Now in his 44th season, Pete Friedmann is the longest serving announcer in the Wheaton Municipal Band’s history. For his “day job,” Friedmann is an independent consultant in public relations and communications, specializing in coaching professionals for giving speeches and interviews. Previously, he held positions in public relations, government affairs, community relations and public policy advocacy communications with the American Medical Association, Baxter International Inc., the Illinois State Medical Society and the Alliance of American Insurers. Friedmann began his career as a broadcast journalist at WJOL-AM/WLLI-FM in Joliet, Illinois.
Pete also is the longest serving announcer for the Northwestern University “Wildcat” Marching Band – a role he’s held since 1981. He has served as arena announcer for home games of Northwestern Women's Basketball since 2011 and announced the Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament for six years. He is the voice of the defending national champion Northwestern Field Hockey team and has announced for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, the NCAA Women’s Field Hockey and Lacrosse tournaments, and Northwestern Baseball, Lacrosse, Softball, Volleyball and Women’s Soccer. Pete has performed as guest narrator with the Westchester Symphonic Winds in Tarrytown, NY, and guest announcer for the Bowling Green State University “Falcon” Marching Band for the band’s first appearance at The Ohio State University. He also announces for conferences and formal events of the American Medical Association.
A graduate of Northwestern, he served many years as a volunteer and leader in alumni activities, was recognized with the prestigious Alumni Service Award by the Northwestern Alumni Association, and was made an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia by the Iota Chapter at Northwestern. As announcer for the “Wildcat” Band, Friedmann has performed at every home game, pep rally, away game, concert and virtual appearance of the band for 44 seasons, at many stadiums in the Big Ten, on national television and at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, Disneyland, Disney World, Universal Studios, the Rose Bowl, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field, Cleveland Municipal Stadium, War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, and at bowl games in Orlando, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston, Dallas, Jacksonville, Nashville, San Diego, Las Vegas and New York City’s Yankee Stadium.