Gilbert leading IU band

BLOOMINGTON — All eyes are often on John Gilbert.

Decked out in his crimson and cream uniform, the rural Portland native takes the lead as drum major of Indiana University’s Marching Hundred.

Although picked for that position based on his talent and dedication, Gilbert is quick to credit his former teachers — especially Jay County band directors Dave Humbert, Pete Vogler and Kelly Smeltzer — for getting him there.

“There’s no way I would be here if not for them,” he said.

That admiration and respect are mutual.

“That’s really cool watching kids mature and do what you knew they could do all along,” Humbert said of Gilbert’s accomplishments.

Vogler added, “John was a part of a special group of kids. No matter what he did, he made sure it was done right ... People like that are so few and far between these days.”

Gilbert, 23, will graduate in December with a double major in Spanish and economics. He joined the Marching Hundred trumpet section his freshman year.

“You come down a week before classes start” to audition, he said. “The rookie members come Sunday for work on Monday, and the veterans return Tuesday ... basically camp is teaching the rookies to high-step march.

“It’s a week-long process” that gives the band staff the time needed to find the players with the right attitude.

“Are you a quick learner? Are you trying hard?” are some of the qualities sought in Marching Hundred members, he said.

There’s also time for the rookies to work one-on-one with the associate instructors. “Most people are pretty nervous. I know I was,” he said.

But it’s important, “so they can hear you and see how you play. You want to know what your kids are capable of,” he said.

“Thursday night they make final decisions and post it on the (band department) web site,” he said. “They have a huge alphabetical list of who’s in.”

In the early years of the 20th Century, IU’s band came up with a marching block of 10 players by 10 players. “It was 100 people,” he said, and the name Marching Hundred was born. Although the band has grown considerably since then, the name stuck.

The rookie classes now have as many as 80 new members, and the band averages between 220 and 300 members a year. “Obviously now if you see us, we’re clearly more than 100 people,” he said.

Currently, he’s the only Jay County native in the band, “Despite my repeated recruitment efforts when I come home,” he said.

But he is following in the footsteps of other former Patriots like Chris Cowan, John Reier and Rachel Cole as a member of the Marching Hundred.

However, to pursue an academic dream, Gilbert took a 10-month break from the band to study at Complutense University in Madrid, Spain through the IU Study Abroad Program.

Between August 2002 and June 2003 he took classes in Spanish and immersed himself in the culture there. “It was an excellent experience. I’m glad I did that,” he said.

He rejoined the band when he returned to campus for the fall semester last year. Backed by encouragement from his buddy Chris Stokdyk — a fellow trumpet player and former IU drum major — Gilbert decided to audition for the vacant post.

“I started to see it as a fun and interesting challenge,” he said. “You’re not playing an instrument. It’s an entirely different responsibility.”

He auditioned in late November of last year. “When I tried out there were only six of us,” he said. But it’s not uncommon to have 20 students vying for that spot.

The hopefuls go through “the procedure,” which shows off their high-step and low-step techniques, posture, body carriage and appearance. They also must demonstrate they can give and take commands. “You have to conduct the others auditioning in a song,” he said, adding, “There’s (also) an interview.”

Including his band duties, Gilbert is carrying five classes in his last semester. On a game week, the band rehearses from 4:10 to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. On non-game weeks, “We often get Monday and Friday off, but not always,” he said.

He also makes time to play in the Crabb Band for the men’s and women’s soccer teams and is a member of the Big Red Basketball Band.

This year, the Marching Hundred will perform at five home football games and will make the road trip to Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 9, to play at the IU-Northwestern game.

Gilbert got his first taste of his new duties at the IU-Central Michigan game on Sept. 4.

As drum major, he said, “The mental concentration is a notch higher ... There’s no one there (out on the field) telling you what to do.

“When you’re directing with a group this size, nothing is quick and easy,” he said, but added, “You’re helping them to do the best they can. That’s the number one priority of the drum major.”

He added, “As drum major, you can set the mood or set the tone for what the day, the week or the season are going to be like ... You have the chance to influence the attitude ... You’re there to have fun, but also to put out an excellent product.

