UA band leader marching off to Miami

And choosing his replacement will be about as important as picking a new head coach for the Wildcats, some say.

Music professor Jay Rees, 53, has accepted a position leading the University of Miami’s marching band, an announcement that sent a wave of nostalgia through the Tucson school this week. His resignation takes effect Aug. 1.

In an interview Friday, Rees said he had no intention of leaving Tucson and didn’t seek out his new position.

The Florida school, his alma mater, sought him out, eager to turn its marching band into one as accomplished as the UA’s, he said.

Under Rees, The Pride of Arizona was named one of the top five bands in the country in 2009 by a national association of college band directors.

“I have extremely powerful mixed emotions about this,” said Rees, who has spent 21 years at the UA.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity, but at the same time, leaving the University of Arizona is heartbreaking in many ways.”

At Wildcats games, Rees could be seen in the stands pumping his fists and yelling encouragement to student musicians on the field.

“Spectacular!” he often would bellow, a high compliment to his young musicians.

“He’s very inspiring and passionate about his work,” said Austin Ziska, 19, a soon-to-be sophomore who plays French horn with the UA band.

“He held us to high standards and always tried to make the Pride of Arizona the best it could be.”

Ziska’s father, Mark Ziska, an interim executive at Pima Community College, credits Rees with instilling discipline that helped his son maintain a 4.0 grade-point average in his chemical engineering studies.

Being in Rees’ band “is like boot camp,” he said.

A composer, bassist, jazz artist and former Los Angeles session musician, Rees came to the UA in 1993 and took over the band two years later. In a Facebook post, he said he’ll never forget his UA days and those whose paths he crossed.

“Being part of The Pride of Arizona legacy has been a life-changing experience for me, as I know it has been for all who have been involved over the last 21 years. In that, we are forever bonded,” he said.

Rees is the UA’s second-longest-serving band director. The only person who’s done it longer was the legendary Jack Lee, composer of the “Bear Down, Arizona” fight song, who led the band for 28 years.

There’s no word yet on who might replace Rees, but the decision won’t be easy, the Pride of Arizona Facebook page said.

“Replacing Rees for The Pride of Arizona is as important a decision for this university as replacing Lute Olson,” it said, a reference to the UA’s esteemed former men’s basketball coach.

Rees said he expects the UA will hold a national search for his successor.