A former member of the Livingston High School Marching Band, Douglas Lieberman’s passion for music has made him a staple of the Baltimore Marching Ravens.
Comprised of over 150 musicians, the Baltimore Marching Ravens perform at all of the football team’s home games. It is the largest muscial organization associated with the NFL and has been performing for over 75 years.
Lieberman, a 1984 graduate of Livingston High School, said that his passion for music was fostered through the Riker Hill elementary school’s music program.
“I was an awful trumpet player, but I showed up, so I think (the band director) figured worst comes to worst I have somebody who will show up and try to play it,” Lieberman said.
He continued to practice on the trumpet before switching to the tuba, an instrument with which he remains closely entwined to this day.
A resident of Williamsport, Maryland, Lieberman was aware of the Baltimore Marching Ravens for years.
“I always said ‘Oh, I don’t have the time,’but in 2016 I finally decided I’m going to try this,” he said. “When you register, they’ll send you an audition piece, some scales and sight reading. You go in and do what you can, and if you’re good enough, you make it.”
The Marching Ravens require all members to audition each year, so even its longtime members must try out each April to make the team. In spite of this, Lieberman said he does not usually get nervous at auditions. “Auditions are only as stressful as you make them,” he said.
After auditions, regular rehearsals and practice begin almost immediately. Lieberman explained that when the football season is still months away, the Marching Ravens take part in various Fourth of July parades, and have to be prepared.
While he has fun participating in the parades and enjoys the infectious energy, Lieberman said that parade days are exhausting. Marching over ten miles through the summer heat with an instrument weighing upwards of 25 pounds makes for a long day. He cannot deny the electricity of the parade crowds, but says the excitement on game day far surpasses that.
Lieberman recounted the arduous game day schedule that proceeds a 1 p.m. start time.
“It’s a full day of work,” he said. “We show up for practice at 7:30 and do a full rehearsal at the Ravens’ training camp (field).”
After that, they change into uniform and bussed to Camden Yards.
“We do a stand up concert in the courtyard at Camden Yards and then march down Raven’s Walk, which attaches the stadiums,” he said.
From there, the Marching Ravens march through the crowd.
“We play two songs, ‘Seven Nation Army’ and the Raven’s Fight Song, and then we continue to march around one-third of the stadium,” he said.
Lieberman noted that as they march through the stands, many audience members have a palpable reaction.
“Everyone gets amped up and people try to high five us,” he said. “Once we get down on the field we do a pre-game show with different formations and depending on the week, we’ll do a halftime show, as well.”
In addition to game day, one of Lieberman’s favorite parts of being a member of the Baltimore Marching Ravens is the community outreach the band performs.
“We do Purple Fridays, where we go through elementary schools to pump up the kids the Friday before games,” he said. Different sections of the band travel to local schools with the Raven’s cheerleaders and Poe, the team’s mascot.
“It’s a lot of fun watching the kids react to us and the cheerleaders,” he said. “It’s absolutely the most fun.”
