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An eclectic mixture of popular hits and old classics filled the air at Millersville University during the APSCUF strike in October. This lively soundtrack energized the crowd, encouraged car honks and drew attention across campus and beyond, but it did not come from a radio or a DJ — it came from the Big Boy Brass Band.
The Big Boy Brass Band came together only a month before the strike. The group consists of recent graduates and current college students, most of who are enrolled at Millersville University. The Boys are a mix of music education, music business and music performance majors who share a passion for creating beautifully unique melodies.
“Our original idea was to jam out to New Orleans brass band tunes, catchy pop songs and funky jazz on a street corner. We were thinking, ‘What’s the worse that will happen? We play a tune and they ask us to leave?’” explains bandleader Connor Devlin.
So, they did just that. On Sept. 2 of this year, 11 Big Boys took their talents to the streets of Lancaster City. Vincent Shickora, Michael Duncan and Ben Ewing were on trumpet; Anthony Cherego, Ryan McGlashen and Nick Franks played the saxophone; Tim Zettlemoyer, Sam Yoder and Chaz Richardson grabbed their trombones; Connor Devlin put his tuba to use; and Matthew Woodson assumed the drums.
The rest, as they say, is history. The Big Boy Brass Band now regularly brings traditional brass band, pop, funk and jazz music to the streets of Lancaster every first and third Friday. The members meet once a week at Millersville University to add their unique style to the songs they cover, to write their own music and to enjoy the companionship of fellow musicians.
“It’s one thing to play in a group that is really talented or that plays with a tight sound. But to go out night after night and play with people you enjoy being around is a completely different experience,” says MU music performance major and saxophonist Ryan McGlashen. “We are all pretty good at feeding off of each other and the energy of the crowd. Everybody in this group brings something different to the table and to see it flourish either on a street corner in Lancaster or outside the MU Library is something special.”
The Millersville community was given an opportunity to witness the talents of the Big Boy Brass Band when they performed during the faculty strike in October. Their energetic shows mainly took place in front of MU’s Francine G. McNairy Library. The band was joined by members of another musical group, the Big Fat Meanies, along with numerous Millersville students and even a professor at various points throughout their performances on Wednesday and Friday. While their goal was to support their professors, the band simultaneously gained the support of the Millersville community.
“Normally ‘Big Man on Campus’ is a title reserved for star athletes, but we were the ‘Big Boys on Campus’ for a few days. To have complete strangers come up and comment on our performance or say how great it was to see us support the faculty was a cool experience,” says McGlashen.
Their exposure during the strike is leading to new opportunities which are much appreciated as cooler weather inhibits street-side performances. On Oct. 27, the band served as one of the musical acts at Tellus360 in downtown Lancaster during Music For Everyone’s Tellus Takeover Event. They will return to Tellus360 to perform on Nov. 18. A local high school recently requested that they take part in a joint concert.
“I love playing in this group,” says MU music education major and trumpeter Vincent Shickora. “It has taught me so much about musicianship and showmanship. My sound has improved, my confidence is better and my sight reading skills have definitely improved. If I can take anything away from being in Big Boy Brass, it is to always give 100 percent and to just have fun. That’s when the music sounds the best.”
The Big Boy Brass Band is always interested in dabbling in various genres of music and is open to performing at any type of event. To contact the band, find them on Facebook or email bigboybrassband@gmail.com.
