The University of Texas Longhorn Band (LHB), also known as the Showband of the Southwest, is the marching band of The University of Texas at Austin. The Longhorn Band was founded in 1900 by distinguished professor of chemistry, Dr. Eugene P. Schoch. The band is currently under the direction of Dr. Cliff Croomes. The band performs at all in-state football games, for various Texas Longhorn Athletics teams, and at special pep rallies and parades throughout the year. The band includes about 425 students, all of whom must register for a year-round course offered by the Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music.
The Longhorn Band has received prestigious honors, such as the Sudler Trophy, in 1986 and performed at many notable occasions, including Super Bowl VIII and the inaugural parades of five presidents: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush.
History Founding and early years (1900–1955) The Longhorn Band was founded in 1900 by distinguished professor of chemistry, Dr. Eugene P. Schoch. With Dr. H. E. Baxter, the first director of the Longhorn Band, they purchased $150 worth of instruments from a local pawn shop and recruited 16 students to make up the band. Dr. Baxter served as the director for five years before stepping aside, after which Dr. Schoch took full control of the band. Dr. Schoch stepped down as director after five years, but continued to serve as a chaperone for the band. For the next seven years, the Longhorn Band was run by students.
In 1921, Mr. Burnett "Blondie" Pharr became the director of the Longhorn Band. Pharr developed the young band and led it on a tour through 17 states, performing at the Chicago World's Fair, Madison Square Garden, and Washington, D.C. Colonel George E. Hurt became director in 1936. Under his tenure, the Longhorn Band grew to over 200 members. After Col. Hurt suffered a stroke in 1949, Moton Crockett assumed the directorship of the Longhorn Band. In his final year as director, Mr. Crockett oversaw the purchase of the large bass drum that is today known as Big Bertha and affectionately called the "Sweetheart of the Longhorn Band". Big Bertha was purchased from the University of Chicago for $1. The drum had sat in storage in the school's stadium after UChicago disbanded their varsity football program. Big Bertha was radioactively contaminated by testing for the Manhattan Project that occurred at the stadium.
Vincent R. DiNino era (1955–1975) In 1955, Vincent R. DiNino was hired as the director of the Longhorn Band. He is credited with shaping the band into the organization it is today. DiNino's time as director saw the introduction of many traditions and characteristics of the band, such as the western-style uniforms, Big Flags Brigade, the Longhorn Alumni Band, and cowbells. DiNino oversaw the introduction of women into the band in a position besides majorette in 1956 and the integration of the band in 1962. The adoption of the moniker "Showband of the Southwest" also occurred during this time."The Longhorn Band: Part Two." The Alcalde Jan.-Feb. 2000: 64. Google Books. Web. April 3, 2017. .
Under the direction of Mr. DiNino, the Longhorn Band performed in the inaugural parades of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.
Late 20th century (1975–2001) Tom C. Rhodes served as director of the band from 1975 to 1980. Glenn A. Richter, an alumnus of the University of Texas, returned to his alma mater as director of the Longhorn Band from 1980 to 1995. Paula Crider became director in 1995 and remained until 1999. Kevin Sedatole served as director for the short span from 1999 to 2001.
Present day (2001–present) Dr. Robert Carnochan assumed the directorship of the Longhorn Band in 2001. He served as director until 2015, leaving the Longhorn Band for a position as the Director of Bands at the University of Miami.
Dr. Scott Hanna became the 14th director of the Longhorn Band in 2015. Dr. Hanna had served as the associate director of the band for the sixteen years prior to his appointment as director.
In May 2021, Dr. Hanna announced his retirement, effective May 31. Dr. Cliff Croomes, then assistant director of bands at Louisiana State University was chosen to succeed as the 15th director of the Longhorn Band and the first Black director. Dr. Croomes graduated with his Bachelor of Music from the UT Butler School of Music in 2001 and is a former member of the Longhorn Band.
