Serena Manzi

Section/Position: Drumline

Major: English and an IMJR for Equine Assisted Social Work and stuff ya feel?

Hometown: Enfield, CT

Favorite Candy: Gummy Bears

Fun Fact: I get to pet ponies for a living after college and how is that not fun? That’s it, there is nothing else to my future. Just pony petting. Such fun.

Serena's UConn and/or UCMB experience:

Right before my first summer drum camp, I was so nervous that I thought I was going to melt into a puddle of Serena right there in 102. It surely did not help that Chris Horvat’s face was twenty feet tall on the projector screen in the middle of the room. Spoiler alert: I survived and realized joining the UCMB was one of the greatest decisions I had ever made, and that Chris’ head is not nearly that large in person. I am now a proud member of the UConn cymbal line and I am also an admin for the UCMB tumblr. I can’t wait to bug my family all summer about being excited for next season, it’s a great pastime! 10/10 do recommend. Only 20!

Kelsey Chase

Section/Position: Mellophone

Major: Vocal Performance

Hometown: Windham, NH

Favorite Candy: Sour Skittles

Fun Fact: I’m also on the UConn Ballroom Dance Team!

Please write a quote about your UConn and/or UCMB experience.

I wouldn’t be who I am today without marching band. The people I’ve met, the sense of community I’ve experienced even with the members I don’t know very well, the pride that I’ve felt after our hard work has paid off in a great performance. I live for that feeling, and it has made me a more hard working and passionate person in every aspect of my life.

Iris Foley

Section/Position: Color Guard

Major: Nursing

Hometown: Vernon, CT

Favorite Candy: Almond Joy

Fun Fact: Pugs are my favorite animals.

Please write a quote about your UConn and/or UCMB experience.

I joined the UCMB as a sophomore and have also been a member/officer of the UConn Winterguard since freshman year. I love being a part of the UCMB and I love color guard – my favorite thing about the UCMB is going to the exhibition shows because I came from a competitive high school band. There’s no better crowd to perform for than a band crowd

Emily Levis

Section/Position: Alto Saxophone

Major: Math Education

Hometown: Middletown, CT

Favorite Candy: Sour Patch Kids

Fun Fact: I painted a Uconn Marching Band wall mural inside my former band directors office.

Please write a quote about your UConn and/or UCMB experience.

A friend of mine who was my former high school band director had been a member of the Uconn Marching Band for 5 years. She was such an inspiration to me in many ways, and thus inspired me to join the marching band. I started in Uconn’s West Hartford campus my first semester of freshman year, so I was unable to join as a freshman, but did join pep band to become involved as soon as I came to Storrs. Even in the two years I have spent as a member of the marching band, the saxophone section has become the group of friends I spend most of my time with in various activities. Being a part of all this has really enhanced my college experience, and I wouldn’t change it for anything else.

Olivia DeFilippo

Section/Position: Front Ensemble

Major: Anthropology

Hometown: Wallingford, CT

Favorite Candy: Reese’s

Fun Fact: I received my Gold Award in Girl Scouts this past year by building a vegetable garden and donating all of the produce to a nearby food pantry.

Olivia’s UConn and/or UCMB experience:

Being a part of the UCMB as a freshman in college has changed my entire outlook on college because of the incredible moments I have experienced as well as all of the fantastic people I’ve met. In the first few weeks of marching season I have met some of the most amazing people with more devotion and respect than anyone else I have ever met. Together we put on an incredible show and built a new family. As a freshman, I can’t find the words describe what this huge family has done for me as I start my life away from my hometown. I can’t say thank you enough to the UCMB and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Only 20!

Gillian Phillips

Section/Position: Piccolo

Major: Pathobiology of Vet Science double major in Animal Science

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Favorite Candy: Snickers

Fun Fact: I graduated in December and am currently working at a vet clinic and getting my Masters in Public Health from Georgia State University. But that is boring my fun fact is I worked at Zoo Atlanta for 7 years and on vacation one year we had a giraffe break a window in our car while in a drive through safari!

Gillian's UConn and/or UCMB experience:

“The UCMB always made my day better. It gave me an outlet outside of my science courses and gave me so many friends that no other organization would be able to give me. Love y’all TUP!”

Lauren McGrane

Section/Position:  Alto Saxophone

Major: Sociology

Hometown: Winchester, CT

Favorite Candy: Ferrero Rocher

Fun Fact: I've eaten kangaroo!

Lauren's UConn and/or UCMB experience: The UCMB has been vital to my college experience. After my father sadly passed away my sophomore year, I joined the UCMB and was blessed with so much. The UCMB gave me so much more than the opportunity to return to marching band. It gave me my best friends, and I couldn't be more thankful. From participating in Lipsync, HuskyTHON , and intramural sports to going to Late Night or basketball games or watching the Ellen show, I do these things with my best friends. I have the most amazing friends and support system, and I have the UCMB to thank for that.