As you may know, Mr. Larry Dwyer is retiring from service as Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Notre Dame. Please enjoy a special edition of the Band Newsletter as a congratulations and celebration of his 25 years with the Band of the Fighting Irish.

Special Edition Notre Dame Band Newsletter – Mr. Larry Dwyer

Go Irish!

University of Notre Dame alumnus Paul Popiel, D.M.A., will return to his alma mater to lead the oldest continuously operating collegiate band in the country as Kenn and Pamela Ricci Director of Bands. In this role, Popiel will oversee the University’s band program through the Division of Student Affairs, and serve as a faculty member in the Department of Music through the College of Arts & Letters. His appointment begins July 1.

Since 2023, Popiel has served as the dean of the School of Music at the University of Kansas (KU), where he led efforts to better align academic goals with university initiatives and actively pursued the integration of emerging technology into course curricula. Previously, Popiel worked at KU for 13 years as a professor of music and director of bands. He also served as an assistant director of bands and senior lecturer at Indiana University and as an assistant professor and associate director of bands at Oklahoma State University.

“For more than 20 years, Paul has worked to build collegiate music programs that value tradition and excellence, and that encourage innovation and leadership among students,” said Rev. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs. “I look forward to Paul returning to Notre Dame to share his gifts with our students and our historic band program.”

At Notre Dame, Popiel succeeds a legacy of leadership, including longtime band director Ken Dye, Ed.D., who will formally retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

Popiel will direct the entirety of the band program, which includes the Band of the Fighting Irish, athletic bands, concert bands and jazz bands, and features more than 500 students from every academic discipline. The all-volunteer organization provides music for a variety of University events throughout the academic year, including liturgies, sporting events and the annual Commencement Ceremony.

“Paul Popiel will bring a distinguished record of pedagogical excellence, dedicated mentorship and a spirit of artistic collaboration to the growing performance program of the Notre Dame Department of Music,” said John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “We are pleased to welcome him back to his alma mater in this important role.”

“Returning to Notre Dame is a profound homecoming to a place that shaped my vocation and values,” Popiel said. “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve an institution with such a rich musical and educational tradition, and I look forward to leading a band program whose legacy continues to inspire through artistic excellence, thoughtful engagement with the world and the formation of students as musicians, leaders and servants of the common good.”

Popiel earned his master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Notre Dame and bachelor’s degrees in instrumental music education and trumpet performance from Truman State University. He holds a doctorate in musical arts in wind conducting from Michigan State University and an arts diploma in 20th Century Music from the University of Bristol, where he served as a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the American Bandmasters Association.

As you may know, Dr. Ken Dye is retiring from service as Director of Bands at the University of Notre Dame at the conclusion of the academic year. Please enjoy a special edition of the Band Newsletter as a congratulations and celebration of his 28 years with the Band of the Fighting Irish.

Special Edition Notre Dame Band Newsletter – Dr. Ken Dye

Go Irish!

I am writing to update you on all the exciting things we’ve been up to during this Spring semester! We may not have been marching at any football games this semester, but we’ve certainly been busy! Click on the Band Newsletter to see photos and more info.

This February, Notre Dame hosted its 68th Collegiate Jazz Festival, welcoming many collegiate bands and clinicians from across the country. Eleven-time Grammy winner Christian McBride was among the clinicians, giving students the incredible opportunity to experience jazz at the highest level right here at home. This festival is the oldest and most prestigious collegiate jazz festival in the country, and it would not have been possible without the help of the many wonderful student volunteers from the Band of the Fighting Irish and the alumni contributors who help fund CJF. The festival concluded with an amazing concert at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, and we are so thankful for our performers, volunteers, and donors for making it such a huge success!

Band juniors welcomed their parents for Junior Parents Weekend with performances by the Symphonic Winds, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Bands. These JPW concerts were great opportunities for parents to see their band students perform outside of marching band, highlighting junior soloists and even featuring a rubber chicken symphony (yes, really!). As a junior, I can confirm that getting to see the band was my parents’ favorite part of the weekend!

