Introducing: Be Our Guest!

With the college marching season winding down and the bits of turf finally getting swept off doormats after months of almost-daily practice, those of us who spent the fall as members of the Marching Virginians are finally getting a chance to miss band. 

As we settle into the new normal of evenings off to engage in other organizations, a more typical dinnertime and extra availability for homework, our minds are drifting back to the MVC and Lane Stadium. What will we hear next about Virginia Tech’s best marching band and the people who love it?

That’s where you come in. Introducing, Be Our Guest. 

Be Our Guest is your opportunity to get involved with Marching with the Virginians and tell a story through the blog to our community. Current MVs, former MVs and even community members are encouraged to reach out if you think you have a compelling story to tell. 

Whether you want to write about your personal time in the Marching Virginians, to ask other MVs a question and share the answer with the world, dive into our history or anything else you might be able to think of – we want to hear your voice.

Please fill out the form at this link if you have an idea that you want to write or that you want one of our staff to write. The link also lives on the right-hand side of the blog webpage. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact me at erdelaporte21@vt.edu. 

Sincerely, 

Emelia Delaporte

Marketing and Communications Officer

2023-2025

New Look, Same Pep: A Glimpse Into the Hokies Pep Band for the 2024-2025 Season

With winter approaching and the college football season coming to an end, the Hokies Pep Band has taken to Cassell Coliseum to get fans excited for the men’s basketball season at Virginia Tech.

Photo courtesy of Evan Bainer.

Like it does every year, the Hokies Pep Band has returned to Cassell to cheer on the men’s basketball team for the 2024-2025 season. The band, known for its relaxed vibe and great sound, has been an integral part of creating a fun and energetic atmosphere within the coliseum.

However, the band will have a new look this season, as it has relocated to sections closer to the court in order to have a greater effect on the game atmosphere. This change came after ongoing discussion between Chad Reep, the director of the Hokies Pep Band, and the Virginia Tech athletics department. Prior to this season, the band was located up towards the back of the coliseum and was adjacent to the student section. With a view looking down onto the court, the band would project its sound across the entirety of the stadium rather than just to the court itself.

The initial move was down directly in front of where the band previously was, which also put part of the band directly across the court from the opponent sideline, allowing the sound to travel directly towards the opposing team during the game.

However, after Virginia Tech’s first trio of home games, the band was relocated to within the student section for the matchup against Jacksonville University. Now, the ensemble is located at the front of the section with a head-on view of the court. With the new seating came a plethora of opportunities for the band to be featured not only on the screen in Cassell, but also on TV on channels such as the ACC Network. 

Photo courtesy of Evan Bainer.

The new seating arrangements have also allowed the band to be more immersed in the student atmosphere. As the band and the students regularly do their in-game cheers and traditions, being closer to the student section has allowed the band to create a beneficial impact on the game for the Hokies. Brody Semones, an alto saxophone in the band, added to this sentiment as he spoke positively about the new seats.

“I think [the new setup] is great,” said Semones. “It gives us an opportunity to engage more in the game and with the other spectators, and it also makes our presence more known.”

As Virginia Tech’s season continues, the band will stay in its new section for the foreseeable future. Regardless of where the band is, however, Reep noted the overall importance of the ensemble supporting the basketball team.

“Our job is to be the biggest fans and to play great music,” Reep said to the band. 

Whether it’s through chanting “Let’s go Hokies” or playing Tech Triumph, the Hokies Pep Band will continue its support of the basketball program here at Virginia Tech this season as it cheers on the men’s team in Cassell Coliseum. Now that it is within the student section, the band will look to be even more energetic and supportive for the Hokies.

Aranjuez Across the Ages

“Concierto de Aranjuez,” by Joaquín Rodrigo, was originally written as a guitar piece. The song has been played by guitarists in solos as well as in orchestral arrangements, as well as by the Marching Virginians as one of our hits throughout the decades! Like many Jim Sochinski arrangements, “Aranjuez” has been a favorite to perform by the Marching Virginians. 

The 51st Edition of the Marching Virginians alone has performed this piece several times. The first was as a part of its 50th Anniversary Show and MV Alumni Day at the Marshall game. Furthermore, the piece was shared with high school students performing at exhibitions at Christiansburg, Riverbend and North Stafford high schools. 

This blog, with interviews from MV alumni and a current MV, highlights some of the ways that this piece has impacted every alumni and current members of the band throughout the decades.

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The 1986 Edition of the Marching Virginians

I have had the honor of working with it each time it has come back and watched it become the tradition it is today.  It means a lot that it connects with so many iterations of Marching Virginians.

