Drumroll, please: A conversation with Hayden Milic, section leader with the Virginia Tech Drumline

The spring semester is always a tricky time for the Marching Virginians. The noticeable absence of daily practice can throw the routine of the fall semester awry, but don’t fret – the band will be back before you know it! 

I had a chance to conduct a digital interview with Hayden Milic earlier this month. Milic, who will be returning to the Marching Virginians as a drumline section leader, has been a dedicated member of the MVs since he first began as a freshman. It was a pleasure to ask Milic about his thoughts heading into what will be his fourth consecutive year in the band and his third consecutive year as a section leader.  

---

For new members/those who don’t know you yet, tell us a little bit about yourself.  

Hey! My name is Hayden Milic, and I’m a rising senior studying Aerospace Engineering with a focus on guidance and control systems. I’m originally from Hershey, PA, and I came to VT for both the engineering program and the band and have loved my time here since! 

Outside of the band, I keep myself pretty busy. I do research with the Hume Center, help run a few clubs around campus and am a Defense Civilian Training Corps scholar. When I do have free time, I love hiking, coding personal projects, and cooking—almost as much as I love eating afterward. 

What has your experience been with the MVs up to this point? 

This will be my 4th year in the MV’s on quads and my 3rd year as a section leader, and I have nothing but praise to give. The community aspect of the band can’t be overstated, and it’s honestly been a huge part of my college experience. The drumline especially has always been a tight-knit group, so starting my freshman year with a great group of friends really set me on the path [to] success. We end every day by doing something we love with some of our closest friends, and I don’t think you’ll find that experience at any other club here! 

How does section leader of the drumline contribute to your experience with the band? 

That’s a great question! It certainly gives you an appreciation of the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly. Everyone from the directors to the managers to the officers does so much to teach, feed, and mobilize this group of 330. Being a part of the leadership team that makes that magic happen is incredibly rewarding, and it’s been one of the best parts of my experience with the MVs. 

Do you have any memorable moments that you can remember from your time as an MV? 

I think I could sum up the class of 26’s MV experience in one word: RAIN. Our first game freshman year was on a rainy day, and it was only an omen for things to come… Between rehearsals, game-days, and bowl games, I don’t think I’ll ever forget all the rain! But if I had to pick one event, it would be the infamous rain game against Purdue. It was a long, soggy day, but when I look back at it, I can’t help but laugh. There were some great games of cornhole against the Hokie Bird, and I think I had the best nap of my life on that turf field. 

After a massively successful run as section leader last season, how do you plan to bring the same energy to the upcoming marching season? 

I have to attribute that success to the line itself! We had a great group of drummers last year that made the season a blast, and this year I want to keep that momentum going. We always aim to set a high standard, make practices productive but fun, and keep up the energy. We have a truly fantastic group in leadership this year that I’m looking forward to working with, so there’s no doubt in my mind we’re in for a great season. Plus, we have new drums in the works, so I’m excited to look and sound cleaner than ever! 

What’s your favorite part of being a drumline section leader?  

Honestly, it’s the people. The drumline, and the band as a whole, are all like a second family. I know how helpful that was to me as a freshman, to come into a welcoming and fun environment, and start college off with a large support network. So, every year as we have new people audition, I’m excited to help provide that opportunity to others, and to help grow the MV family. Writing, teaching, and playing music are all a blast, don’t get me wrong. But at the end of the day, I love my job because I get to enable people to do what they love, and to join this amazing group. 

---

While practice may not be as regular at the MVC, the band is continuing to do great things in its offseason. If you see Hayden once the season ramps back up, be sure to introduce yourself! 

Changing the game: How one rank has redefined togetherness

In a band as large as the Marching Virginians, it can often be difficult to make connections outside of one’s own section. While 330 proud members make up the core of the MVs, so much of what is done both at daily practice at the Marching Virginians Center and on gamedays in Lane Stadium is completed within individual groups. This leads to the deepening of relationships within a unit, of course, but can often lead to feelings of disconnectedness between other groups of musicians.  

However, in a unique twist of events for the 50th anniversary season, members of the band’s piccolo section were provided with an opportunity to squash the narrative of section exclusivity. After accepting 16 members into this year’s unit, it was apparent that outside assistance would be needed so that dots on the field could be filled for halftime performances. Under the design of directors Dr. Polly Middleton and Chad Reep, a plan was created: Have a select number of marchers from the largest sections, such as the 65-person trumpet and 44-person saxophone groups, march in permanent piccolo spots for the 2024 season.  

