NEWS
BRIEFS
Director of Bands Leads U.S. Army Band
This spring, Mark Lortz, Interim Director of Music
and Director of Bands, had the honor of directing
the United States Army Field Band as they prepared
for the Norsk Militær (Norwegian Military) Tattoo.
The tattoo, which was held April 20-21, is a military
music show held every two years with participants
from Norway and abroad. With more than 800 par-
ticipants on stage, it is Norway's largest indoor show.
Lortz was contacted by the Army Field Band—
one of six premiere military bands in the world—to
help design the show and then teach it to the band
members. “Many of the band members have never
had marching experience, except for boot camp,”
Lortz explains. “I met with the design team to get an
initial idea of the program and offer suggestions on
what would be the most impactful moments of the
show.” He also spent several rehearsals with the band
working on marching fundamentals, choreography,
and musical performance.
“The Army band was the only U.S. band invited to
the prestigious international event and represented
our country proudly,” says Lortz.
To watch a video about Mark Lortz’s experience in
training the band, go to the online version of this
article at stevenson.edu/ventures.
Two Fraternities Coming to Campus
After assessing student interest and requests, Stevenson Uni- proposals and community meetings, the committee offered two
versity has decided to invite two national fraternities, Phi Mu nationally recognized fraternities the opportunity to become
Delta and Phi Beta Sigma, to colonize on campus. They will part Stevenson’s new Fraternity and Sorority Life community.
complement the university’s two sororities, Alpha Kappa Alpha Starting in fall 2018, Phi Mu Delta and Phi Beta Sigma Fra-
Sorority, Inc., and Phi Sigma Sigma. ternity, Inc., will begin the process to become Stevenson’s first
A committee of faculty, staff, and student representatives two fraternities. Representatives of each organization will host
was created to consider the Stevenson community’s needs and interest and informational events on campus in the fall, dates
expectations, to evaluate proposals from fraternities, and to to be announced, for students who wish to become founding
select groups to invite to campus. After a thorough review of the members of the f raternities in fall 2018.
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