Who We Are and What We Do

Two mostly-sane alumni directors and conductors lead this fun group of alumni who were associated with any and all of DePauw University's music ensembles, including the Tiger Pep Band, DePauw Marching Band, DePauw University  and Concert Bands, DPU StumbleBums, DePauw Jazz Ensembles, and other groups as they continue to single-handedly bring victory to the Tigers with an astonishing array of both musical and non-musical entertainment alike! 

Photo by Daniel Reck.
DPU StumbleBum percussionist Jon Duncan '76 and TPB Director Emeritus '99 return to Greencastle to perform at Old Gold Weekend.

The Tiger Alumni Bands and Stumblebums (TABS) is composed of alumni from both the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Music.  The alumni ensemble and maniacs perform occasionally throughout the year for DePauw University's Old Gold Weekend football game, the (in)famous Monon Bell Game, and other events.  TABS also works to unite groups of DePauw alumni to play together at local venues around the world.

TABS is the official Award-Winning DePauw Fighting Tiger Indoor/Outdoor Professional(?) Cheering Not-Quite-Geriatric Pep Band and Spam Society Revue, Unlimited!!! at DePauw University.  (That's A-WDPFTI/OP?CN-Q-GPB&SSRU!!!@DPU for short.)

The 2004-2005 Season is the inaugural year for TABS, with its first performance at Old Gold 2004.  Originally called the "Alumni Tiger Pep Band," and inspired by the living legend that is Prof. Dan Hanna and his contemporary counterpart, Dr. Craig Paré, TABS seeks to return the roots of musical Tiger Spirit and Tradition at DePauw University.

When performing at football and basketball games, TABS is conducted by two goofy alumni, who lead the band in a highly varied repertoire of classical pep band musical literature, including such great works as The "Hey" Song, Vehicle, In The Mood, Eye of the Tiger, and of course, "Here'stew!"  (That's, uh, Here's to DePauw!)

"Tiger Alumni Bands" is a plural name for a reason, however.  The organization is an affinity group in which all musically inclined (or formally inclined... or declined) DePauw musicians are encouraged to proactively put together their own performances.  For instance, a group of DePauw alums might perform as a TABS jazz combo on summer evenings at a local park.

We are the Tiger Alumni Bands and Stumblebums.  This is our mission.  (And nothing but victory do we commission.)

The (Brief) History of DePauw Spirit Bands

• 1904
  DePauw Marching Band and DePauw University Band begun when the School of Music hires a new faculty member to teach violin and supervise its first band.  The bands, although known by different names, were the same basic performance unit until the marching component was retired in 1989.

	Photo by Tina Flispart.
	Back in their undergrad days, ATPB Directors Daniel Reck '03 and David Ziemba '03 donned the old DePauw Marching Band uniforms -- and realized just how stylin' they are.

• 1953
  Professor Dan H. Hanna is DePauw's director of bands. The DePauw Marching Band took on a new life as "the DPU StumbleBums!"
   
• 1960s
  The DePauw Pep Band makes its debut after the athletic director asks Prof. Dan Hanna to "make some noise" in Bowman Gym. Faculty-led, the DePauw Pep Band continued through the early 1990s.
   
• 1988
  Prof. Hanna retires as DePauw University Director of Bands.  In a surprise tribute, hundreds of alumni return to Greencastle to perform alongside the DePauw Marching Band at Old Gold.
  
  
• 1989
  The DePauw Marching Band performs in the Inauguration Parade for Vice President Dan Quayle '69.  Immediately after the performance, the marching band was disbanded.  An "Ad Hoc" DePauw Pep Band appears occasionally at Tiger Football contests in following years.
   
• 1993
  Dr. Craig Paré joins DePauw as the new director of bands. The DePauw University Band is instructed to perform at football games.
   
• SEPTEMBER 9, 1995
  Tiger Pep Band is founded! It is the first student-led ensemble of its kind at DePauw to be officially recognized by the student government. Jason "The Colonel" Dibbler '97 and Christine Russell '97 are the first student directors.
   
• FEBRUARY 2002
  Both DePauw basketball teams go to the NCAA Play-offs and Tiger Pep Band takes it's first ROAD TRIP and is recognized as "the #1 Band in Division-III athletics!"
   
• APRIL 2002
  The Tiger Pep Band Tiger Maniacs are founded by Wes Dearinger and Daniel Reck '03.  Finally, non-musicans take their place in the best darn pep band in the land!
   
• MARCH 2003
  After performing at the inagural SCAC Basketball Tounament in Memphis, Tiger Pep Band is the official band for the two NCAA National Championships and is again recognized as "the #1 Band in Division-III athletics!"
   
• FEBRUARY 2004
  Tiger Pep Band returns for a second time to the SCAC Basketball Tournament in ROAD TRIP 2004!
   
• FEBRUARY 25, 2004
  Tiger Alumni Bands and Stumblebums is founded as the Alumni Tiger Pep Band.  Directors Daniel Reck '03 and David Ziemba '03 hope the band will reunite musician alumni with each other and their alma mater.
   
  
• SEPTEMBER 2004
  The Tiger Pep Band Tiger Drumline is begun by Jared Wooten '07, inspired by friends from the Rose Pep Band at Rose-Hulman.
   
• OCTOBER 2004
  TABS makes its first-ever performance during the Old Gold Weekend festivities.
   
• FEBRUARY 2005
  On its maiden voyage, TABS joins up with Tiger Pep Band for the 2005 SCAC Basketball Tournament in Memphis.
   
• OLD GOLD 2005
  Tiger Pep Band celebrates 10 years!  Prof. Hanna returns to Blackstock to conduct the festivities.  Prof. Hanna, Dr. Craig Paré, Dr. Valarie Ziegler, and Mr. Jason Dibler are each awarded the rank and title of Colonel of the Tiger Pep Band, in recognition of their long-lasting impact on the student-led undergraduate ensemble.
  
  
• AUGUST 2006
  Celeste Gossman founds the Tiger Pep Band Tiger Guard, bringing formal flag waving to the Tiger Pep Band.  The Tiger Maniacs continue their regular antics undaunted.
  
  
• OLD GOLD 2006
  The Alumni Tiger Pep Band becomes the Tiger Alumni Band and Stumblebums and expands its membership mission to include all instrumental alumni of DePauw University.