Lisa VanDyke (Guard, 1985-1990)

The Marching Virginians is where Lise VanDyke found her husband of 34 years and instilled the love for color guard in her daughter, current MV Reilly VanDyke. While an office space designer in North Carolina, she could not stay away from the Marching Virginians for long post-graduation. She is one of the instructors for the Marching Virginians color guard, and we see her during band camp and at every Virginia Tech home football game.

VanDyke described the 1986 Edition of the Marching Virginians as extremely new, but the same feel as today with old traditions continuing to be valued while new traditions were always being formed. She shared that her favorite memory will always remember the 1986 season as the season where she met her future husband, Chuck VanDyke (snare), and where the Hokies won the Peach Bowl!

VanDyke was in a performance of “Aranjuez” during her second season in the Marching Virginians. She shared that the show is unlike any other, fun choreography that is “dancy and fun” with poses that the colorguard does not get to do in a typical show. 

VanDyke earned her B.A. in housing, interior design and resource management from Virginia Tech. 

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The 2017 Edition of the Marching Virginians

One of the most unique and special things about the MVs is how we can bring a concert band sound to a marching band, and I think Aranjuez showcases the very best of that in a way that's totally unique to us. I hope every MV gets a chance to perform it at least once.

Kent McDonough (Trumpet, 2016-2020)

Kent McDonough remembers 2017 as the last year that Dave McKee directed the Marching Virginians, and the organization welcomed Chad Reep in as the new assistant director. He shared the environment was exciting, with lots of reflection on the progress made during the band’s tenure,

Kent’s favorite part of “Aranjuez,” like any Trumpet player would share, would be rowing in the floating set, as if they were in canoes. Kent shared their section shirt highlighting they were the “Aranjuez Rowing Team.”

Kent McDonough is a two-time Hokie, earning his B.S. and M.S. in computer science, and is now living in Washington D.C. with his partner (and fellow former MV) Karen and their dog Libbi. 

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The 2020 Edition of the Marching Virginians

It is really special that the MVs still continue to march and play Aranjuez because it has been such a fun song for many different  generations of MVs to play.

Lauren Chuderwicz (Trumpet, 2019-2024)

She played in the COVID edition of the marching band, playing “Aranjuez” as a part of their performance repertoire for the year. Lauren shared that while challenged by COVID, she was impressed by the enthusiasm and the energy everyone brought to these modified and unusual rehearsals and performances.

Lauren shares her favorite part of “Aranjuez” is the Trumpet row, which you can see in the regular marching show where the Trumpets along the East sidelines row towards the end zones as they march to their dots!

Lauren Chuderwicz is a two-time Hokie, earning her B.S. and M.Eng. in Computer Engineering,and is now working on Radar Planes with Northop Grumman.

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The 2022 Edition of the Marching Virginians

Just about each edition has played countless pieces arranged or written by James Sochinski, including Aranjuez… No matter how different the band looks or feels today versus however many decades ago, the music that flows through our veins has the same roots, and continuing to honor that and play these pieces is the glue that sticks the generations together.

Audrey Jones (Piccolo, 2019-2023)

She shared that while tiring, the 2022 Edition was energetic, even with so many early kick off times. She shared the MVs were hyped up and ready to cheer on the team through every game.

Audrey shares that “Aranjuez” is an intense piece, a fun song that locks in and brings the intensity that a marching band wants to bring to its audience.

“Each edition of the band has different inside jokes and memes. But just about each edition has played Tech Triumph, the Hokie Pokie, and countless other pieces arranged or written by James Sochinski, including Aranjuez… No matter how different the band looks or feels today versus however many decades ago, the music that flows through our veins has the same roots, and continuing to honor that and play these pieces is the glue that sticks the generations together.”

Audrey Jones graduated with her B.S. in Fish Conservation, and she now lives in Idaho doing aquaculture and fish farming research. 

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The 2024 Edition of the Marching Virginians

The MV family has an unbreakable bond and having that show as a connection is one more reason to feel so connected to the other alumni.

Gracie Maslyn (Clarinet, 2021-2024)

She shared that the 2024 Edition is very special, with the level of performance and professionalism on the field being incomparable to previous seasons. Her description of Aranjuez highlights the blend between several instruments, and the interest that it brings to the listener in each performance.

Gracie shares her favorite part of the “Aranjuez” performance was the amount of times the 2024 Edition performed it this season, as well as the amount of effort and work the band has put in to make the show as amazing as it can be every single performance.

Gracie Maslyn will graduate this semester with her B.A. in Human Development.

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The Legacy of Jim Sochinski

Jim Sochinski’s time in the Marching Virginians is remarkable, and has been felt by members during his tenure at Virginia Tech up to students who never had the privilege to meet him. His arrangements, whether it be Tech Triumph or Aranjuez, still sits as the foundation of the Marching Virginians.

