The UNI Panther Marching Band traveled overseas to London, UK to perform for over 700,000 people at the New Year’s Day parade. While the weather wasn’t in their favor, band director Justin Mertz was impressed by how well his students responded.
“The day of the parade, it was cold and wet but the students didn’t complain once and continued with the performance like it was nothing”, Mertz said. “I was very proud of them.”
UNI Panther Marching Band was a college band ambassador representing the university at the parade. This is not the first time the marching band has traveled overseas, the band also traveled to London in 2015 to perform as well. The band itself has between 240-270 students in which 130 students went on the trip to the United Kingdom.
Traveling overseas required a lot of preparation from both students and Mertz himself. Students had to receive their passports if they didn’t already own one, pack appropriate clothing for the weather and save up money for flight and spending purposes. Mertz also had to prepare a performance, teach the students the music and where to move and march in certain beats of the songs.
“I started directing the band in 2017 so this ma
y not have been my first rodeo, however it still doesn’t mean it’s easy preparing for an international performance”, said Mertz. “There’s still a lot you have to do but the experience is worth it in my eyes.”
On the actual parade day, the timing of the parade from start to finish was three hours long, equating to around two miles. The band performed for half an hour in cold and rainy temperatures but the reception was positive. Mertz explained that international people love American modern music because it’s something they don’t hear often and are open to embracing. He also shares how London has strong public transits and tubes, making the transportation very accessible to tourists.
“I highly encourage students to experience [London] because there’s a lot of history there and world class restaurants.”
Mertz recalls two moments during the trip that he deemed as his favorites. “When students realize they’re doing something special, that is so rewarding not only for them, but for me as well. They got to see the Tower Bridge for the first time which was cool”, he said with a smile. “The second moment is the positive audience response we got when we performed. People could have been in funky moods because of the weather but they were supportive to us the entirety of the show.”
With the end of marching band season officially coming to a close, that doesn’t mean Mertz and the students have nothing to do. They are beginning to select student leadership positions for the next year and choosing shows for next season.
The advice Mertz would give to students looking to join the marching band is as follows: don’t be afraid to take a chance even if it is scary at first glance, it allows an opportunity to be part of a terrific community and apply for your passport early if you want to travel.
“I try interacting with my students on a daily basis and being efficient with my time”, Mertz concluded. “I have a great group [of students] I get to teach that surprise and impress me every single day. I’m very lucky to be in the position I am and I hope more people can jump on that train as well.”
The band’s performance is available on Youtube for those interested in watching.
