UM Marching Band To Commemorate 9/11 With A Grand Halftime Show

MICHIGAN — The University of Michigan's Marching Band said on Wednesday they will put on "the most spectacular halftime show to date" during Saturday night's football game to commemorate 9/11, the band said in a news release.

The Wolverines will play their second game of the season against the University of Washington Huskies in Michigan Stadium, nicknamed "The Big House" at 8 p.m on ABC.

And director of the band, John Pasquale said in the news release he promises Michigan’s performance will be of a Super Bowl-level halftime performance.

"The content lends itself really well to being completely lit in the early evening," Pasquale said. "We have the largest football stadium in the world and as a performance venue it allows us to pay tribute and remember the anniversary in a unique, grand and respectful way."

Live in Detroit? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone.

The band's performance will include its members carrying lights, twirling flags and playing instruments. Each of the 400 marching band members will carry some sort of light, including high-powered flashlights, glowing orbs and illuminated umbrellas, in addition to 275 marchers spinning flags, twirling batons and playing instruments, the news release said.

Although many of the band's performers weren't yet born when the tragedy on 9/11 unfolded, co-designer of the program Richard Frey noted in the news release the students understand the sanctity of that day.

"They know that ‘Never Forget’ means something significant, even though they weren’t directly part of it." Frey said.

The music performance includes:

• “Summon The Heroes,” John Williams
• “Mambo” (West Side Story), Leonard Bernstein
• New York Medley: “New York State of Mind,” Billy Joel; and “Empire State of Mind,” Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Alexander Shuckburgh, Bert Keyes, Janet Sewell-Ulepic, Shawn Carter and Sylvia Robinson
• “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story,” Lin-Manuel Miranda
• “This Land is Your Land/Stars and Stripes Forever,” Woody Guthrie, John Philip Sousa