Oct. 30, 2006

Members of the band Chicago will perform with the Notre Dame Marching Band during halftime of the University of North Carolina game, this Saturday, November 4.

Chicago the band was formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois and was one of the first popular rock groups to make use of band instruments such as trumpet, trombone, and saxophone. One of the group’s original mentors, Father George Wiskirchen, C.S.C., was then the band director at Notre Dame High School in Niles, Illinois, where Chicago member James Pankow had attended and played in the school band. Father Wiskirchen served as Assistant Director of Bands at Notre Dame from 1972 to 2001 and maintained a close connection between the Notre Dame Band and the group Chicago.

As a musical and historical tribute to this connection, the Band of the Fighting Irish will perform this halftime show incorporating the music of Chicago. Joining the Notre Dame Band on the field will be original Chicago band performers James Pankow, trombone, Lee Loughnane, trumpet, Robert Lamm, keyboard, and Walt Parazaider, saxophone; along with current members Bill Champlin, organ, Jason Scheff, bass, Larry Klimas, saxophone, Tris Imboden, drums, and Keith Howland, guitar.

Chicago will also perform in concert Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. at the Morris Performing Arts Center in downtown South Bend.