To Lauren Chuderwicz, continuing to play pieces such as Aranjuez means remembering the foundation and the traditions of the Marching Virginians. “It was an honor to play his arrangements and pay tribute to someone who impacted so many in our program.”

To many, “Aranjuez” is a story of many things, including the legacy in which the Marching Virginians pride themselves in, the history of those who put their time and effort on the field, and a reminder that even with change, the foundation of such an incredible organization continues with the band.

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NOTE: We’re looking for recollections of the oldest “Aranjuez” performance! If you marched in that first show, we want to hear from YOU! Let us know at mv.mco.1974@gmail.com.

The Heartbeat of Lane: Meet VT's Drumline

When the MVs take the field, the wind instruments stand at the forefront of it all. From the audience, it’s easy to get lost in the flashy horn moves and warm melodies from the brass and woodwinds. However, if you let yourself fall deeper into the music, you’ll feel the pulse driving each piece forwards. With each precise movement, the drumline is responsible for keeping the music alive.

Despite their integral role, the drumline’s dedication and extra effort is often overlooked. Let’s shift the spotlight and spend a game day with VT’s very own drumline.

Warmups

While wind players are seen strolling into the MVC and playing section sports, the drumline begins grabbing their instruments and getting into formation. They start their rehearsal early by stretching—the arm circles, calf stretches, and laps help build the game day excitement among the section.

Their warm-up consists of 8s, accent taps, triplet rolls, and Pry paradiddles (named after the beloved Hokies football coach). The echoed beats across Chicken Hill signifies the start of rehearsal to the rest of the band and to the surrounding tailgaters.

“We work really hard to make sure everything sounds good… We’re here [early] because we have to be.”

Jin Yun, cymbals

Photo credit: Taylor Harrison

March to Victory

For the MVs, the March to Victory is one of the most impactful game day traditions. It allows us to interact directly with Hokie football fans as we enter Lane Stadium, anxiously awaiting the game. As we make our way to Lane from the MVC, the drumline can be heard playing Beamer Beats and their secondary cadence, which changes each season. These cadences are written by the drumline themselves, making them a unique part of the Virginia Tech football experience.

Pregame

If you look to the center of the MV stands just before the football team makes their appearance, you might be able to see each member of the drumline reach into a box of raisins. As the stadium seats begin to fill, the drumline proudly lifts their raisins to the air and proclaim words of encouragement before consuming the snack. With this, they are ready to watch the Hokies win another game.

“I love being super close to the field and getting to see the whole game.”

Mallie Yun, bassline (white shirt)

Photo credit: Nathalia Berenguer

Drum Cheers

After the game has commenced, the drumline can be heard leading the band through numerous in-game events. The drum cheers “Nokia Style” and “Bojangles” can be heard during second and fourth downs, respectively. Other cheers such as “Percolator” and “Donkey Punch” are played sporadically throughout the game to keep the energy high. The MVs love to dance, and you will notice that every section of the band has choreographed moves for each cheer.

As the final notes of Superman ring across the emptying stadium, light reflects off of metallic cymbals raised high in the air. With that, the game has ended.

Halfway Point!

You’ve reached a digital checkpoint – stop scrolling!

At least – that’s what I would start this with if we were on a social media app, instead of a blog. It grabbed your attention despite the platform confusion, so let’s run with it. 

Welcome to the halfway point!

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We held on tight for those whirlwind first few weeks! Photo credit: Vk Din

The first half of the fall term absolutely flew by. With three exhibitions, Alumni Weekend and MV for a Day all crammed into September, these first couple of quiet weeks in October have been a welcome relief for the busy schedules of our high-achieving students. 

The latter half of the semester follows a more casual pace.

• Boston College – October 17 (Pregame)

• Georgia Tech – October 26 (Homecoming)

• Clemson University – November 9 (Hokies for the Hungry)

• UVA – November 30 (Senior Recognition & Band Parent Day)

These games each feature a special event, so take advantage of the slower pace to sit back and enjoy these time-honored traditions. 

And, keep an eye out for the beginning of basketball season; the pep band got rolling on Monday and can’t wait to bring an exciting atmosphere to Cassell Coliseum.

What Music Means to the MVs

Music is all around us—even if you aren’t a member of the Marching Virginians. Music has the power to shape how we feel, think, and act. It’s there for us in our best moments and our worst moments.

For the Marching Virginians, music isn’t just a hobby—it’s how we connect with our peers, fans, and community. Every Hokie football fan recognizes the sound of V-Tag after a first-down or of Tech Triumph as the Hokies score a touchdown. Since the music of the Marching Virginians is so important to Virginia Tech, I wanted to know which songs and artists make the Marching Virginians who they are.