In all aspects except marching, it would be business as usual for the select contingents of marchers from the largest sections. Music would still be rehearsed with their own sections and members would still have an in-section rank to call home. When setting drill for halftime performances, however, rank captains in the piccolo section would disperse marching dots to their piccolo rank members, but also to the members of other sections that joined them on the field.  

When the idea was first introduced, piccolo rank captain Caroline Martin was open to the new change. A third-year environmental science major, Martin was excited to see what the adjustment would bring to a section that has normally seen outside marchers in rotations instead of in permanent spots.

“In past years, the piccolo section would have members of other sections march a spot with us, but unlike this year, it was someone different each time,” Martin told me. “It was always a bit awkward as you didn’t know each other but would be standing a couple feet apart for the next few weeks [when learning a show].” 

Through three months this season, Martin described how her experience as a rank captain of what soon became known as “ghost ranks” has changed her perspective on band as a whole.  

“Getting to interact with more sections within the band has let me meet so many new people,” said Martin. “I find that it’s made us work together as a band.” 

For the members of Martin’s Rank 5, the change originally received mixed reactions. For alto saxophone Shaun Saunders, being told that he would be marching away from his section was a change he wasn’t expecting. 

“When I was told I would be marching a piccolo spot this year, I initially felt a little down,” said the second-year civil engineering major. Reflecting on his time this season, though, he felt nothing but gratitude for the experience he’s had with the piccolo section.  

“Marching a piccolo spot for every show this year allowed me to meet lots of new people, in which I have created many long-lasting friendships,” stated Saunders. “Their section has been so welcoming and wonderful. I love them all and wouldn’t trade them for the world.” 

Shaun’s sentiment was shared by fellow sophomore tenor saxophone Evan Bainer. “It’s been especially great just because of the piccolo section being so nice and open to us new members to where we feel like we’re a part of their section. It feels like I’m in two sections: the saxophones and the piccolos.” 

For tenor saxophone and saxophone section leader Claudia Pack, her appreciation comes from a place of leadership. Now in their second consecutive year as a section leader, marching a piccolo spot has given more than just new relationships. 

“I know more people and feel more confident providing feedback to different sections when it comes to marching,” said the junior aerospace engineering major. “I marched a piccolo spot last year and twice my freshman year and I love it every time.”  

Members of the Marching Virginians may not have the chance to meet other section members quite the way in which Rank 5 has, but Martin’s mix of saxophones and piccolos took the chance and ran with it. While Dr. Polly’s change may not be a permanent one, Rank 5 is just one of many reasons why the 50th anniversary of the Marching Virginians is so special.  

One, Two, Three: Exhibitions Review

While the Marching Virginians are most commonly recognized in the South End Zone of Lane Stadium, the band has had the chance to travel across Virginia this season.

In September, the 50th Anniversary edition of the MVs have traveled to three different exhibitions, showcasing what 330 dedicated student musicians have been working so hard on this fall.

All of us in the Marching Virginians were so grateful for the opportunity to show just exactly what a college-level marching band can be! 

---

Christiansburg: September 14

The band’s Christiansburg exhibition on Sept. 14 was a rousing success. Band members arrived at the Marching Virginians Center for a brief rehearsal at 5 p.m. that evening, where we breathed, warmed up as a band, and reviewed our upcoming performance. After a period of loading the buses and getting dressed in our uniforms, the band was off. Our drive took a little over twenty minutes, seeing as Christiansburg High School is in Blacksburg’s backyard. Many dedicated Hokies tuned into Virginia Tech football on the ride, and marchers cheered while watching quarterback Kyron Drones rifle a pass to a wide-open Jaylin Lane for six.  

We arrived at Christiansburg High School to a crowd of eager high school students and their family members. The band, in lines of five marchers, was called to attention and soon after marched into the Christiansburg football stadium. The excitement was truly palpable. 

The band performed a series of tunes that fans loved. The exhibition first started with the cascade of “Superman” washing over the Christiansburg crowd after the classic run-on to the turf. A whistle from drum major Emily Tucker guided us to the second set of our first home show, where we stood and played a teaser of what’s to come with selections from “Dark Disney.” Shortly thereafter, the band marched and played Aranjuez, a fiery Spanish selection that was built for big band energy. The piece, reconstructed from Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez,” electrified the Lane Stadium a weekend prior in the win against Marshall. After a quick block reset, the band played a selection of tunes from Grammy-award winning metal band Metallica, including “Wherever I May Roam” and the recognizable “Enter Sandman.”  

