With its enrollment reaching about 150 students, Iowa State’s Band is bursting at the seams.

“The increase in numbers is due to student recruitment. Students are recruiting students,” said Dustin Seifert, assistant director of ISU bands and director of University Band.

Until fall semester 1999, University Band was exclusively a spring course. This fall, its members totaled about 45. Now just one semester later, it has 145 students.

Despite this increase, Seifert said the course is basically taught in the same way.

“It hasn’t caused much change in how class is handled,” he said.

Seifert said the group is an ensemble, so it is still addressed in that manner.

“Students are expected to work professionally, and they do,” he said.

Director of Bands Michael Golemo said he’s pleased with this semester’s group. “It is still a very manageable size,” he said.

“We are considering splitting the class for spring [2001],” Golemo said. “We expect the growth to continue.”

Kim Hannum, oboe player in University Band, said she would prefer a smaller group.

“The entire room is packed with people,” said Hannum, senior in animal science. “There is not as much motivation for students to work hard in a large group. They can hide.”

Michelle Heston, flute player, also said she enjoyed the smaller group. Heston, junior in psychology, said the smaller group “was awkward at first, but we came together.”

However, trombone player Paul Brockman said he is optimistic about the larger band.

“It allows us to do more things musically as an ensemble,” said Brockman, senior in music. “We haven’t had much of a chance to play as an ensemble yet.”

University Band’s first performance this semester is at 3 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Stephens Auditorium. Audiences can expect “standard band repertoire and occasionally a more contemporary repertoire,” Seifert said.