In the middle of the spring semester of 1970, M. Douglas Soyars, a professor of woodwinds in the School of Music, emerged as SU's new Director of Bands. He had only weeks to assemble and prepare the marching mob for competitions in the Netherlands. The band would compete in parade marching, field show, and concert competitions.(Photo: On the first of many bus rides, Adrienne N. takes in the Dutch countryside..., or not. By D. Dow)
Soyars found an ex-Marine drill instructor, and on July 26th 75 student musicians assembled on campus for an intensive week of band camp. True to tradition, at least one was a ringer from another university. Many were incoming freshmen. But in the sweltering heat of the Syracuse summer, a marching band and a wind ensemble gradually began to coalesce. During the Saturday pre-departure Concert on the Quad, the uncanny tradition started: the musical climax to Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral (Wagner/Cailliet) brought forth brilliant rays of sun from a heavily clouded sky.
Ready or not, the group departed for the Netherlands on Sunday, August 2nd, on KLM flight 644.
After a day touring Amsterdam, the band headed to Kerkrade, in the southeast of Holland, site of the World Music Festival. Too large a group for local hotels, half the band stayed at the Hotel Willems-Kusters. It became known for its fresh groper (the manager).
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