The super sousaphone section then rushed to the front of the field as the feature instruments in our performance of “Hokie Pokie.” The crowd ate up every dance move and even joined the band in song throughout the performance. Our last selection of the evening was a mix of tunes from our Pregame show, including “Shenandoah” and “VPI Victory March” with a concluding “Tech Triumph” off of the field. Before the band knew it, we were back at the MVC and focused on our performance against Rutgers the following weekend.  

---

Riverbend and North Stafford: September 28

On the last Saturday of September, the band woke up after an extremely controversial VT-Miami football game to perform at Riverbend High School and North Stafford High School. The band’s performance at the two competitions elated the crowds at both high schools.  

Riverbend

The first of two stops on our exhibition journey was at Riverbend High School. The Marching Virginians were invited to perform as a special guest in the Emerald Classic Invitational, and what a time the MVs had! After boarding the buses around 9 a.m., the MVs drove about four hours to get to Riverbend to at 2:30 p.m. We performed an identical set to our Christiansburg Exhibition, starting with our run-on and eventually concluding with Tech Triumph off the field. The first of two legs was a massive success, albeit a very hot one. Many MVs ran to get water once they got back to the air-conditioned buses and changed out of their sweat-covered gray MV shirts.  

Excluding potential post-season games, the Riverbend and North Stafford exhibitions stand as the furthest the band will have to travel this season. Since the MVs were away from home, we had an extended dinner break with pizza before we performed at North Stafford. The intermission gave marchers a time to get some food and get some rest before we performed for a second time that day.  

North Stafford

The second of two legs on Exhibition Saturday was exhilarating. After our pizza break, band members changed back into their uniforms and were then quickly escorted to concert arcs in a nearby field. There, Dr. Polly, the director of The Marching Virginians, and drum majors Tucker and Thomas Chase valiantly led the band through warm up tunes and snippets of our upcoming show.

What made the performance so special, however, was the recognition that “Aranjuez” would be played for a final time this season when we took the field at North Stafford. The Marching Virginians’ late staff arranger James Sochinski crafted the masterful Aranjuez for our marching band, and we would be playing it for a final time that evening. With that realization in mind, the band ripped through the piece with an intensity and fire that truly made it one of the season’s best performances thus far. 

Fans and parents alike at North Stafford bought into what the MVs were doing. During the Hokie Pokie, many audience members broke into song and dance alongside the sousaphone section and roared during pieces from Metallica and Pregame. Overall, the excitement was through the roof.  

The band closed their exhibition with a serene bus ride back to Blacksburg. While marchers got back to the MVC in the wee hours of the morning, it goes without saying that each member would gladly do it all over again. 

Between Band Practices: Emelia Delaporte

For the fifth blog in this series, Marketing and Communications Officer Emelia Delaporte reflects on her time at Virginia Tech, her involvement in student organizations, and what it means to be a Marching Virginian.  

•••

Photo courtesy of Emelia Delaporte

How long have you been in the MVs and what is your role? 

This will be my fourth season with the MVs, as well as my fourth year as an undergraduate. My role during this past season has been the Marketing and Communications Officer, and I will be reprising that this season. In addition to that, I have been a member of the piccolo section my entire time here. 

What’s your degree program and how far along in it are you? I have been pursuing dual degrees, so that means instead of doing a double major, it's so many credits that they hand you two separate diplomas. I'm pursuing professional and technical writing, which is a major under the English department, and multimedia journalism, which falls under the School of Communication. In addition to those two programs, I've also been pursuing double minors in natural resources recreation and biodiversity conservation, both of which are housed in the College of Natural Resources and Environment.  

Photo courtesy of Emelia Delaporte

What extracurriculars outside of the MVs did you engage in? 

I started out freshman year with the Wildlife Society, the Bird Club, the National Deer Association, the Outdoor Club, the Collegiate Times, and Silhouette Literary and Art Magazine. I did Panhellenic for a semester and a summer. I've tried to narrow it down a bit since then. My sophomore year, I became an assistant section editor for the Lifestyles column the Collegiate Times — that was my main organizational focus outside of the MVs.  My junior year, I ended up becoming the social media chair for the National Deer Association, lifestyles section editor for The Collegiate Times, and editor-in-chief of the Silhouette. This coming year, I'll be involved with the CT, the Silhouette, the Wildlife Society, the Bird Club, and WUVT, which is our student radio station. I also have done a lot of volunteer student research. 

