The story of Halftime Magazine begins on the 10-yard line. On my first day of New Student Week at Northwestern University, I found myself near the back row of block formation in the “Wildcat” Marching Band. Although I played the flute since the third grade, I had never marched before, and I didn’t attend band camp (I didn’t realize how important it could be). What was I getting myself into?
After many stumbles and setbacks, I eventually learned how to march 8-to-5, how to high step, and how to twist my body into the infamous “Wildcat” rearback—all while playing at the same time.
As hard as it was, I fell in love with the activity. But after only three short years, my marching career had ended. If I could march for a living, I would. But since I can’t, I found that starting a magazine is the next best thing to combine my passion for the marching arts and my talent as a journalist. Halftime is also my chance to give back to the community—through sponsorships and donations—to make sure that music education continues to thrive.
Halftime Magazine highlights the sights, sounds and spirit of marching band. As we all have experienced, marching band is a musical art, a visual art, a sport and a lifestyle. It’s a highly emotional, life-changing activity. Halftime Magazine showcases our common bonds—our pride as we march to the field, our sense of loss when our team loses, and our feeling of accomplishment after every performance. And we can all recall similar events—the time the bus broke down, the nine-person pileup on a muddy field and the frozen lips on a snowy day.
At the same time, Halftime celebrates personal stories and challenges. For example, this issue features the Port Chester Band’s appearance on “Spider-Man 3,” the Ropes Eagle Band’s comeback from a dying program to win back-to-back sweepstakes, and Indiana University’s recent Sudler Trophy. Halftime is your chance to share your story.
And now, I’d like to end my first publisher’s letter with my favorite band cheer, which I feel is applicable to all of us.
WE love our band
We LOVE our band
We love OUR band
We love our BAND
WE LOVE OUR BAND!
Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Musically Yours,
Christine Ngeo Katzman
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
