UI marching band director stepping down

When people see the Sound of Idaho Marching Band, they see sousaphone players running around in skirts and building pyramids. They see band members spell out "Vandals" in cursive and then fall down like dominoes.

For the last 14 years, Torrey Lawrence has been the director of and the creative force behind the band. He led the band to the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise in 1998 and 2009, three different performances for Seattle Seahawks games and dozens of other trips - from Hawaii to Montana.

After more than a decade of directing the large ensemble, Lawrence announced in the spring he would not be returning for the 2012 marching band season. Instead, Lawrence will be the new associate director at the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music.

"It's going to be a very odd year for me. It's bittersweet. I'm excited about some new opportunities and new things I'm going to get to do in my role here in the School of Music, and at the same time I know there are going to be things that I really miss and that's going to be very hard," Lawrence said.

Lawrence joined the LHSOM faculty in 1998 as the associate director of tuba and euphonium and director of marching band and concert band. While Lawrence will no longer direct marching band, he will still be involved with the concert band and will continue to teach tuba and euphonium.

Lawrence first picked up a tuba in junior high when his band director asked him to stay after class one day. The director brought out a brand new tuba still in its plastic and Lawrence played a couple notes. He switched from trumpet to tuba and has been playing ever since.

Lawrence received his bachelor's degree in tuba performance and master's degree in music theory from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. Although Lawrence went to Northwestern intending to get degrees in engineering and music, he quickly decided to focus on music.

Two years after graduating from Northwestern, Lawrence began his career at the University of Idaho.

"This job was just a dream for me. I always wanted to teach tuba and euphonium. I really enjoy that ... and the fact that it was on the western side of the Mississippi was very appealing as well," Lawrence said.

Three years later he met his wife, Sara, and the two were married in 2002. They have two children, Tom, 3, and Jane, 4 months. In 2010, he completed his doctorate degree in tuba performance and wind conducting at the University of Oregon, after several years of traveling between the two campuses for classes.

In 2008, the Seattle Seahawks invited the Sound of Idaho to perform at a halftime show under the condition that the ensemble perform something within the theme "Go Green." After taking out his recycling one day, Lawrence came up with the idea to give each band member a pair of drumsticks and a recycling bin to use as a secondary instrument. The popular show, titled "Bins," gained the Sound of Idaho national attention.

"Being part of that kind of creative process on that scale was really fun because it was something that was really unique and something that everybody participated in (to create) the show," Lawrence.

During his 14-year tenure as marching band director, Lawrence shared his musical talents and knowledge with about 1,300 marching band students. Lawrence said he strived to foster the band's enthusiastic and quirky reputation while still upholding a high standard of performance.

"So there's that balance of working hard to be great but also just enjoying the process, too. I think it's fun to have fun. I think it's also fun to be great," Lawrence said.

"A lot of people comment to me, 'Boy, those kids look like they're having fun,' and they realize the students are enjoying what they're doing as well as doing it well, and that's just so much more fun to watch and fun to be a part of," Lawrence said.

Lawrence has also spearheaded a project to compile and document the history and development of the marching band since the founding of the University of Idaho in 1889. Lawrence said he and a few colleagues have found hundreds of old pictures and videos, and have searched through every Argonaut archive and looked in every UI yearbook.

"I'm hoping to have something that will show the development of the group, will show the traditions and the richness of experiences that everyone's had that's gone through it, and that puts today's band in a little different perspective," Lawrence.

Although he will be busy with his new duties as associate director of the LHSOM, Lawrence said he will miss the camaraderie and relationships he formed by being involved with the marching band.

"As I see my role changing here, that's something I'm going to miss because I've made some good friends and good colleagues across campus, and I'll have to figure out how to maintain those relationships. It's been a treat to do that," Lawrence said.

Lawrence said he has spent the last few weeks talking with Spencer Martin, the new marching band director, about the ins and outs of directing the Sound of Idaho.

"He's very smart. He's very enthusiastic. He's going to be great. So I'm pleased ... I actually couldn't be happier with who we've hired and he will do a great job," Lawrence said.

Lawrence said directing the Sound of Idaho was a pleasure and an honor. Although he will not be in charge of the group, Lawrence said he will still go to the football games to listen to the band and watch the halftime shows.

"This band has a long tradition of excellence, and of support in this school and the teams, and being a real vibrant part of this community. Being in charge of that was very challenging and rewarding," Lawrence said.

Meredith Metsker can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 301, or by email to briefs@dnews.com.