Photo courtesy of Emelia Delaporte (handled with permits)

Earlier, you mentioned student research. What have you been investigating? 

Since my freshman year, I've been involved with the Wildlife Habitat and Population analysis lab, fondly known as WHAPA. With them, I've been doing camera trapping data entry since my freshman year, going through a bunch of pictures from cameras in Belize and helping folks identify jaguars and stuff like that. I was also briefly involved with a number of other projects, some of them centering around salamanders, birds, and trees. And then this past year, I've been involved with the Dayer Human Dimensions Lab. So in the spring, I was working on a shorebird disturbance project, and that's who I'm working with this summer. I'll also be working with them again in the fall. 

How would you say the MVs impacted your time at Virginia Tech? 

The MVs have always been something that was super special to me. The MVs gave me my friends for at least my freshman fall before I really got my legs under myself and was able to start branching out a little bit more into the university, and then they've been a home space to come back to every fall. It's definitely been my greatest social foundation while I've been in college. 

How would you say being in another organization outside of the MVs has benefited you? 

It’s taught me a lot about prioritization. There have been a lot of things that I would have loved to have done, but I've had to be a practice instead, like my involvement with Scouts BSA and the Order of the Arrow has kind of taken a backseat for the past couple of years because I've needed to be at practice. It's instilled more confidence in me that those organizations still want to be there for me when I have the time to be a part of them. It can be really gratifying to have to split your time between things like that, because it teaches you that those folks who you aren't able to be there with all the time actually care about you enough to say that, you're taking time away and that it’s okay. So it's taught me a lot about that, and just in general, it's given me a lot of time management skills.  

Photo courtesy of Emelia Delaporte

What advice do you have for folks who are new to the MVs? 

Don't feel left out because you're doing one thing when there's something else you could be doing. I remember my freshman year, I was so focused on, “oh my gosh, I can't be with my residence hall right now, like these people are all going to make friends, and I'm at practice. What am I going to do?” I ended up not being friends with them anyways, and that was probably for the better. So do the best you can to branch out and meet new people, but also recognize that if you can't be somewhere, it's not the end of the world. We all get busy.  Setting yourself up in the fall with other clubs and things to keep yourself busy when the spring comes has been really essential, at least for my well-being and my organization during the school year.

•••

Emelia is from Tampa, Florida and worked this summer as a social science research assistant.

Taking the reins: An interview with Paige Barnhart, Executive Officer

As the conclusion of this weekend’s Spring Game ushers in a new and exciting season of the Marching Virginians, marchers both new and old will be meeting some new faces in this year’s leadership committee. While we painfully say goodbye to some of the MV’s finest, it goes without saying that the new crop of leadership members are going to work their hardest to make the upcoming season one of the best yet. 

I had the chance to digitally interview newly elected Executive Officer Paige Barnhart over the past week. Her expertise from previous band experiences will absolutely radiate as she takes on this new role. Get to know our new XO below! 

---

Hi, Paige! Photo: Paige Barnhart

For those who may not know you just yet, can you tell readers a little about yourself? 

My name is Paige and I’m a rising junior majoring in Computational Modeling and Data Analytics from Chesapeake, Virginia! I am a member of the Net section and this upcoming season will be my third season with the MVs! This past season I served as the Marketing and Communications Officer (MCO) assisting in running this wonderful page known as Marching with the Virginians. I am SO excited to serve as the newest elected Executive Officer for 2024-2025 and the memories we will all make as a band!

Can you talk about your experience with the MVs up to this point?

I auditioned for the MVs as an incoming freshman who quite literally knew nobody and nothing about college life. Showing up to band camp the same day I moved into my college dorm, I was TERRIFIED. The audition process is so unique and personal to everyone auditioning and I truly am so happy I was able to find a home in the MVs. Going into my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to be a part of leadership, so I applied for the Officer Team and got the position of MCO! Being a part of the Officer Team, and just leadership in general, has changed the way I view the band in such a positive way, which led me to falling in love with and applying for the position of XO.

How have the MVs changed your life, and how will the XO position contribute to your experience with the band?

