UCLA Bruin Marching Band Newsletter
Features
At present, the BTS Show has now received 2.7 million views. Announcements and descriptions of the show were translated into Korean, Spanish, and Japanese. The video has been watched in 182 different countries.
Deborah Gallego
Ms. Gallego (“Deb” to her friends) has conducted the marching band during some of its finest moments. We had a chance to catch up with Deb and ask her a few questions.
Q. What’s your major?
African American Studies, with a minor in Education. I’ll be graduating in 2023.
Q. When did you start playing music?
Summer after Sixth grade. I gained access to music education through the LA Unified School District’s Beyond the Bell Program, which was a great way to experience music. I fell in love with music and never let it go!
Q. Use three adjectives to describe your first experience performing with the UCLA Marching Band.
Surreal, Exhilarating; Cathartic
Q. What was your most memorable experience?
Performing at the Hollywood Bowl with Gwen Stefani, Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, YOLA, and the USC Marching Band. Really fun, and kind of unreal.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
I’m off to graduate school, hopefully. I want to pursue an M.Ed. and a teaching credential. After earning my advanced degree, I’d love to work as a public school teacher in the social sciences. I hope to combine my passion for music, social justice, and education to give to others what music has given to me: happiness!
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is conducting a nationwide search for Director of the Marching Band. We thank our current interim director, Ken Fisher, for his steady hand on the till this year. He has led the marching band to great success this season.
Support your marching band
Give to the group that keeps on giving. Support the Solid Gold Sound.