One More Time Around Again Marching Band

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The History of the OMTAAMB

The One More Time Around Again Marching Band (OMTAAMB) is believed to be the largest permanent marching band in the world. The band is made up of former high school, college and military marching band members. The ages of the band members range from the teens to the 80s. Members come from far away places just to perform with the band -- in recent years there are members who have come from Arizona, California, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Japan and New Zealand.

The idea for the band came after former Rose Festival executive director Clayton Hannon saw a similar group (The Greater St. Petersburg Area Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band, otherwise known as the "Rounders") performing at the St. Petersburg, Florida Festival of States.

He convinced Bill Chisholm to lead a similar group for the Portland area, and things were off and running. The band made its debut in 1985 when it was formed to march in the Portland Rose Festival's Starlight Parade. There were only 70 to 75 members during that first year, and many of the charter members are still part of the band!

In its second year, OMTAAMB grew to approximately 150 members. By the third year (1987), the band had grown to over 200 members, and with a new sponsor, adequate funding allowed the purchase of yellow bowling shirts and white pants. This year saw the band make its debut in the Grand Floral Parade. It continued to grow rapidly during the next few years and membership was ultimately capped at slightly over 500.

As the band grew in size, it also started venturing outside of Portland on occasion. The first major road trip came in July of 1989 when they went to Seattle for the Seattle Seafair Torchlight Parade. Here, the band members get ready to march in the Magnolia community parade, one of several such events which are part of the Seattle Seafair.

Less than six months later, the band went to Pasadena, Calif. and marched in the 1990 Tournament of Roses Parade.

The Rounders celebrated their 10th anniversary in 1992, and OMTAAMB headed for St. Petersburg in March of that year to participate in the Festival of States and help with the Rounders celebration. Two years later, the Rounders came to Portland to march in the Grand Floral Parade and take part in OMTAAMB's celebration of its own 10th anniversary

By the end of 1995, Bill Chisholm decided he needed a well deserved retirement from directing OMTAAMB. He was succeeded by Lambert Morris, who then directed the band from 1996 to 1998.

In April 1998, the band went on a road trip to San Antonio, Texas and marched in the Fiesta Flambeau parade. It turned out to be yet another reunion with the Rounders, who also traveled to San Antonio that same year.

In 1999 the band changed directors again. Mary Bengel was chosen as the new director, and she was later joined by husband Jay as co-director. Mary was very pregnant during her first season and Jay had to frequently monitor her pulse to make sure that she didn't overexert herself during rehearsals.

In 2000, the band worked with Norman Leyden (former arranger for Glenn Miller and current director of the Oregon Symphony pops) on a big band show that included a version of "String of Pearls", which Maestro Leyden arranged especially for OMTAAMB.

In 2001, OMTAAMB wore tie-dye shirts as they celebrated a "Summer of Love". One of the OMTAAMB banner carriers, Katie Harmon, went on a few months later to be named Miss America. Another item of note for 2001 was a joint appearance of OMTAAMB and the Kingsmen. This turned out to be a perfect match as the signature tune for both groups is "Louie Louie" (click on the image to the left to see the Kingsmen singing the words as OMTAAMB plays the melody during a Hillsboro Stadium performance).

The events of September 11, 2001 did not leave OMTAAMB untouched. The uncertainties that evolved from that fateful day (particularly regarding airline travel) resulted in OMTAAMB canceling their plans to make a road trip to St. Petersburg for the Rounder's 20th anniversary in the spring of 2002.

Under Jay and Mary's direction, the band performed a patriotic suite of music for the 2002 season, including its first ever performance of a Sousa march, "Stars and Stripes Forever". The band also performed its 2002 field show at Oregon State University that September.

The OMTAAMB celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2004 with a trip to San Antonio to march in the Fiesta Flambeau Parade and a special "best of" music set, featuring favorites from the past twenty years.

IN 2007, the OMTAAMB helped the Portland Rose Festival celebrate its 100th anniversary. For the centennial celebration, the band performed a field show highlighting musical selections from each of the Festival's 10 decades.

The OMTAAMB successfuly completed its 25th year in 2009 and achieved another milestone on Nov. 1, 2009 as it became an independent, non-profit organization. The band is embracing its new direction and is actively seeking new avenues in which to present itself.

With this in mind, many of the members are getting older than they used to be. New members are always needed to keep the music flowing, so if you think this might bring the same kind of joy that it has to so many others, check out the How to Join page and see if you meet the requirements. You may rest assured that OMTAAMB members are glad to share this wonderful experience with you! Join and help us begin our next 25 years in 2010!

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