Trombonist John Pope was living down the road in Danville when he was recruited in 2008 to join a group that would become March Madness Marching Band. Erica Ullman was living 2,000 miles away in Washington State.
Fast forward to 2018, when Ullman—a devoted hula hooper—had moved back home to Kentucky and was looking for a hooping community to join. She found that community in MMMB, which she saw perform one recent summer at the PlayThink Movement and Arts Festival in Berea.
“The trifecta of PlayThink, MMMB, and being originally from Kentucky, I decided to move my family to Lexington,” Ullman says. Soon after joining the band, Ullman met Pope. Both were recently divorced and became part of each other’s support network.
By the end of the 2018 Lexington St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the pair’s friendship had grown into something more. They shared their first kiss on a downtown sidewalk after performing with MMMB in the parade.
It was “the most memorable and enchanting moment” of his 11 years in the band, Pope recalls.
Today the couple share their love and their life with their families, friends, and larger community in Lexington where they both now live. Pope is a piano technician at the UK School of Music; Ullman works in Physical Therapy with UK Healthcare. In their spare time, the couple will tell you that nothing compares to MMMB when it comes to creative expression.
“Over the past 11 years, this group has been a source of fun and friendship like no other,” says Pope. “I continually experience a sense of wonder that it actually exists. As important as it has been to me, it seems appropriate that it also introduced me to the love of my life.”
Pope’s appreciation also extends to MMMB’s creative leaders—Minister of the Grooves Tripp Bratton and Ministers of the Moves Teresa Tomb and Melissa Smyth—whom he credits with building MMMB into the impressive music and visual experience that it is.
“Most of us don’t really know how lucky we are to have Tripp as musical director, a guy willing and able arrange reams of music for us to play and cheerfully lead a group of very wide-ranging ability. Likewise, Teresa and Mel have continuously churned out creative choreography,” he says.
For her part, Ullman says she is thankful that MMMB has been there for her and Pope throughout their personal and artistic journeys.
“We are so grateful for the support that we’ve found within the MMMB community,” says Ullman. “You’ve gotta show up and be brave, love each other, care for each other, and celebrate life every chance you get.” ❤