
In the early 1990s, Dr. John Villella took over the Golden Rams Marching band. A uniform change and a new, more modernized style were trademarks of the new directorship. As marching band changed and adapted, so to did West Chester University with a "corps style" technique and modern colorguard. In 1996, the marching band shifted to a themed show concept from the previous and old fashioned varied repertoire shows. In 1999, the marching band received new uniforms, based off a highly modern drum corps design. In the last few years, the Golden Rams Marching Band has continued to serve the school at football games, the community with parades and political rallies including a performance for then presidential candidate George W. Bush, and the marching band and drum corps community with performances throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. West Chester is now known as a state-of-the-art marching band program, bringing in marching members from many states.
In 2006, Mr. Andrew Yozviak began co-directing the Golden Rams Marching Band along with Dr. Villella, bringing a new spin to the themed show concept. The fall of 2007 featured the debut of the newest uniforms to date, also featuring the themed show "What Happens in West Chester, stays in West Chester", a salute to Las Vegas which is widely considered the most difficult and most technical field show in recent Golden Rams history.
Traditional Songs
The Golden Rams Marching Band changes it's show every year but also retains a special selection of songs for use every season.
* "ABC Theme/Rams Fight" - the Golden Rams fight song, beginning with the opening of the Olympic Fanfare. This song is played during the pre-game, half-time, and after every touchdown.
* "Pre-game Opener" - The opening of the pregame show which is a take off of the WCU Alma Mater, where the band forms the letters, W-C-U on the field
* "WCU Alma Mater"- a tribute to West Chester University played after each football game.
Seasons
2007 Season: "What Happens in West Chester, Stays in West Chester"
The 2007 show was a salute to Las Vegas, opening with parts of Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" and Frank Sinatra's "Luck be A Lady". The show also featured a tribute to Cirque du Soleil, Céline Dion's "When I Fall in Love", and The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love". The band's pregame song selection included the Pregame Opener, "Grits Ain't Groceries" by, and the ABC/Rams Fight Song.
*
*
*
*
2006 Season: Train Show
The Golden Rams Band featured original music for the 2006 season, simulating a ride on a train.
Colorguard
The colorguard is renowned for their excellence in spinning flags and rifles. The 2007 season featured original costumes such as Vegas showgirls, blackjack dealers, and other Las Vegas symbols to coincide with the Vegas field show. The WCU Colorguard was featured in 2007 as part of the opening act for the 6abc Boscov's Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Style
The Golden Rams Marching band marches using a corps style, forming precise drill sets and shapes. The band moves from set to set using a "roll step" or "glide step" and members stay in the form while in motion. Usually, for the main show theme, traditional marching band styles will be used and then there will be some songs that are looser and less rigid and members are frequently encouraged to have fun to excite the audience during these tunes.
The Swivel Sweeper is an electronic home cleaning device distributed by Ontel Products Corporation. The device runs on a standard 7.2 Ni-MH (Nickel-Metal Hydride) rechargeable battery.
The battery may be recharged using a standard US electrical outlet. The Swivel Sweeper is designed to work around the house as a vacuum cleaner, however, the device does not use air-suction to "suck".
The battery may be recharged using a standard US electrical outlet. The Swivel Sweeper is designed to work around the house as a vacuum cleaner, however, the device does not use air-suction to "suck".
Within the fictional universe of the manga and anime series Death Note (written by Tsugumi Ohba, mangaka Takeshi Obata), , also referred to in the series simply as "the Eyes" or a "death god's sight," are the special power of a Shinigami (or "death god") to see a human's name and remaining life-span. Ryuk the Shinigami explains that Shinigami use their eyes to find the names of and kill humans to get the human's remaining lifespans added to their own. For example, if a human's natural life span is 60 years, and a Shinigami kills them at 30, then the Shinigami receives 30 years of life. This is done because Shinigami, despite being god-like, can die natural deaths; that is to say, they have a lifespan of their own that eventually runs out if not extended using the Death Note.
How the Shinigami Eyes work
The Shinigami Eyes allow the user to see the real name and remaining lifespan of the person they are currently looking at. The Shinigami Eyes can be traded for by the owner of the Death Note giving half of their remaining life span to the Shinigami. The Eyes are lost once the owner loses possession of the Note. The owner can trade again, but the same rules apply, and their lost lifespan will not be returned. The lifespan is given in Shinigami time, which has about 3556 days for every standard Earth day. The person receiving the Shinigami eyes automatically gains the ability to understand Shinigami time, making this a non-issue for them. While the Eyes are portrayed as being red in the anime, Shinigami Eyes look just like normal human eyes to other humans, and there is no way for another human to determine whether someone has the Eyes or not. The Eyes are red in the anime simply to clarify when someone has them, or to add drama to the whole aspect.
