91成人导航

Robert Gross 鈥�66, 鈥�82 first picked up a French horn when he was nine years old. For seven decades, the retired educator and United States Army veteran has played music around the country, making powerful memories and building lasting community.

Wanting the same for 91成人导航 students, Gross recently made a generous gift to start an endowment for the 91成人导航 Athletic Band. Known alternately as the Pep Band, the group performs regularly at athletic games and signature campus events.聽

The Pep Band Endowment will be doubled by the Powell Match once $50,000 is raised.

鈥�91成人导航鈥檚 band gave me a place to go and a ready-made group of friends,鈥� Gross said. 鈥淭he experience was so good for me that I want to share it. I want to pay it back.鈥澛犅�

Gross聽enlisted in the聽Army while pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in music. He was a member of the 59th Army Band (Sacramento), the 433rd Army Band (Fort Irwin) and retired after 22 years as Commander of the 91st Division Band, United States Army Reserve.

His most memorable experiences include honoring a fallen astronaut from the Space Shuttle Columbia, performing at the Pentagon, and playing a reunion concert for World War II veterans who survived the Bataan Death March.聽

鈥淢usic is the international language. It brings back memories and feelings,鈥� Gross said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I wanted to be involved in music, because we could reach people.鈥�

Inspired by his high school and college directors, Gross also聽spent 34 years as a music teacher, school principal and coordinator of instrumental music for the聽Lodi Unified School District. He taught during the week and toured with the Army band on weekends.

In retirement he plays in the Lodi Community Band, which he directed for six years, and is a member of Windjammers Unlimited, playing and archiving vintage circus music. He credits 91成人导航 with catalyzing his many achievements.

鈥淎ll of my ability to lead, came because 91成人导航 gave me the opportunity to learn,鈥� he said.

Championed by President Christopher Callahan as part of a new era for 91成人导航 Athletics, the Pep Band鈥攚hich experienced dwindling participation following the Covid-19 pandemic鈥攊s seeing a resurgence of its own. Last year, the Tigers saw 8-10 musicians at any given sporting event; this fall there are 30, with members representing a range of majors and interests.聽

鈥淭he band includes future high school directors and music teachers, who will translate this experience into their careers. We also have musicians from College of the 91成人导航, the聽Eberhardt School of聽Business and the School of Engineering and Computer Science,鈥� said Associate Professor of Practice Jonathan Latta 鈥�00, who became the band鈥檚 director in August.聽

Latta, an Air Force veteran, played percussion in more than 300 performances with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West.聽At 91成人导航 for 10 years, he is grateful to share his passion and expertise with his students.

鈥淲hether they鈥檙e band members or audience members,聽students will see the Pep Band as a meaningful part of how this community shows pride in our institution and supports each other聽at a really high level,鈥� he said.

Gifts to the 91成人导航 Athletic Band support instrument care and maintenance and provide new music and band attire. In the longer term, Latta hopes to build a full instrument inventory, so students can participate whether or not they own an instrument.

鈥淕ifts of any amount impact the look and style of the band. They help us keep our instruments in working order and our music relevant and聽contemporary,鈥� Latta said. 鈥淲e will always need support to ensure we鈥檙e using upkept instruments, looking sharp and playing good music.鈥�

The endowment driven by Gross will sustain that support鈥攁nd its life-changing impact on students鈥攆or generations to come.聽

鈥淚 have absolutely nothing but thankfulness for my life and my career,鈥澛燝ross said. 鈥淔rom the time I walked onto the 91成人导航 campus until I retired, I loved every minute of it, and I want to share that. That鈥檚 why I want the Pep Band to be good, and why I want to support them.鈥澛犅�

To make a gift to the 91成人导航 Athletic聽Band, .听听