When I got admitted to VT, I knew I wanted to be in the marching band from being a part of the band all throughout high school and serving in leadership positions. College is hard, everyone will tell you that, but having a group of people to go through it with, makes it worth it and this band has brought me that. My amazing rank (Sass Rank 11 all the way!) not only welcomed me in with open arms but has always supported me and made long game days and practices SO much better with our rank snacks and traditions! To the entire Net section (current and olds), starting with the famous Aaron George who believed in me from the beginning, my roommates who we will forever be known as the “sophomore trio”, meeting my actual twin flames, and racing to Pigeon Forge on a random weekend in March with all of my best friends, I wouldn’t be able to accept the XO position and share my love for the MVs without any of you. Continuing to advocate for the band in the position of XO will only open me up to meeting more and more people. If you know me, I will yap forever and I cannot wait to meet all of our new members this upcoming season and welcome them with the same open arms my Net home gave me.

How do you plan to utilize the position as XO to continue great success within the MVs?

My goal for the MVs is to make the new members feel at home! Getting the news congratulating you on making it is such an amazing feeling, and I want to make sure that happy and joyful feeling of being excited for band never goes away while spending time with the MVs. From being in a sorority at the same time as the MVs, I have learned so much about sisterhood and the relationships that come with such tight knit groups of people. As XO, I aspire to create a form of mentorship program where new members can be matched with upperclassmen to better integrate them into the MV experience! Coming to college and having classes start almost immediately is already enough to worry about, but being a part of a strong and positive environment shouldn’t be something else our new members should have to worry about. By doing this, my goal is to ease the transition for our new members while also giving them the opportunity to socialize with sections of the band that are not their own! We are a band family, no doubt about it, and we are welcoming a whole new group VERY soon, so why not start now?

---

Paige and many other leadership members will be all around the Marching Virginians in the upcoming weeks. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself if you see them! 

Unsung Heroes: A Look Into Pep Band

Hokies Pep Band supports the men’s basketball team. Source: Hokies Pep Band Instagram (@hokiespepband)

While we may be in our fifth week of the semester, it goes without saying that the absence of the Marching Virginians leaves the passing of time feeling a little slow. Without daily practices, the smiling faces of our fellow bandmates, and a 7 p.m. “deuces!” in our lives each evening, the spring semester definitely leaves some longing for the return of nights in Lane. For some students, though, the fun has just begun.

Nestled in the corner of Cassell Coliseum, basketball fans and guests alike can bear witness to the Hokies Pep Band. Boasting over 100 members, the band elevates each men’s basketball home game with its pride and true Hokie spirit. Keen listeners will notice songs both new and old, some borrowed from the Marching Virginians catalog and some learned specifically for the energy Cassell brings. It’s an experience that, if you can get into Cassell, you won’t want to miss.

“Pep Band takes the musical energy of an on-field band and trades some of the rigidity in favor of allowing the ensemble to take on its own personality,” said Andrew Stewart, four-year Hokies Pep Band member and MV Tone. When I reached out to him, he made sure to emphasize how the pep band has some serious funk. “The Pep Band has a certain looseness and swagger to it that you don’t get during the marching season. Not to mention we add some awesome guitar, bass, and drum set players!” 

The Hokies Pep Band takes the condensed setting of Cassell Coliseum and runs with it. Since there aren’t as many rowdy fans as Lane Stadium in Cassell, guests are able to interact with the sounds of the pep band on a much closer level.

“In both the wind and the rhythm section, people get to have a great time by playing with the intent to make people nod their heads and stomp their feet,” says Austin Wright, Marching Virginian Sax and bass player. “Pep Band is a group of students who care not just about playing their instruments, but being a part of the wonderful atmosphere in Cassell.”

Even with the hype of a packed crowd, the synergy of the pep band is truly off the charts. Listeners can thank seasoned director and Marching Virginian aficionado Chad Reep for that. 

“We still work hard in pep band, and we sound VERY good,” said Reep. “There are less horn moves, and more individualistic movement. So the students have a little more freedom in how they want to move. Musically, though, we are still very together and uniform.” Anyone in the immediate vicinity of all things Marching Virginians know that Chad expects nothing less from his esteemed students. 

In talking to each of the Pep Band members and Reep, however, I could tell how appreciative each were that the Pep Band exists. The group was seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, a key point that was mentioned in both interviews with senior members. 

“I had the honor of joining [Pep] band in my freshman year in which we were in Cassell with maybe [one quarter] of the band in attendance for a game at a time,” Andrew said. “I’ve watched the band transform from a fairly empty stadium to performing on a national stage for the women’s NCAA tournament.”