Directors
1900–1905Dr. H. E. Baxter1905–1910Dr. Eugene P. Schoch1910–1911None identified1911-1915Walter S. Hunnicutt1915-1917Raymond Myers1917-1918H. H. Hudson1919-1920Leon C. Stanley 1921Sidney P. Chandler1921–1936Burnett "Blondie" Pharr1936–1949Col. George E. Hurt1949–1955Moton H. Crockett, Jr.1955–1975Vincent R. DiNino1975–1980Tom C. Rhodes1980–1995Glenn A. Richter1995–1999Paula Crider1999–2001Kevin Sedatole2001–2015Dr. Robert Carnochan2015–2021Dr. Scott Hanna2021–presentDr. Cliff Croomes
Drum Majors, Presidents, and Twirlers 1900-1902 No Record 1902-1904 Walker Stephens No Record 1904-1919 No Record No Record 1919-1920 Leon C. Stanley 1920-1922 D.T. Stafford 1922-1923 J.M. Maloney 1923-1924 Harold Broome Royal Calder 1924-1926 No Record 1926-1927 Allan C. Steere G.A. Toepperweir 1927-1928 Carl L. Olsen 1928-1929 W.R. Moyers 1929-1930 Weldon Fielder 1930-1931 Fred B. Becker 1931-1932 Neal Owen 1932-1933 Ben A. Parkinson 1933-1934 Millard Shaw, Jr. 1934-1935 Jack Dulliam 1935-1936 Charles Daniel Aubrey Fielder 1936-1937 No Record 1937-1938 Maurice Hoffman 1938-1939 John C. Dunlop 1939-1940 Curtis Popham Basil Bell 1940-1941 George P. Blevins, Jr. Becky Havens 1941-1942 James B. Newman No Record 1942-1943 Curtis Popham No Record 1943-1944 Moton H.Crockett, Jr. Phil Rogers No Record 1944-1945 Tom L. Robinson No Record 1945-1946 Pat M. Baskin No Record 1946-1947 James R.Underwood, Jr. Moton H. Crockett, Jr. No Record 1947-1948 C. Dewey Crowder, Jr. Justine Havens 1948-1949 Pete Schram William F. Needham, Jr. No Record 1949-1950 Fred A. Steffey, Jr. Norman L. Kiefer No Record 1950-1951 Frederick Edmond Lewis No Record 1951-1952 Hal W. Atkins I. Field Roebuck, Jr. No Record 1952-1953 Wallace Leon Swenson No Record 1953-1954 Jacky P. Gilbert C.C. Crutchfield, Jr. No Record 1954-1955 Sims Allen Buckley Margaret Ann Smith 1955-1956 Bobby Daffern Elizabeth Ann Mullenix 1956-1957 Edward RobertsonHewlett Bill Whited Elizabeth Ann MullenixShirley Snipes Hewlett 1957-1958 Fred Anderson Elizabeth Ann MullenixShirley Snipes Hewlett 1958-1959 Jay Don Gensler Shirley Snipes Hewlett 1959-1960 Arnold Birdsong Shirley Snipes Hewlett 1960-1961 Robert Foster B. Carolyn PorterIrene Reeb Meitzen 1961-1962 Budge Mabry B. Carolyn PorterIrene Reeb Meitzen 1962-1963 Bobby Don Hart Kenneth Nietenhoeffer B. Carolyn PorterIrene Reeb MeitzenCarolyn Jane SwerkCarol Reeb Nietenhofer 1963-1964 Michael D. Sandgarten B. Carolyn PorterIrene Reeb MeitzenCarol Reeb NietenhoferMimi Jansen 1964-1965 Bruce A. Kowert Carol Reeb NietenhoferMimi Jansen 1965-1966 Newman Smith Carol Reeb Nietenhofer 1966-1967 Tommy Neal Cowan Lynn Kohlenberg 1967-1968 Dick Robinson Richard Coan Robinson Lynn Kohlenberg 1968-1969 Malcolm Nelson Lynn KohlenbergCarla Feuerbacher 1969-1970 Tom Waggoner Gordon Middleton Lynn KohlenbergCarla Feuerbacher 1970-1971 Glenn Richter Carla Feuerbacher 1971-1972 Steve Rode Steve Rich Carla FeuerbacherDebora Jo Porter 1972-1973 Scott Harmon Debora Jo PorterDeborah Lee Kirkham 1973-1974 Scott Harmon Lane Littrell Adana Teresa WillmanNancy Crosby Elliott 1974-1975 Eric Hagstette Randy Roundtree Adana Teresa WillmanNancy Crosby Elliott 1975-1976 Mike Figer Adana Teresa WillmanNancy Crosby Elliott 1976-1977 Michael McFarland Adana Teresa WillmanNancy Crosby ElliottJanice Crosby Stone 1977-1978 Sam Carr Ken Crone Diedra DodsonDore TubbsLynn Dell HarrellJanice Crosby Stone 1978-1979 Gary Myers John Berry Diedra DodsonDore TubbsLynn Dell HarrellJanice Crosby Stone 1979-1980 Paul Scott Patterson Billy Haehnel Diedra DodsonDore TubbsLynn Dell HarrellDawn Dodson 1980-1981 Scott Cherry Ron Munn Lynn Dell HarrellDawn Dodson 1981-1982 Gregory A. Wilson Carey Dietert Lynn Dell HarrellDawn Dodson 1982-1983 Douglas E. Bakenhaus