We might be more used to marching than running, but we still had it in us to show up in style at the Sydney Marathon! And what a fantastic experience it was, getting to cheer on 33,000 runners with our cool tunes. It was a bit daunting with a 5:45am start, but our cosy uniforms gave us the strength to warm up the crowds with classics like “I Want You Back” by the Jackson Five, Read more
Sporting our amazing new uniforms, SUMBA marched in the Granny Smith Festival street parade out at Eastwood, playing a range of music from the crowd favourite “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky to the classic “Queen City”. This was our first time attending the festival and we had a blast even in the hot sun and we look forward to returning for the 2024 parade!
This Saturday, the long weekend was put to great use with SUMBA performing at the 2021 Sydney Royal Easter Show! Amidst the very well-groomed horses, hefty cattle, and numerous (not-good-for-the-health-but-good-for-the-heart) food options, the SUMBA contingent braved the sun and livestock-familiar concrete to play some music. Although we were slightly reduced in performer numbers compared to previous years, the sweet sweet sounds of some SUMBA classics including Oye Como Va, El Cumbanchero, YMCA, and Sweet Caroline Read more
This evening was a very special day for SUMBA; 5pm marked the return of (I kid you not) actual in-person rehearsals, a feat that would have only been a dream a few months ago. Once all of us (aka just me) could get over the amazement of real life music and (COVID-safe) human interaction, the rehearsal could get started. Marching-hardened veteran SUMBA members and a few new faces came together to revisit some classic SUMBA Read more
Yes, you read that right, and no, that isn’t just blatant arrogance from someone who was on that exec team… Rather, SUMBA’s executive team for 2020 actually were awarded Sydney University’s C&S prize for ‘Best Executive Team’ (go have a looky-look at the members, April, Neave, Gus, Neha, Angus, and Tom, under the ‘Meet the Exec’ page). After a COVID-19-packed year of sadly no staple SUMBA rehearsals or musical events, receiving this award was recognition Read more
Last Saturday, SUMBA and friends were privileged to join the ‘Pride in Protest’ contingent to march in the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. Dressed in red and black, SUMBA might not have been the most flamboyantly dressed of all the parade-goers, but we had our instruments (and Musical Director Gus’s fabulous costume) to level the playing field. After many hours of waiting, strategically timed entry into the parade waiting area, and a Read more
Despite the maze that is the Holme Building, 15 whole people managed to rock up to Meeting Room 1 without getting too lost on Thursday of Week 1 for SUMBA’s 1st rehearsal of 2020! After a few quick introductions, the music began with very ambitious Director of Music, Gus, getting everyone outside for a quick march straight away. After a few SUMBA classics (e.g. YMCA) and some pieces that certainly will get voted into SUMBA Read more
Over the last few weeks, SUMBA has cemented the fact that we are certainly one of Sydney University’s greatest clubs, a non-biased (really!) statement which will be explored in greater depth right now: Holding our Annual General Meeting on October 31st only made Halloween more spooky; we all were on the edge of our seats with apprehension and excitement wondering who would be elected into the new executive team. After some wholesome reminiscing on the Read more
SUMBA members skipped their classes. SUMBA members skipped their jobs. SUMBA members even skipped lying in bed procrastinating all day. That’s right, amidst countless signs and slogans reflecting the peak of human creativity SUMBA added our instruments (and a few signs and slogans of our own) to the sea of strikers for the September 20th Climate March. Starting with an odd 80,000 others packed into the Domain, a giant (slightly deflated) inflatable Earth being tossed Read more
Since the inception of SUMBA in late 2016, the same question has echoed across the rehearsal room many times: When are we going to do Zumba with SUMBA? I need that in my life! – every SUMBA member, every rehearsal. At first, the executive laughed it off… a marching band doesn’t dance, it marches! However, with the announcement of the USU’s PopFest in 2019, an unforgettable opportunity arose. What better excuse to hold the first Read more
