Probably one of the best travel experiences of my life occurred before my Senior year of college at UK (Go Blue!) when I was selected to participate in the 1984 Olympic Marching Band in Los Angeles, California. The band was comprised of about 800 college musicians representing all 50 states. We performed at the Olympic Opening and Closing ceremonies. It took 55 school buses and 17 tractor trailers to transport the band and all the needed instruments. They flew us all out and back home compliments of the Olympic committee. I was in Los Angeles, California for 4 weeks with all food and housing provided. We stayed at Pepperdine University where we practiced on a field on a coastal hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean. What else could a college student ask for!
The first two weeks we rehearsed in preparation for the Opening Ceremonies. We memorized our music and learned our drill the first week. I distinctly remember our first music rehearsal in the outdoor amphitheater. When the band started playing, I could feel the concrete seats beneath me vibrate. It was incredible! When we played our first notes on the practice field, the staff jumped up and down with shouts of joy. It was a sound like nothing ever heard.
We learned our drill and music in one week then went to the LA Coliseum the second week to put our routine on the performance field. All the different groups came together that week to coordinate the Opening Ceremony. We sat in the stands waiting while other groups were stumbling and bumbling around figuring out how their routine would work on the field. When it was our turn, we hit the field and laid down our opening production number with a vengeance. Everybody in the stands stopped and watched. When we finished our last note, while forming the entire outline of the map of the United States, everybody in the stands gave us a standing ovation. Jimmy Wolper, famous movie producer and ceremonies coordinator, got on his bull horn and said, “BAAAANNND, THAT…WAS…AWESOME!!!” That feeling was second only to the standing ovation 100,000 roaring spectators gave us the day of the Opening Ceremony. What a rush!!!
The next two weeks were spent at Loyola Marymount University. The in-state band members divided into groups and played at the sports venues for the events. In the meantime, the out of state members (including myself) practiced parade music and performed at various locations like Disneyland and SeaWorld. After our performances, we got to spend the rest of the day in the parks. When we walked out of the back stage gates, we were greeted by crowds of kids and parents asking for our autographs. I felt like a Rock Star! We ended the 4 weeks playing marches for the athletes as they entered the stadium for the Closing Ceremony. Then I had to return home to my life as another face in the crowd. My 15 minutes of fame. Definitely one of the best trips of my life!
