10,000 BC

• Native people populate northeast North America

1620

• Plymouth Colony founded in Massachussetts

1636

• Harvard University established

1846

• Notre Dame Band formed

1862

• Morrill Act provides for the establishment of land grant colleges in each state. Most of the land grant colleges evolved into public state universities.

1948

• SUNY established
• New York becomes the final state to establish a public university system

1957

• Stony Brook University founded

1962

• Stony Brook campus built on land donated by Ward Melville

2000

• Stony Brook becomes D-I athletic program

2006

• Marching Band established

People

The band has been a vibrant community from its inception. Students, staff and faculty have played a role in developing traditions and encouraging and fostering our unique spirit.

Alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the band have invested a great deal of time and energy developing and supporting the band, and their efforts have given them ownership of this organization. We are all stewards of the band. Our time is limited. You are more than band members. You are part of a fellowship, a coalition, a nation.

Current band members are the guardians of our traditions. Those of us who no longer join you on the field join with you at rehearsals and performances. The music, this field live in our hearts and you are privileged to walk in the footsteps of greatness.

Note the Facebook posts from alumni and former staff members and former parents on the first day of band camp. I noticed yesterday there was an album posted on Facebook entitled “Sea Families”.

The torch has been handed to our new members, who will carry it high for a limited time and who are charged to pass it forward to the next generation. It’s not your torch – it’s our torch. This is our community; this is our band. Welcome.

Key People to know about:

Shirley Strum Kenny

• President Kenny founded the band

The Committee:

Jim Fiore

• Director of Athletics who taught us swagger

Dr Perry Goldstein

• Chairman of the Department of Music
• composed Stony Brook Fight Song

Dr Jerold Stein

• Dean of Students Emeritus
• Clarified the band’s mission and provided great support

Dean Jeff Barnett

• Has supervised and guided the band’s direction since early days

Shayna Stahl

• Our recent director spent 10 years with the band and was instrumental in creating and nurturing it’s accomplishments