Alumni reunite to perform

link Courtesy photo

The Eastern New Mexico University Alumni Band performs every two years in June. Current ENMU students and faculty also perform with the past ENMU band members.

Staff writer

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Every two years, a group of Eastern New Mexico University alumni reunite to form a band and perform in front of the local community.

The ENMU Alumni Band has been in existence since 1988 and not only do they perform, but they have a banquet to reunite.

The last concert was performed this year on June 20 at ENMU’s Buchanan Hall and 56 band members made up the band.

The band consists of past students and teachers from all over the country, who perform for their university. Some of the alumni this year were part of the class of 1951.

Dustin Seifert, ENMU director of bands, has been conducting the band since 2004 and he has performed in the band since 2000.

Seifert selects and rehearses the repertoire for the concert and at this year’s concert the band performed 11 pieces.

There were also original pieces written by two members of the band, Franklin Piland and BJ Brooks.

The banquet is only for alumni and their family and Seifert said about 100 attend.

Current ENMU students and faculty and high school students also participate in the band with the alumni. Seifert said the band is usually about 70 to 80 people.

Out-going president of the Alumni Band, David Allen, said the band reunites students, professors and staff with a common bond of loving music and performing.

The band rehearses many times before the concert as they arrive on a Thursday and then perform on Saturday night.

Seifert said he loves to see the passion of the band when they perform.

"Quite simply, seeing people smile, and perhaps cry, because they love what they are doing," Seifert said.

The next reunion will not be until 2016, but the alumni band still keeps in touch.