The Notre Dame Basketball Bands and Hockey Band have truly been putting in the work and having tons of fun this semester, performing at each home game and even traveling across the country with the basketball teams! Recently the Basketball Band traveled to Georgia for the Women’s ACC tournament, and even Columbus, Ohio to cheer on our women’s team as they played for March Madness! The Varsity Bands brought the energy to each and every game this season, and no matter what the outcome, played with full intensity the entire time!

This March, the Notre Dame family mourned the loss of legendary football coach Lou Holtz. Coach Holtz led the Fighting Irish to their 1988 National Championship, and has truly left a lasting legacy on the Notre Dame community. On March 16th, Coach Holtz was laid to rest after a funeral mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. The Trumpet section of the Band of the Fighting Irish stood at the Main Circle and honored Coach Holtz with one last Alma Mater as the procession made its way to Cedar Grove Cemetery. Amidst a gray, snowy day, this emotional tribute embodied the respect the Notre Dame community holds for Coach Holtz and celebrated all he has done for the University. “Those who know Notre Dame, no explanation’s necessary. Those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.” - Lou Holtz.

We clearly have had a remarkably full first-half of the semester, and we are looking forward to what the rest of the semester will bring! Between Admitted Student Day, The Shirt unveiling, The Blue and Gold Game, our Spring Concerts, and more, we have many great things on the horizon! I’m extremely excited for this next football season, and I know it will be a delight to get to lead such a hardworking group of people. We thank you so much for your continued support. Again, please click here for the Band Newsletter to see what the ND Band has been doing. As always, GO IRISH!

Yours in Notre Dame,

Emma Ellis, Band 181 Head Drum Major

University of Notre Dame Band of the Fighting Irish

I am writing to give an exciting recap of our 2025 fall semester band season! There were tons of different things going on, so let’s get you caught up on everything! Take a look at photos of the band and much more in the Winter Band News.

As always, the main focus of our band season in the fall was marching band. CORE band returned in mid-August to brush up on their skills, prep for band camp, and welcome all the new auditionees. After a couple days of COREientation, the auditionees started band camp, and after four days of hard work, everyone aced their auditions and the season began!

Band 180 started with a night game against the Aggies of Texas A&M. The Band performed a tribute show to late-legendary artists with a slate of I Get Around, Crazy Train, and Margaritaville. To go along with these great tunes, the band made some swaying palm trees and danced a train down the field. Even though the Purdue halftime was cut due to a weather delay, the band brought that show back for the Irish Wear Green game vs Boise State. The band performed a Bruno Mars themed show, with selections of Treasure, APT., and Uptown Funk.

The band prepped for their next game against the Wolfpack of NC State and put together probably the first ever Scandinavian Mystical Magical Dragon Show. Starting off with ABBA’s hit Mamma Mia, the band followed it up by re-creating Benson Boone’s iconic backflip on the field while playing Mystical Magical. To close the show out, the band formed a fire-breathing dragon on the field as we played music from How to Train Your Dragon. The Irish finished off their pre-fall break slate of games with a huge rivalry night game vs USC. The band pulled out all the stops (and their raincoats) and played the stadium rock classics Paradise City and Bohemian Rhapsody to motivate the Irish to an epic victory.

Returning from fall break, we experienced another night game vs Navy, this one with both rain and snow. In this annual salute to service game, the band performed Saturday in the Park, Veterans Day Salute, and The Stars and Stripes Forever. The Irish closed out the season vs Syracuse with a wintry show. First, we performed Let it Go while making snowflakes and a snowman. We then closed out with All I Want for Christmas is You while making a sleigh being pulled by a reindeer across the field. A 70-7 win for the Irish was a great way to send off our seniors!

Outside of the marching band, hockey and basketball started their seasons with bands there to support them at every home game! On November 23, the Sunday after the Syracuse game, Symphonic Band and Winds had their fall concert. The semester closed out on December 7, when University Band had their fall concert in the afternoon followed by the Jazz Bands and New Orleans Brass Band performing later that evening.

All in all, it has been an incredibly busy time with the Band of the Fighting Irish but we have been having so much fun every step of the way!

Again, you can see photos and more in the linked Winter Band News.

We thank you for all of your support and are so excited about what is to come next!

Go Irish, forever and always!

