Meet the Soundpack: UNM's diverse pep band brings Lobo spirit to Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Some jobs are all about the perks.

Exhibit one was courtside at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center on Wednesday, playing its assigned role in the University of New Mexico men’s basketball team’s 82-56 victory over Air Force in round one of the Mountain West tournament.

Soundpack, UNM’s lively and remarkably diverse pep band, was up to its usual pro-Lobo antics, breaking out newspaper pages while Falcon players were introduced, chanting, clapping and, of course, cranking out the music.

The work doesn’t do much for the musicians’ bank accounts. Compensation is $25 per game.

But Geoff Harman, UNM’s director of bands, says playing for Soundpack is not about the money.

“It comes down to a love of the institution,” Harman said. “You have to love UNM, support the Lobos and have a passion for music. Those are the basic qualifications.”

Catherine Forman, who plays piccolo for Soundpack, agreed.

“It’s a labor of love,” she said, “and it’s a lot of fun. I’m having a blast.”

Forman illustrates the the band’s diverse lineup. She’s a 65-year-old from Delaware who graduated from William & Mary and moved to Albuquerque as an adult. She became a “huge” Lobo fan. Getting involved with the university’s bands came later.

“I was always in band growing up,” she said. “I hadn’t played in a long time, but when I decided to go to grad school, my sister bounced the idea off me to join the band. It turned out to be a great idea.”

Forman played in UNM’s marching and symphonic bands before settling into Soundpack. She laughed when asked about the group’s unusual makeup.

“I could be a grandma to some of these kids,” she said. “My son (Skylar) is 22, so it’s kind of interesting playing with this group, getting different perspectives. I love it.”

Harlie Williams’ path to Soundpack was a bit more traditional. A tenor saxophone player from Albuquerque, Williams looked into joining the pep band after graduating from Sandia High School. It’s her first experience with a travel band.

“It’s like being in a little family and I’m really, really enjoying it,” Williams said. “We have a bunch of different people, different age groups and we bring the spirit.”

Soundpack is fully funded and covers musicians’ travel expenses, including to the Mountain West tournament. So, as one might expect, the band has extra incentive to root the Lobos on this week.

“Fingers crossed they take it all the way,” trumpet player Zach Begay said. “We look forward to this tournament just like the players. All we bring is love for UNM, so we want to stay here as long as possible.”

Begay, who is from Gallup and graduated from Los Lunas High School, doesn’t currently have direct UNM ties. He attends CNM but is looking to move into UNM’s journalism department at some point. Soundpack is his first official school band.

“I wanted to join in high school, but I was too nervous,” he said. “A friend gave me some lessons so I could actually hit the notes and helped talk me into trying this out. It’s turned out to be a great support system.”

Harman, a Pennsylvania native who has been UNM’s director of bands for two years, said he didn’t necessarily know where his doctorate in music education would take him. Soundpack, he said, has been an enjoyable experience.

“I was attracted to New Mexico because there’s so much passion for the university and the Lobos,” he said. “With this group, I just try to bring the excitement. They always bring it right back at me.”

Soundpack put in a longer Wednesday than the basketball team it supports. The band performed at an outdoor pep rally on the Las Vegas Strip and lined up to play the school fight song as roughly 300 UNM fans turned out for a sendoff outside the Lobos’ hotel.

When the band arrived at the Thomas & Mack Center, the musicians happily filed into their designated box just under the arena’s south basket. Forman smiled when asked if tournament games feel different from regular-season contests at the Pit.

“Yes,” she said. “We get better seats.”