The Temple University Diamond Marching Band
This fall when the Diamond Marching Band takes the field, it will turn 84 years old! With a membership that represents Temple´s outstanding student population, the Diamond Band remains a vital part of the musical and athletic lives of our campus, and brings precision and excitement to field of "The Linc" for each home football game.
The Temple Band began when Herbert E. McMahan, a senior in what was at that time the School of Commerce, got together about 40 students—men only—and formed the first group in 1925. The instrumentation was largely saxophones, self-financed, and played for Temple football games. Charles Golder, a member of the Phladelphia Elks Band, was the director. George Otto Frey became the director one year later and in 1927, H. Edward Pike assumed the first full-time directorship. Even in those days, the band formed the Temple "T" on the field–a tradition that has remained.
John H. Jenny replaced Ed Pike in 1946 and named the band the Diamond Band. In fact, the band´s letterhead said "The University Band built on Acres of Diamonds." With so many men serving in World War II, membership was opened to women. In 1986, Elva Daniels, then a Professor of Music Theory in the Boyer College and one of the first women instrumentalists (trombone) to be in the Diamond Band, said "it was very unusual for women to wear trousers because we didn´t wear them back then. When the band traveled, the girls sat in the back of the bus and the boys sat up front." Rehearsals were Wednesday nights at Temple Stadium and the band members were bussed from Main Campus. As students returned from military service, the band program began to flourish. The ROTC Band was directed by Robert Childs and The Owl Band, a "rookie" band, was under the direction of Howard Chivian who in 1953 replaced Dr. Jenny as director of the Diamond Band. When Chivian passed away in 1957 (an award in his name is still given at Commencement), Morry Helzner assumed the leadership role. Following in the 1960´s were Larry Weed and James Coakley, with James Herbert becoming director in 1970.
In 1977, Professor Arthur D. Chodoroff became Director of Bands, a role that he still retains in the Boyer College. Currently, the Diamond Marching Band and the Basketball Pep Bands are led by Dr. Matthew Brunner, Director of Athletic Bands. In addition, the concert band program of the Boyer College includes the Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, and Collegiate Band.
Note: Band historical information is excerpted from an article by Maureen Walsh Scallatino, a Temple Band Alumna, which was published in "The Temple Review" in 1986 in commemoration of the Diamond Band´s 60th anniversary.