The One More Time Around Again Marching Band (OMTAAMB) is believed to be the largest permanent marching band in the world.
The OMTAAMB is made up of former high school, college and military
marching band members. The ages of the band members range from 19 to
85. Members come from far away places just to perform with the band
each year -- in recent years there are members who have come from
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 "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 32 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, and the
band made its debut in the Grand Floral Parade. The band 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. Image to the left,
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 and marched in the 1990 Tournament of Roses
Parade.
The
Second Time Arounders 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 Rounder's
celebration. Two years later was OMTAAMB's 10th anniversary, and the Rounders came to Portland to march in the Grand Floral Parade and help with OMTAAMB's celebration
By the end of 1995, Bill Chisholm
decided he needed a well deserved retirement from directing OMTAAMB.
He was replaced by Lambert Morris, who then directed the band for
three years.
During
Lambert's third year, the band went on a road trip to San Antonio,
Texas in April 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, there was yet another
change of directors for OMTAAMB. 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.

During Mary and Jay's second year,
they worked with Norman Leyden (former arranger for Glenn Miller and current director of the Oregon Symphony pops) on a big band show which 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 which 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, a patriotic suite of music was chosen for the 2002 performances, including the first ever playing of a Sousa march (Stars and Stripes Forever) by OMTAAMB.

2004 was the OMTAAMB's 20th
anniversary year and the band celebrated 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.
The OMTAAMB is embarking on its
24th year
and 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 assure that OMTAAMB members are glad to share this wonderful experience with you!