The Saint Ignatius Marching Band leads out the Saint Ignatius Football team on Wasmer Field before a game against Pittsburgh Central Catholic in 2023.
The History and Future of the Wildcat Marching Band
Marching Band has an extraordinarily long tradition in conjunction with football. We can give credit to the University of Illinois for adopting the modern-day marching band form by first performing at a football game in 1907. From there, things really took off. Saint Ignatius had its first band form in 1930, with the first actual football performance six years later in 1936. From humble beginnings of practicing in a school room to the current home in the Breen Center for the Performing Arts, the Saint Ignatius Marching Band is continuing to grow and challenge the capability of what can be done at high school football.
Under the faithful guidance of its long history of directors, the band has created one of the premier traditions in the “Script Cats” Halftime Show. Traditionally done throughout the playoffs, the band and flag corps would perform the great French march “Le Regiment” while slowly and methodically writing out “Cats” across the field. Completed with the tradition of the tubas crossing the T, this show has moved from an idea based off of Ohio State to our own little piece of history.
The current band stands strong at just under 100 members, with approximately 15 flag corps members from area Catholic girls schools. Current director Dan Hamlin is moving into his 11th year, where he hopes to push the musical boundaries to create an even more profound sound on the field.
Finally, the band and flag corps will close once again with the Incomparable Script Cats to close out the season. It promises to be a great season and one that we are all excited to begin!
