New Sousaphones March In Thanks To Successful DuckFunder
Marching band instruments go through a lot of wear and tear. The sousaphones of the Oregon Marching Band (OMB) are no exception. Starting back in July, OMB began fundraising to replace most of these instruments. With an ambitious goal of $120,000 they not only met that goal but exceeded it, with a total amount raised of $125,495 raised from 269 donors through a DuckFunder, which is a crowdfunder through the university that helps to target specific funds or objectives within departments. This allows them to replace the whole sousaphone line at a critical time.
Interest in the instruments is on the rise. The section has grown from eight to twenty-six sousaphones over the past four years according to sousaphone section leader Caleb Sampson. “We have some of the biggest classes coming in, which for us means more sousaphones in our section than ever in the band's history,” says Sampson.
Many of these instruments are decades old as well, with Sampson adding, "We have around 15-20 sousaphones that are older than any member of the band! Many of them are falling apart."
Thanks to the support of so many, the band will now purchase their own sousaphones. In the past, the band borrowed instruments from some of the local high schools, to help when sousaphones broke, or if extras were needed. But now, every member of the band will have a new sousaphone when the new season kicks off in the fall.
“Thank you to everybody who donated who was part of this,” says Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Wiltshire. “I can’t wait for you to see the new instruments on the field next year and hope that you’ll stick around, and more people will want to help support us.”
—Mark Wang, Advancement communications assistant. Photography by Andy Nelson, Advancement visual communications specialist.