Georgia Tech Bands
The Georgia Tech Bands are student musical groups fielded at many of the home athletic and schoolwide events. None of the musicians receive scholarships for participating in the assorted bands meaning the bands are composed entirely of volunteers. Since several schools in Atlanta do not field football teams, the GT Marching Band invites students from other Atlanta schools to participate (e.g., Kennesaw State and Agnes Scott).
Every home football game and most away games include a 300 member Georgia Tech marching band performing during dead ball time and half-time. The GT Bands also field smaller pep bands at home basketball, ice hockey, and volleyball games. The bands are known to follow teams for special events such as bowl games and basketball tournaments. The ice hockey pep band in particular travels to Savannah every year for the Thrasher cup. The band has some of the richest traditions on campus, including a strict enforcement of RAT caps amongst first year band members, no matter their actual year in college.
The first Georgia Tech bands were formed in 1908 and led by Robert "Biddy" Bidez. Bidez lead the group until his graduation in 1912. He was succeeded by another student named Mike Greenblatt who continued in Bidez's footsteps until 1913. Greenblatt wrote the first versions of "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech". The first professional band director was Frank "Wop" Roman. Roman is noted for writing Tech's Alma Mater as well as "Up With the White and Gold". Roman copyrighted "Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech" in 1919 and led the bands until his death in 1928. Since Roman there have been seven professional band directors. The directors have had varying levels of success and longevity.
Read more about this topic: Georgia Tech Traditions/GA1, Traditions, Spirit Organizations
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