In order for the Eyes to function properly, the user must be able see the victim's entire face: staring at the back of the head or a face obscured in a significant way will produce nothing. The most important aspect are the eyes: so long as the eyes remain uncovered, the Shinigami Eyes will generally function as intended. In addition, the Eyes will only work when looking at genuine images of a face. Photographs, television broadcasts, and other such recording methods capture real life, and hence can be used, while drawings cannot be considered genuine, no matter how accurate the image is. In addition, if the victim is already dead, a genuine image will display neither name nor lifespan, as it is no longer relevant.
Humans with the Shinigami Eyes cannot see the lifespan of a human who owns a Death Note, including themselves. This allows those with the Eyes to discern Death Note owners from normal people; Misa Amane found Light in a crowd of people by looking for the person with no lifespan. Naturally, Shinigami do not have the same restriction.
The trade can be made as long as the human owns the Death Note. Knowledge of the trade is usually not disclosed until a Death Note is in the ownership of a human. Although the eyes are lost if ownership is discontinued, the reduced lifespan is not recoverable. Even if ownership was to be regained, the owner would have to trade again, thus losing one half of his or her remaining life span again.
Characters that have been offered the trade
Six people in the anime and manga are offered the trade: Light Yagami, Misa Amane, Kyosuke Higuchi, Kal Snyder, Soichiro Yagami, and Teru Mikami.
*Light refuses the deal, despite being offered it repeatedly by Ryuk; Light states that he wishes to rule over his utopia as God for as long as possible and therefore halving his life-span is out of the question. As a result, he is forced to rely on subtle tactics and the help of allies with the Shinigami eyes to determine the names of enemies such as Raye Penber, L, Near and Mello.
*Misa makes the deal twice. The first time is with Rem at some point before the Second Kira incident. After giving up ownership of her Death Note, she loses the eyes, and makes the deal again with Ryuk.
*Higuchi makes the deal as a desperation move while being chased by L's squad, leaving them to protect their faces with helmets.
*Kal Snyder is threatened into making the deal, and is offered an important position in the gang for doing so.
*Soichiro makes it with Ryuk in order to see Mello's true name, with the intent of writing it in the Death Note if necessary.
*It is revealed in volume 10 that Mikami made the deal with Ryuk so that he could be of further assistance to Kira. In volume 7, L deduces the existence of the trade for the Shinigami eyes through various clues dropped during his investigation. When he tries to confirm all details of the trade, Rem tells him that it is only something that an owner of the Death Note can be told.
Matsuda, Aizawa, Mogi and Ide all know of the trade; they were told of it by Ryuk when they gained possession of the Death Note in volume 9.
In the films, Light and Misa are offered the eyes. Light refuses the eyes while Misa accepts the eyes.
Misa Amane's lifespan
Misa Amane's lifespan has been both decreased and increased. In the anime and manga, Misa makes the deal twice and two shinigami's lifespans are added to hers: Jealous's and Rem's. In the film she makes the eye trade once and has two lifespans added to hers. According to Rem, when a Shinigami intentionally saves a human's life by killing that person's future murderer, the Shinigami dies, turning into a sand-like substance. This is because their purpose is to take life, and so extending human life out of affection is unfathomable.
Once the Shinigami dies, his or her lifespan is added to that of the human that he or she saved. The only way for this to be possible is for the Shinigami to have feelings for the human they are saving. Both Jealous and Rem perform the action; Jealous saves her from murder out of love, and Rem saves her to spare Misa the death sentence by killing Ryuzaki/L and Watari; in the film Rem kills Watari but cannot kill L because L already had written his own name in Misa's Death Note to thwart any attempts to kill him.Death Note: How to Read 13 indicates that Misa commits suicide in the end of the Death Note manga. Misa does not commit suicide in the film version. Her fate is not explicitly explained in the anime version, but the final episode indicates that she probably committed suicide after Light's death.
ms:Mata Shinigami
How the Shinigami Eyes work
The Shinigami Eyes allow the user to see the real name and remaining lifespan of the person they are currently looking at. The Shinigami Eyes can be traded for by the owner of the Death Note giving half of their remaining life span to the Shinigami. The Eyes are lost once the owner loses possession of the Note. The owner can trade again, but the same rules apply, and their lost lifespan will not be returned. The lifespan is given in Shinigami time, which has about 3556 days for every standard Earth day. The person receiving the Shinigami eyes automatically gains the ability to understand Shinigami time, making this a non-issue for them. While the Eyes are portrayed as being red in the anime, Shinigami Eyes look just like normal human eyes to other humans, and there is no way for another human to determine whether someone has the Eyes or not. The Eyes are red in the anime simply to clarify when someone has them, or to add drama to the whole aspect.
