Dec. 3, 2004

VCU’s Cary Street Gymnasium designated a historic location

Department of Music, Kappa Kappa Psi band fraternity honors John Phillip Sousa

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By Kosha Joshi
University News Services

This new historical marker hangs in the entrance of Cary Street Gymnasium, once known as Richmond City Auditorium. The facility hosted four performances by the John Philip Sousa Band during the 1920s. Photos by Malorie Janis, University News Services
This new historical marker hangs in the entrance of Cary Street Gymnasium, once known as Richmond City Auditorium. The facility hosted four performances by the John Philip Sousa Band during the 1920s. Photos by Malorie Janis, University News Services

High-stepping patriotic marching band tunes conducted by American bandmaster and composer John Philip Sousa once filled Virginia Commonwealth University’s Cary Street Gymnasium, formerly known as the Richmond City Auditorium.

The decade was the Roaring ‘20s and Sousa – American composer, conductor and "March King” known for his patriotic marching pieces – led the band in four performances in the auditorium. Because of those performances, Cary Street Gymnasium, located at 911 W. Cary St., recently was deemed an official historic location in honor of John Philip Sousa.

Kappa Kappa Psi— VCU's band fraternity, officials in the School of the Arts and the John Philip Sousa Foundation dedicated the building and honored Sousa with a wall plaque that will hang in the entrance of the gymnasium. The members of Kappa Kappa Psi also raised the money to pay for the plaque.

According to Terry Austin, Ph.D., director of bands and professor in music education in VCU’s Department of Music, Sousa made concert bands the most popular form of entertainment in the world for a short period of time, only to be undone by the advent of recorded music, radio broadcasts and movies.

“This project is really a labor of love for anyone who has participated in it around the world,” said Austin. “Sousa was an important figure in the history of bands, particularly in the United States, and we are honored to be able to remember this great American."

The John Phillip Sousa band paved the way for concert bands as a form mainstream entertainment in the early 1900s. The band also was the first American musical organization to go on tour. Sousa's works continue to be the most played and popular of marching band pieces around the United States.

Kappa Kappa Psi operates primarily as a college band service fraternity student service and leadership recognition society.

VCU’s chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi is an honorary service organization whose purpose is to serve the university band program through service projects, fundraisers and social events. Since 1919 more than 50,000 band members in the United States have devoted their efforts to strengthening their bands through group and individual service projects.

From left: Terry Austin, Ph.D., director of bands and professor in music education in VCU’s Department of Music; Adam Butalewicz, vice president of service, Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity; John Guthmiller, Ph.D., chair of VCU’s Department of Music; and Richard Toscan, Ph.D., dean of VCU’s School of the Arts stand by the newly dedicated plaque at Cary Street Gymnasium.
From left: Terry Austin, Ph.D., director of bands and professor in music education in VCU’s Department of Music; Adam Butalewicz, vice president of service, Kappa Kappa Psi fraternity; John Guthmiller, Ph.D., chair of VCU’s Department of Music; and Richard Toscan, Ph.D., dean of VCU’s School of the Arts stand by the newly dedicated plaque at Cary Street Gymnasium.