Scott Sigler Dawn DodsonDebbie Fritz 1983-1984 David Walshak Kathy Gatton Debbie Fritz 1984-1985 Wayne Martin Debbie Fritz 1985-1986 Scott Hastings John Loessin Debbie FritzKristie Kriegel Peterman 1986-1987 Scott Duran Malcolm Randig Debbie FritzKristie Kriegel Peterman 1987-1988 David Dubose Tara Bernhard Debbie FritzKristie Kriegel Peterman 1988-1989 Chris Carter Kent Kostka Kristie Kriegel Peterman 1989-1990 Kevin Brown Kristie Kriegel Peterman 1990-1991 John Fleming Warren Schick Kristie Kriegel PetermanSusan Tyroch Lynn 1991-1992 Julia Cook Susan Tyroch LynnAmy Ray 1992-1993 Julia Cook Lisa Epifani Susan Tyroch LynnAmy Ray 1993-1994 Mike Webber Christi Cuellar Amy RayDr. Coral Noonan-Terry 1994-1995 Christi Cuellar Ray Joseph Dr. Coral Noonan-Terry 1995-1996 Roger Simmons Jimmy Maas Dr. Coral Noonan-Terry 1996-1997 Judd Frieling Ken Johnson Dr. Coral Noonan-Terry 1997-1998 Rob Hower Jennifer Hay Dr. Coral Noonan-Terry 1998-2000 Brandon J. Allen Maegan Casey Dr. Coral Noonan-TerryMandy Hampton Wray 1999-2000 Ben Lee Schneider Dr. Coral Noonan-TerryMandy Hampton Wray 2000-2001 Doug Henderson Alex HernandezRobert Kevin Jones Dr. Coral Noonan-TerryMandy Hampton WrayPaige Pattillo-Brown 2001-2002 Marc Anthony Johnson Mandy Hampton WrayPaige Pattillo-Brown 2002-2003 Ryan Zysk Adonis DirectoLeslie Hollingsworth Paige Pattillo-Brown 2003-2004 Mack Wood Jennings McClarty Paige Pattillo-Brown 2004-2005 Derek Deas Whitney Coons 2005-2006 Kim Shuttlesworth Sarah Voges 2006-2007 Sean Wahrmund Brian Schnittker 2007-2008 Robert Selaiden Zack Allen Alexa Bourdage 2008-2009 John Brady Colin Barnett 2009-2010 Tyler Dube Liz Prentice 2010-2011 David Forinash Sam Clark 2011-2012 Mariana Fanous 2012-2013 Alex Judd Sophia Sherman Ashley Dolan 2013-2014 Alison Goodwin 2014-2015 Thomas Grothouse Erin McAtee 2015-2016 Mason Hurtte Kody Jones 2016-2017 Kevin Kwaku Henry Merschat Erica Kuntz 2017-2018 Jeff Bell Pamela Hildebrand 2018-2019 Jessica Martinez Jasmine Iafeta-Lelauti 2019-2020 Ally Morales Canyon Evenson Caroline Carothers 2020-2021 Karissa Ismael 2021-2022 Christian Douglas Justin Phan Aidyn Mentry 2022-2023 Paula Boothman Molly Mathis 2023-2024 Azili Omar 2024-2025 Jaiden Walker Sarah Campa2025-2026Hailey HickersonBrennan SteinGracie Williams
Organizational structure
Audition Process Instrumentalists
Membership in the Longhorn Band is contingent upon a multi-step audition process. Prospective members must first submit a video playing audition. Upon approval of the video audition by band staff, the prospective member is invited to Band Week, which immediately precedes the start of the fall semester, and are sent traditional music and selected halftime music. At Band Week, prospective members are taught the band's marching style and attend multiple music rehearsals to prepare for the final marching and playing audition. This final audition determines membership in the band and field placement.
Feature Twirler Auditions for feature twirler are held only when the position is open. These auditions occur separately from the auditions for the main band and are generally held in the spring.
Colorguard Texas Silks auditions involve a video audition round in the spring, demonstrating spinning fundamentals and dance skill. Following the video round, and attendance at a summer clinic, prospectives perform a final marching and flag audition at Band Week. Big Flags are often composed of non-marching instrumentalists (double reeds, strings).
Bertha Crew Originally called Drum Wranglers and historically managed by members of the Big Flags section with high marching scores, recently the position has gone to instrumentalists, determined during Band Week. The title of Head Bertha goes to a Big Flag Section Leader.