In order for the Eyes to function properly, the user must be able see the victim's entire face: staring at the back of the head or a face obscured in a significant way will produce nothing. The most important aspect are the eyes: so long as the eyes remain uncovered, the Shinigami Eyes will generally function as intended. In addition, the Eyes will only work when looking at genuine images of a face. Photographs, television broadcasts, and other such recording methods capture real life, and hence can be used, while drawings cannot be considered genuine, no matter how accurate the image is. In addition, if the victim is already dead, a genuine image will display neither name nor lifespan, as it is no longer relevant.
Humans with the Shinigami Eyes cannot see the lifespan of a human who owns a Death Note, including themselves. This allows those with the Eyes to discern Death Note owners from normal people; Misa Amane found Light in a crowd of people by looking for the person with no lifespan. Naturally, Shinigami do not have the same restriction.
The trade can be made as long as the human owns the Death Note. Knowledge of the trade is usually not disclosed until a Death Note is in the ownership of a human. Although the eyes are lost if ownership is discontinued, the reduced lifespan is not recoverable. Even if ownership was to be regained, the owner would have to trade again, thus losing one half of his or her remaining life span again.
Characters that have been offered the trade
Six people in the anime and manga are offered the trade: Light Yagami, Misa Amane, Kyosuke Higuchi, Kal Snyder, Soichiro Yagami, and Teru Mikami.
*Light refuses the deal, despite being offered it repeatedly by Ryuk; Light states that he wishes to rule over his utopia as God for as long as possible and therefore halving his life-span is out of the question. As a result, he is forced to rely on subtle tactics and the help of allies with the Shinigami eyes to determine the names of enemies such as Raye Penber, L, Near and Mello.
*Misa makes the deal twice. The first time is with Rem at some point before the Second Kira incident. After giving up ownership of her Death Note, she loses the eyes, and makes the deal again with Ryuk.
*Higuchi makes the deal as a desperation move while being chased by L's squad, leaving them to protect their faces with helmets.
*Kal Snyder is threatened into making the deal, and is offered an important position in the gang for doing so.
*Soichiro makes it with Ryuk in order to see Mello's true name, with the intent of writing it in the Death Note if necessary.
*It is revealed in volume 10 that Mikami made the deal with Ryuk so that he could be of further assistance to Kira. In volume 7, L deduces the existence of the trade for the Shinigami eyes through various clues dropped during his investigation. When he tries to confirm all details of the trade, Rem tells him that it is only something that an owner of the Death Note can be told.
Matsuda, Aizawa, Mogi and Ide all know of the trade; they were told of it by Ryuk when they gained possession of the Death Note in volume 9.
In the films, Light and Misa are offered the eyes. Light refuses the eyes while Misa accepts the eyes.
Misa Amane's lifespan
Misa Amane's lifespan has been both decreased and increased. In the anime and manga, Misa makes the deal twice and two shinigami's lifespans are added to hers: Jealous's and Rem's. In the film she makes the eye trade once and has two lifespans added to hers. According to Rem, when a Shinigami intentionally saves a human's life by killing that person's future murderer, the Shinigami dies, turning into a sand-like substance. This is because their purpose is to take life, and so extending human life out of affection is unfathomable.
Once the Shinigami dies, his or her lifespan is added to that of the human that he or she saved. The only way for this to be possible is for the Shinigami to have feelings for the human they are saving. Both Jealous and Rem perform the action; Jealous saves her from murder out of love, and Rem saves her to spare Misa the death sentence by killing Ryuzaki/L and Watari; in the film Rem kills Watari but cannot kill L because L already had written his own name in Misa's Death Note to thwart any attempts to kill him.Death Note: How to Read 13 indicates that Misa commits suicide in the end of the Death Note manga. Misa does not commit suicide in the film version. Her fate is not explicitly explained in the anime version, but the final episode indicates that she probably committed suicide after Light's death.
ms:Mata Shinigami
Genevieve Gallen (her real name is Gowman) is a celebrity yoga instructor and glamour model. She married actor Verne Troyer on January 22, 2004 in Los Angeles after dating for more than three years. The couple separated and there was speculation of the marriage interfering with a contract Troyer signed for a reality series. Annulment was filed in March 2004. Genevieve Gallen is currently working in Los Angeles as a model and fashion stylist.