Yours in Notre Dame,

Camden Wozniak

Trombone Section Leader and Band Librarian

University of Notre Dame Band of the Fighting Irish

I write to you with exciting updates and news and to let you know that Band 180 is in full swing! As we enter the heart of the fall semester and football season, let’s take a look at some of the incredible things going on with the Band of the Fighting Irish. Click this LINK to see the Fall 2025 ND Band News, with photos and more.

While students were away for the summer, Ricci Band building received some updates, with new carpeting and lighting in all three rehearsal rooms. The week of August 18th, students returned to campus, transitioning from their summer internships, research, service, travel and more to reunite with friends and kick off Band Camp. We had Coreientation on Monday and Tuesday where our

CORE band members worked hard to brush up on marching and develop teaching strategies for camp. On Wednesday, students moved into their dorms and on Thursday, we had the first marchout of Band 180! Over the next 4 days, our Section Leaders, CORE band members and returning members had the privilege of welcoming new band members and preparing them for auditions on Sunday. I cannot express how proud I am of our returning band members’ efforts and, as a result, the success of our new members. They learned an incredible amount in a short amount of time and, per the Directors, this was one of the best groups of new members we have had in a long time.

During Band Camp, Dr. Dye also shared some exciting news with the band; at the end of this academic year, he will be retiring as Director of Bands. We all know how impactful Dr. Dye has been during his tenure with the Notre Dame Band so I, on behalf of Band 180 and of the entire Notre Dame Band Family, would like to extend a congratulations to him and a heartfelt thank you for everything he has done for our program. The University, in coordination with a third party firm, is currently conducting a national search to fill the position for the next academic year, 2026.

Before our first home game, the Band had its annual backpack rehearsal. Coach Freeman and the Captains visited to hand out backpacks and Peter Schivarelli, whose generosity we have to thank for the backpacks and so much more, spoke to the band. The football Captains even got to conduct Celtic Chant!

On September 12th, the Band had its first Friday marchout of the year, performed at the Rockne Rally on South Quad and had our first Midnight Drummer’s Circle that evening. The following day, after our plaiding ceremony and Concert on the Steps of Bond Hall, the Band marched out from the Dome to the stadium before performing our pregame routine. During halftime, the band paid tribute to iconic artists who have recently passed away, performing Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys' “I Get Around,” Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville.” Though the game did not go the way we would have liked, the Band always wins and I am proud of every Band member and particularly of our new members. Having your first game be a night game is not easy; they handled it with grace and were spectacular.

The following week, we did it again! Friday marchout and Midnight Drummer’s Circle both went well. The next day, we had a great performance at Bond Hall before another marchout to the stadium and pregame performance. After some inclement weather forced us to trek to the band building and back (and 56 touchdown pushups later), the Irish came out on top. I am proud of the Band’s flexibility during the rain delay and the energy they brought when we returned.

As you can see, it has already been an exciting first month and there are many more great things to come as we prepare for home games against Boise State, NC State, USC, Navy and Syracuse and a possible playoff game or bowl game. It has been a blast so far (once again, see the Fall 2025 ND Band News) and we are working hard to make the rest of the season the best that it can be. Wishing you and yours all the best and as always, Go Irish!

Yours in Notre Dame,

Sean Guibord, Head Drum Major

University of Notre Dame Band of the Fighting Irish

Summer is when the Band of the Fighting Irish transitions from Band 179 to Band 180. We say thank you to the graduating class, while simultaneously building up excitement to welcome new members in the fall.

See the Summer Band News for highlights of the 2024-25 school year. In September the band played for the inauguration of Notre Dame President Fr. Robert Dowd, C.S.C. That weekend included ND’s New Orleans Brass Band performing with Jon Batiste. Our Varsity Basketball and Hockey Pep Bands supported our teams throughout their seasons, and in March traveled to support both basketball teams in their respective ACC tournaments. Around the same time, a Pep Band was assembled to cheer on our Lacrosse teams. In April, the Jazz Bands traveled to Chicago to spread the joy of music to high school students. Our BandLink program provided music education to middle school students, culminating in a spring concert. Our various Section Ensembles produced an impressive showcase in April. Our Concert Bands worked hard to produce beautiful and fun music in both the fall and spring. Our Tour Band visited Michigan and Pennsylvania before departing for performances in Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia to start the summer.

