Cal Band director turns in his baton after 28 years

After 28 years of putting on white gloves and climbing a 6-foot ladder to do his conducting, Dr. Robert Calonico is retiring as director of the University of California Marching Band, commonly known as the Cal Band.

Calonico, 63, announced to his students Wednesday evening that this year will be his last as UC Berkeley Director of Bands, an umbrella that covers the smaller Straw Hat Band that plays basketball games and pep rallies, and the 60-piece University Wind Ensemble that tours internationally.

“I’d rather leave too soon than one day too late,” said Calonico, whose final performance with the 240-member marching band was in November at the Big Game at Stanford.