University of Cincinnati Bearcat Bands - History

History

In the Fall of 1920, Mr. Ralph A. Van Wye, a student in the college of Engineering, had just returned to the University of Cincinnati after a tour of duty in the US Army during World War I as an Army Bandsmen. At the time, ROTC was compulsory for all male students at the University of Cincinnati. Since Mr. Van Wye had just completed two years of Army service, he did not feel obligated to continue as a member of ROTC on campus, requesting to have his requirement waived. However, when the Commandant saw that he was an Army Bandsmen, he told Mr. Van Wye that he was just the man they needed. They wanted to organize an ROTC band, but had no one available to serve as bandmaster. Rather than being excused from ROTC, Mr. Van Wye was appointed as bandmaster to the first University of Cincinnati ROTC band. That fall Mr. Ralph A. Van Wye held his first rehearsal in one of the laboratories in the College of Engineering. Eight members were in attendance.

Since its humble beginnings in 1920, the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Band has grown to feature 175 members across three major bands and numerous smaller ensembles. The UC Bearcat Band has had the honor of performing at numerous sporting events, including the 1975 World Series and 2009 Orange Bowl.

The UC Bearcat Band has seen 13 band directors.

• 1920 - 1923: Mr. Ralph Van Wye
• 1923 - 1929: Sgt. Victor Norling
• 1929 - 1947: Mr. Merrill B. Van Pelt
• 1947 - 1949: Mr. Clarence E. Mills
• 1949 - 1954: Mr. Robert Hamilton
• 1954 - 1970: Dr. Roy Robert Hornyak
• 1970 - 1972: Dr. Robert Wojciak
• 1972 - 1973: Mr. Harry McTerry
• 1973 - 1977: Prof. Woodrow Hodges
• 1977 - 1979: Prof. Glenn Richter
• 1979 - 1993: Dr. Terence G. Milligan
• 1993 - 1994: Mr. Matthew McInturf
• 1994 - Present: Dr. Terren L. Frenz, Sr.