Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Marching Pioneers will be performing at Lambeau Field for the Green Bay Packers' showdown with Brett Farve and the Minnesota Vikings at noon on Sunday, Nov. 1.

The Marching Pioneers will be providing halftime entertainment at Lambeau for the first time since 2003. Events include tailgate performances and a drumline segment with the Packer's Tundra Line.

"This is such an exciting opportunity for the Marching Pioneers," said Matthew Gregg, director of the UWP Marching Pioneers. "UWP and Platteville will be represented at perhaps the most anticipated NFL regular season game of the year."

It all started when Gregg called the Packers, as he does every year, and asked if the Marching Pioneers could play at one of the games this season. He got the call mid summer that the Packers wanted the Marching Pioneers to play and at that time Nov. 1 worked out for the band so he took the slot. "Little did we know we were going to be playing at such an intense game," said Lauren Breitbach, a drum major for the UWP Marching Pioneers.

Currently, the Marching Pioneers are working on their Homecoming show for Saturday, Oct. 10 and plan to add extra effects for the Packers-Vikings game. UWP percussion professor Joe Caploe will join the Marching Pioneers at Lambeau and be a featured soloist with the drumline.

With only six minutes on the field for the Marching Pioneers, the pieces they will be performing will have a Latin theme. They will begin with "Oye Como Va" and finish with "Spirit of Spain."

"This experience is such a great opportunity for the Marching Pioneers, the UWP music department and just music lovers in general," said Breitbach. "We get to perform in front of an enormous crowd and represent ourselves as dedicated musicians who know how to have fun."

In 2003, the Marching Pioneers took the field during half-time of the Packers-Lions game in Green Bay. In 2000 and 1997 the Marching Pioneers also played for the Packers. "One of the more memorable experiences for me has been the performances at Green Bay," Barry Ellis, UWP band director, said. "It's an incredible experience, especially the first time."

For more information about the Marching Pioneers, contact Gregg at (608) 342-1019 or greggm@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Matthew Gregg, director, UWP Marching Pioneers, (608) 342-1019, greggm@uwplatt.edu Written by: Anne Killian, UWP Office of Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, killiana@uwplatt.edu