The collection includes video and audio recordings of the University of Michigan Band's performance at Rose Bowls, Super Bowl VII, and at other events.
George Rudolph Cavender was born on October 10, 1919 in Wakefield, Michigan, the only son of Emma (Ylkanen) and George Cavender. Cavender received his Bachelor's Degree from Northern Michigan University. In May 1942, he enlisted in the military service and served in the Marine Corps in the South Pacific during WWII. Cavender rose to the rank of Major in the Tank Corps and was decorated a number of times for his service in major campaigns in Bougainville (Papua New Guinea), Guam, and Iwo Jima. He was discharged in 1946.
Cavender enrolled in the U-M School of Music and received his Masters of Music in 1947. As a student, he studied violin and played in the U-M Band as a percussionist. As a student, Cavender was inspired by the U-M Bands Director Dr. William Revelli's high standards and quest for perfection. After graduating from the U-M, Cavender became Director of Instrumental Music in the Ypsilanti Public Schools. He returned to the U-M in 1952 as Assistant Director of Bands and held that post for the next 19 years under Dr. Revelli's leadership.
During Revelli's teaching tour abroad from February to July of 1956, Cavender was in charge of the the University of Michigan Bands. In September 27, 1958, together with Revelli, he organized and conducted the World's Largest Massed Band of over 12,000 members at the University of Michigan. In February-April 1961, Cavender was an Assistant Conductor during the U-M Symphony Band tour of the USSR, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. When Revelli retired in 1971, Cavender took over as Director of the Michigan Marching Band (he served in this capacity until 1979), and in 1972, Cavender became the University Bands Director (he served in this capacity until 1975). When Cavender took over from Revelli, the Michigan Bands consisted of six bands with an enrollment of nearly 500 students. Through Cevender's efforts, funds were raised and a new state-of-the-art facility named Revelli Hall was built to house the Marching Band. Cavender was instrumental in renaming Wines Field --the Marching Band rehearsal field-- to Elbel Field in honor of the author of "The Victors." Under Cavender's leadership, women were first admitted into the Marching Band as the first female twirler joined the Band in 1972. In 1973, female instrumentalists performed with the Michigan Marching Band for the first time.
During his career at the U-M, Cavender worked with the Symphony, Marching, Concert, Basketball, Hockey, and Varsity Bands. Cavender was the last person to serve as both Director of Bands and the Director of the Marching Band. His unique professional versatility brought Cavender national recognition and prestige as a master stage conductor, drillmaster, clinician, adjudicator, and marching band technician on the gridiron. Cavender was invited to travel extensively from coast to coast as a master conductor, teacher and drillmaster. His marching shows have been spectated across the U.S. and included performances at the Boston Gardens, the Virginia Beach Concert and Marching Festival, the Astrodome in Houston, the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, and Superbowl VII in the Los Angeles Coliseum. Cavender's abilities were recognized internationally. In 1972, he was invitated by the Japanese Marching Band Association to work with students, teachers and clinicians on marching band techniques. Other international professional engagements followed, including numerous trips to the UK, France, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Mexico, and Bermuda.
Cavender was among the co-authors of the "BAND-O-RAMA" series, "The Daily Dozen," the "Sound 70 Series" Marching Band shows and author of "Marching Fundamentalists and Techniques for the School Bandsman" and "Instrument Placement and Projection for the Modern Marching Band." He was published by professional magazines and trade journals, and was frequently invited as a popular speaker.
Cavender was a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the College Band Directors National Association, was founder and president of the Big 10 Band Directors Association, a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu, the Music Educators National Conference, the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and a host of other musical societies. In 1972, he was made an honorary member of the University of Michigan "M" Club and in 1995, Cavender awarded an honorary M Athletic Letter.
Cavender retired from the university in 1979. He passed away on March 2, 2004 in Ann Arbor, at the age of 84.