“This organization has been one of the most important things in my life.”

Although he receives a lot of attention during games, Gilbert said the success of the Marching Hundred is a group effort. “Take away the band, and you’ve got me running around with a stick and a whistle.”

Gilbert also credits his older sister, Kathryn, as a huge influence in his life.

“My sister played trumpet, and I always looked up to her,” he said. As a child he thought “Hey! I want to be like my big sister. She plays trumpet; somebody hand me a trumpet.”

His parents, John and Susann Gilbert, helped nurture that musical dream, and he began playing the horn in sixth grade under the guidance of music teacher Sharon Newman. “When I went on to the junior high, I felt like I had a good solid base,” he said.

His praise doesn’t end there.

“I credit every band director I ever had with my progress,” he said. The names come quickly — Humbert, Vogler, Smeltzer and most recently, David “Colonel” Woodley, who directs the Marching Hundred.

“These wonderful, wonderful teachers I’ve had ... They teach great qualities ... hard work, commitment, showing up on time ... doing the best you can,” he said.

These are life lessons he will carry with him after he graduates in December. He plans to go right to work, but where is still undecided. He’s toyed with the idea of working in Indianapolis, moving to Los Angeles to be near his sister or even returning to Spain for a few years.

“I feel I could be happy doing a number of things,” he said.

Regardless where he lands, he’ll take his trumpet with him “even if I’m the only one I play for ... I don’t think I could ever get away from music if I tried ... It’s been a much better ride than I ever would have dreamed of when I picked up a horn 11 years ago.”[[In-content Ad]]The Marching Patriots won’t get much of a break after they wrap up their duties Friday night at the home football game against Connersville. Within a few hours, they’ll board buses for a three-hour trip to Bloomington, where they’ll play in Indiana University’s annual Band Day.

The Patriots and several other Hoosier high school bands will perform with IU’s Marching Hundred during half-time of the IU-Michigan State football game Saturday morning, Patriots band director Dave Humbert said.

Although the Patriots have been invited to perform in past years, they’ve never made the trip. The reason they’re going this year is simple, Humbert said: Former Patriot trumpet player and longtime junior staffer John Gilbert is the drum major of the IU band.

“This year with John being there, we’ve got to go,” Humbert said.

Humbert’s hoping they’ll get to visit with Gilbert a little on Saturday, but added, “He’ll be really busy on game day.”

He’s not the only one.

The Patriots will finish up at the home football game at about 10 p.m. Friday. Then they’ll bunk down in the band room for a few hours before their 3:30 a.m. departure for Bloomington.

In addition to Humbert, band assistants Kelly Smeltzer and Pete Vogler, guard staffers Lori Mark and Bev Arnold and junior staff member Jason Hart also will make the trip.

A one-hour rehearsal with the IU and other bands begins at 7:30 a.m.

The percussion players from all the bands will be grouped together, while the rest of the members stay with their bands. “The university band is in the middle (of the field), and then we just go around them,” Humbert said.

The Patriots also will attend the Marching Hundred’s pre-game concert at 10 a.m., before heading back for their own show. “We have to be in the stadium at 10:30 a.m. The game starts at 11 a.m.,” Humbert said.

The bands will all play the same medley of music, which includes “Armed Forces Salute,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “America The Beautiful” and “Indiana Our Indiana.”

The Patriots have been working on that music since school started in late August, Humbert said. “After the summer shows, we jumped on this.” The band performed “Armed Forces Salute” at the Sept. 11 memorial service held at Jay County High School earlier this month.

While the band members have had a chance to familiarize themselves with the music they’ll be playing Saturday, the color guard members will have to learn a whole routine in about an hour, Mark said.

“It has got to be three or four groups of eight counts ... a short and simple routine” that will likely be repeated as needed, she said.

“The girls will be a little nervous,” she said, “But they’re excited to try it.”

Others are looking forward to the excitement of a new experience and a Big Ten game, Humbert said.

“It’s something we haven’t done,” he said. “It’s always fun to perform some place they’ve never played before.”