Service
The Band is committed to giving back in our community and abroad through service activities and initiatives.Working through our student service commissioner and other student leaders, each year over 300 band members are active in community service. Below you will find information about some of the service projects undertaken by the ND Band.
Horns Reborn
Horns Reborn is the Band's newest outreach program. The Band accepts donations of old and unused band instruments, reconditions them, and then redistributes them to programs in need. For information on how you can participate in the program please visit hornsreborn.com.
Bandlink
Bandlink is a program providing band instruction to local parochial schools without instrumental music programs. The program is administered by the ND Band staff and instructed by Notre Dame Band members. Parochial school students participating in the program are paired with a Notre Dame student mentor and receive a weekly private lesson on their instrument in addition to weekly large ensemble rehearsals.
Community Visits
St. Adalbert's School
During the 2008 football season band members visited St. Adalbert's Parish School for a performance at a school assembly. Band members performed some classic Notre Dame songs as well as some music from the upcoming halftime show for that week's game. Following the assembly, St. Adalbert's students were given the opportunity to visit with the band members and try out some of their instruments.
Sisters of the Holy Cross Convent
Approximately 30 members of the band joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross convent for a gamewatch of the Notre Dame vs. Navy football game. Band members performed for the retired sisters throughout the game and offered special pre-game and halftime music, giving the sisters a chance to feel some of the excitement that the band members are a part of every week at Notre Dame Stadium.
Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center for the Homeless
While the band waited in South Bend to depart for sunny Southern California and the USC vs. Notre Dame football game,a group of 32 band members volunteered part of their Thanksgiving Day to help prepare, serve, and clean up Thanksgiving dinner at the Center for the Homeless. Dr. Peter Lombardo, director of the Center for the Homeless said that he had never seen such a large enthusiastic group give up their holiday and literally "serve" at the center.
Christmas Family Adoption
The largest endeavor of the fall semester was the 2nd annual Christmas Family Adoption through the Salvation Army. The entire band participated in this project in either giving of their time or through donating gifts. The band adopted two families, totaling 12 people. Each section of the band "adopted" either one or two family members based on the section's size. The Adopt-A-Family Program asks taht 3-5 new gifts, a stocking with stuffers, and a gift card to a grocery store that would cover Christmas dinner and lunches for the time when the children were out of school. Every sectino far surpassed this requirement, providing brand new head to toe winter clothing, warm clothing, extra toys, and household goods.
St. Patrick's Foundation All-Star Marching Band
Kingston, Jamaica
Notre Dame has a very special relationship with the St. Patrick's Foundation All-Star Marching Band. The group in Kingston, Jamaica is comprised of students from one of the most disadvantaged areas of Jamaica and provides them a chance to be a part of a marching band. Notre Dame's Director of Bands, Dr. Ken Dye visited the group in the fall of 2004. Upon his return to South Bend, he organized instrument donations from Notre Dame Band alumni and American businesses to provide the group with equipment to expand and continue their program. In May 2007, three Notre Dame assistant band directors visited the island to provide musical and marching training for the group. Notre Dame continues to work to support their efforts in Kingston through ongoing training initiatives and instrument donations to Kingston through the Horns Reborn program.