Austin echoed the same sentiment: “My freshman year, the pep band essentially did not exist due to Covid…[we] had to be a much smaller unit.”

Now, however? It’s like night and day. The band is like a massive wall of sound cascading over the seats that ring Cassell Coliseum. Yet, to Reep, the motivation stays the same.

“Both Marching Band and Pep Band provide an amazing collegiate atmosphere for our college athletics, and even though they may be a little different, they are still a part of the same family. We are here to provide entertainment to the college crowds and support our Hokies!”

Catch the Hokie Pep Band on Monday, February 19th at their next home game as the men’s basketball team takes on in-state rival and 21st ranked Virginia at 7:00 p.m.

Reflecting on the 50th Year of the Marching Virginians

Over the past month, I’ve done a lot of reflecting on my inaugural year in the Marching Virginians. It’s gone by all too quickly, but with the season has come new relationships, amazing experiences, and a family of more than 300 people who I’m so fortunate to share the field with. Much of my reflection has been through my own view, thinking about the memories that I’ve made with those in my saxophone section and how I’ve grown as a person because of them. Coming into Blacksburg with a grand total of two other freshmen band members from my high school, I was nervous that I wouldn’t find a place to call “home” within the band, but the section (and Rank 21!) truly transformed my experience with the MVs. Realistically, however, I am one of 330 strong. I am only able to absorb so much throughout game days and daily practices. Therefore, I had to ask myself a question: what was the season like for other Marching Virginians?

Assorted members of the band were gracious enough to respond when I reached out to ask if they could detail some of their most memorable moments throughout their seasons. Admittedly, I expected answers that were more surface level than anything, along the lines of “the practices” or “jumping to Enter Sandman” (which, let’s be realistic, is still very cool). What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was the profound emotional impact their responses had on my own perspective of what the MVs represent. 

VTUBAS performing and dancing to the Hokie Pokie, Source: Seth Boehringer

Senior clarinet and service officer Jillian Sasso sent me some of the most touching memories from her four years as a clarinet. A seasoned member of the band, Jillian had the opportunity to illustrate how her relationship with friend and clarinet rank captain Rachel Smith was so important to her: “I’ve always had someone else in the section french-braid my hair before games. Rachel Smith, one of the Net rank captains, is an excellent braider and a great friend of mine, so she always does my hair…this has been a really special bonding experience for us because we get to talk about things and appreciate each other very much.” Jillian also spoke on how her pre-practice frisbee group was a great way to stay active after a long day of classes. While it may seem small to someone outside of the band, she mentioned that it was a great way to bond with her section and that it’s one of the things that she’ll miss when she graduates. 

I was beyond excited when senior VTuba member Seth “Willy” Boehringer reached out to detail his memories on the classic tuba rendition of the Hokie Pokie. A staple after the first quarter, the Hokie Pokie is arguably one of the most important experiences any tuba has the chance to participate in. The VTubas lead the 66,000 raging Lane Stadium fans in the dance and song, supported by the rest of the Marching Virginians (VERY carefully) dancing on the bleachers in front of them. It’s one of the most fun season memories, said Willy: “It’s our favorite tradition, and seeing everyone have so much fun while dancing and playing makes me so happy.” Admittedly, I did tear up when I read the final line of his message: “In short, my favorite memory is watching my closest friends do something they love.”

It would be a disservice to reflect on the season the Marching Virginians have had without acknowledging the history that came with it. September 9th’s football game against Purdue, appropriately dubbed “The Rain Game,” was truly one for the ages. Those present at the game know just how unprecedented the day was: a weather delay, a near-cancellation, and almost 6 hours of confused loitering in the Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility later, the Marching Virginians represented their school with pride and strength.

A perspective inside Beamer-Lawson Indoor Practice Facility, Source: Kristin Rice

When sophomore and saxophone rank captain Alex Shupp reached out to me to discuss his perspective on the day, I was elated. He called the day, which left so many marchers and fans drenched, his favorite experience as a Marching Virginian thus far: “This might be a controversial pick, but my favorite memory with the Marching Virginians has to go to the September 9th rained out football game. It was the most hectic, stressful, and by far the longest day of the entire season. But for all its downsides, it cemented itself as a core representation of who the MVs are.” 