All of this, of course, followed a uniquely historical football season. Our spirits rose along with our ranking as Notre Dame football proved to be among the best programs in the country. Alongside them, we demonstrated that our Band is among the nation’s best while performing with the rock band Chicago and doing a show of Jon Bon Jovi music while he conducted our Victory March. The Marching Band went to the Shamrock Series in New York City and celebrated a victory against Army in Yankee Stadium. A new College Football Playoff structure opened the door for our football team to shine in the postseason, and the Band was right there to support them through it. After celebrating a crushing victory over Indiana University in snowy South Bend, the band celebrated New Year’s with a decisive Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia in New Orleans and a nail-biting Orange Bowl victory over Penn State in Miami. During the FIRST EVER (!!) spring semester football show rehearsals on campus, we prepared our famous Top Gun halftime show for an unforgettable experience in Atlanta at the National Championship.

Band 180 is excited to have another year filled with performances and experiences. Starting with a home opening game against Texas A&M, Notre Dame Football hopes to make another run at the College Football Playoffs. As shown in the Summer Band News, the Notre Dame Band will be with them all the way.

We can’t wait to make some more memories!

Go Irish!

Andrew “VO” VanOverbeke, Band 180 President

We hope that this newsletter finds you well! What a thrilling year it has been for us. Band 179 experienced several “firsts” as the Fighting Irish football team plowed their way through the expanded College Football Playoff. But even before that, we had several other notable experiences.

In September, the Band participated in the inauguration ceremonies for Fr. Robert Dowd, C.S.C., leading the academic procession to Purcell Pavilion and performing with the campus choirs to celebrate his installation. In November, the Band performed an all Bon Jovi halftime show with the legend himself present to conduct the Victory March! The following week, the Band teamed up with the rock band Chicago to perform with them at halftime. And one week later, we traveled to New York City for the Shamrock game versus Army in Yankee Stadium. This New York trip featured the drumline performing in Central Park and the Band performing a concert in Times Square. For our students these were once in a lifetime experiences. However, the real fun was just about to begin.

The Band of the Fighting Irish was on hand for the first College Football Playoff game in the newly expanded format. It was a cold but exciting weekend as ESPN Gameday was present and much of the Band’s pregame show was televised. Following the great win over Indiana, the Band went home for Christmas, then hopped onto planes bound for New Orleans on December 29.

We were all shocked and saddened by the attack on Bourbon Street during the New Year’s Celebration. The Band Staff and Student Affairs should be commended for how they handled the situation and Band members commended for their resiliency. Students were given the option to go home or stay for the game based on their personal and family needs. Two hundred and forty students remained and overnight we rewrote both the pregame and halftime shows to account for the smaller number. The remaining Band members learned the revised shows at 8:30am on game day during an hour and a half rehearsal in the Superdome. And the Band never missed a beat!

After the great win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, we flew back to our homes on January 3, and then flew to Miami on January 7. The Orange Bowl game versus Penn State was a nailbiter, but the Band stayed positive and kept supporting the team. When the final kick went through, the tears of joy on the faces of Senior Band members were unforgettable. As the Band walked out of Hard Rock Stadium, they chanted and sang with great happiness, relishing the victory. The realization started to set in: we are going to the ship!

The Band left Miami and flew back to their homes on January 10. Due to a winter storm, some band members were stranded in airports on the way home. However, they were all back on campus for the Spring semester on January 13. As far as we can remember, this was the first time we have had marching band rehearsal during the Spring semester as we prepared for the National Championship game. While we all know the results of the game, the experience was absolutely outstanding. What a joy it was to win two major bowl games in one season and to support a resilient Fighting Irish Football Team.

At our annual Band Banquet, Dr. Katie Conboy, the President of Saint Mary’s College, spoke about her time as a student in the 1980s and how the Band’s role in campus life has grown since that time. It is true. Throughout all of this, the Band continued to be present at Women’s Basketball, Men’s Basketball, Hockey, Fr. Bob’s Inauguration, all of these football games, and they continued to do concert band and jazz band. Our band members from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross are all volunteers and give so much of their time and talent in service to Our Lady’s University. We owe them our love and our gratitude for their dedication to continuing the outstanding legacy of the Band of the Fighting Irish.

Dr. Sam Sanchez, ‘98 & ‘05

Associate Band Director

University of Notre Dame