“Yeah, it was miserable, wet, and frustrating when the game got delayed. But the second the MVs huddled in the practice facility together, the band immediately started making the best of it…I wouldn’t have had that game play out any other way.”

So easy is it to fall into the idea that band is some kind of shift at a job, clocking in at 5:30 p.m. and leaving at 7:00 p.m. However, it is so much more than that. I quickly realized that some MV’s favorite experiences occurred outside of practice or even game days. Junior and marketing + communications officer Emy Delaporte spoke of how her most memorable moment from this season was her study sessions with fellow piccolos. “My favorite memories from this season are a series of late-night study sessions in Squires with pix players,” she mentioned. “The overlapping subject areas made for great homework help and the chatter was immaculate!”

Comparatively, freshman trumpet player Taj Davis spoke of how a casual movie hangout at senior trumpet Kerin Gorassi’s house set the tone for his season: “…One of the first real events we did was a movie night, planned by Kerin. It was a very nice way for any and all new members to meet the rest of the section in a non-professional scenario…[his planning] was very nice to see, and is probably why I and the many other freshman trumpets have such high respect for him!” 

It’s been one heck of a first season. Truthfully, I’m not sure any other season could really top what the band as a collective has done this year. Reading the memories of my fellow marchers made me realize how much of a good decision I made to take the leap and try out for the band. The experiences I’ve had this one season alone make me more and more excited for possible seasons to come, and as we close out this one with a bowl game, I’m ready to perform and make music with my new adoptive family of 330 strong. Cheers to the 50th year of the Marching Virginians!

"Day One" as a Newcomer

MVs were met by Elmo coming into band camp! Source: MV Online Content

To be a part of the Marching Virginians is no small accomplishment. Members of the Spirit of Tech underwent two grueling days of full-length band camp, where marchers returned to the Sochinski-McKee Marching Virginians Center on three separate occasions each day. Drill was learned, instruments were played, and relationships were formed. None of it was guaranteed - not until the clock struck 7:00 pm on August 15th. 

In the Marching Virginians, everyone is given the opportunity to audition for a spot. Everyone is judged equally, even returners; skill is analyzed as if a marcher has never set foot on the gorgeous turf field where MVs practice. This made for a very stressful first two days.

One of the many beautiful sunsets from the Sochinski-McKee Marching Virginians Center. Source: Benjamin Gozzi

For myself, I had the opportunity to audition for a spot within the MVSaxes. Over my first two days, I worked to not only demonstrate an understanding of marching band and music as a whole, but to also form positive first impressions with the wonderful cast of leadership in the sax section. As time flew by, and a nerve-wracking wait of nearly two hours passed, the member list was revealed. The time struck 7:00 pm, August 15th. 

In all honesty, I about floated back to the MVC. Those who I had formed close relationships with over the two days had all earned a spot in the band, and we wore grins the size of a 2-to-5 step on the way back to band camp. Once we had arrived, a gorgeous red-yellow sunset was the backdrop for pure excitement — meeting with our sections, we were divided into ranks, a foreign concept to both myself and many of my fellow rookies. As each member of our respective ranks were introduced, I distinctly remember each person roaring and clapping for each new member of the saxophone section. It was an experience that truly made me realize how much the Marching Virginians feels like family. 

A collection of saxophone members at the opening season game versus Old Dominion. Source: Benjamin Gozzi

The most profound moment of the evening, however, was not rank reveal, or the applause, or even the goodie bags my rank captain, Alex Shupp, gave us.

That moment was at the end of the night. There’s a tradition that, although short, perfectly represents the significance of the band itself - it truly makes you feel like you’re flying. On this night, I felt that way. An induction ceremony of sorts as practice concluded, it was beautiful — a musical way of lifting the stress of the previous 48 hours off of our shoulders.

Benjamin Gozzi’s first Elmo picture. Source: MV Online Content

As MVSax and newcomer Drew DiFilippo states, it was “like [we] could let [our] guard down and all the stress went away…everyone was in and I could become friends with everyone.” 

Drew articulates a sentiment I’m sure many newcomers can agree on - after all of the blood, sweat, and tears, we were officially a part of the 50th season of the Marching Virginians. I’ll be honest, I teared up.

The experiences I’ve now had since that moment, including many amazing practices, section nights, and spending one too many hours in the Beamer-Lawson Practice Facility in the pouring rain, have all been so worth it. I always reflect on “Day One” and feel so grateful to be in this band. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store!