Image courtesy of MV Online Content

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Why did you learn to play an instrument?

“I’ve loved music since I was born, and my parents always made a huge effort to expose me to all kinds of music… I learned an instrument because that’s what you do in my family—everyone is fairly musical… I found a lot of solace in music.”

— Claudia Pack, Tenor Saxophone

“I thought it was so cool… I grew up as a young child watching shows on TV that had music related things in them—Little Einsteins was a big one for me… When band came around, I was like, ‘this is it, I’m so excited to be able to do this.’”

— Layla Wilson, Trumpet

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What is your favorite thing to play in the Marching Virginians?

“My favorite shows [were] Metallica and El Toro [Caliente].”

— Jonathan Amorino, Trombone

“My favorite stand tune is “Bom Bom” — it has really fun horn moves!”

— Quinn O'Conner, Clarinet

“I love “[Welcome to the] Black Parade” because the tenors have melody…we get to show off our skills and how hard we’ve worked.”

— Claudia Pack, Tenor Saxophone

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Do you have any special memories related to music?

“My favorite memory is how it feels to perform—not just on the football field, but on stage…just looking out into the audience and seeing everyone’s faces lit up and engaged…it’s such a great feeling.”

— Layla Wilson, Trumpet

“My sister and I have a shared playlist of songs that help us with our anxiety… It reminds us of when she was in high school, I was in middle school, and we would drive to school together while listening to music, and everything was okay.”

— Claudia Pack, Tenor Saxophone

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What is your favorite genre of music and why?

““Alternative, because there’s so much that can go underneath it, like Noah Kahan and Hozier… it’s a very broad music genre.””

— Quinn O'Conner, Clarinet

“I love EDM… I love festivals and raves.”

— Jonathan Amorino, Trombone

“My favorite genre is metal… I love the energy that comes with it—heavy drum set, electric guitar…but if you combine it with the strings, like symphonic metal, that’s where it’s at.”

— Layla Wilson, Trumpet

““I’d say jazz [and] rock are my favorites. I love jazz for the complexity of it and rock because it’s all based on jazz. I have a strong ‘dad’ influence on my taste in music… a lot of Billy Joel, Michael McDonald, Doobie Brothers, Dave Matthews band…””

— Claudia Pack, Tenor Saxophone

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What song best describes you?

““The vibe I want to give off is “Harlem Nocturne”… The vibe that I think I give off is “Now That’s What I Call Polka” by Weird Al [Yankovic].””

— Claudia Pack, Tenor Saxophone

“I’ll have to go with “Freaks” by Timmy Trumpet — or “Narco” by Timmy Trumpet.”

— Jonathan Amorino, Trombone

“My current hype song is “Good Luck Babe” by Chappell Roan.”

— Quinn O'Conner, Clarinet

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Image courtesy of MV Online Content

I had a blast getting to know these MVs and their unique tastes in music. You can learn so much about a person just from their favorite songs. If you ever need to break the ice, try comparing playlists! You never know what you might find.

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! 

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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.  

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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. 

50th Anniversary and Alumni Weekend - VT vs. Marshall

What better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Spirit of Tech than with a Alumni Day performance and a Virginia Tech Hokies victory? 

The VT vs. Marshall game weekend was packed with reunions, memories, and celebrations of what the Marching Virginians had accomplished. Friday night had started off with welcoming back the alumni with a reading session, allowing them to “warm up their chops” before their big performance on Saturday in Lane Stadium. The reading session was followed by an alumni banquet.

Alumni Event (Courtesy of Andrew Single)

The banquet was filled with Marching Virginians from every decade of the band, from 1974 all the way to current Marching Virginians sharing memories, exchanging stories, and celebrating how much this young marching band has accomplished. Emotions were very high as all looked back and dreamed of the future of the band.

“This 50th Anniversary had occurred because every person in this room left a part of them on that field,” Dave McKee shared during his speech to the Alumni. Sharing stories and looking at the band now, alumni were happy that their legacy still stood as a staple of not just Virginia Tech Football, but the atmosphere of so many students across many different colleges in the university. Dr. Polly Middleton ended the night by sharing “I hope you are always proud of the Marching Virginians… and I hope you look at the MVs with a sense of pride and excitement!”

Next up was GAMEDAY! All the current MVs and the Alumni met for rehearsal and shared with the Alumni the music and drill which would be shared with the thousands of fans in Lane Stadium.

First Quarter

Flyover! (Courtesy of Andrew Single)

The first quarter was slow and anxious at the same time, with Virginia Tech and Marshall making strong attempts to run the ball down the field with failed attempts. The quarter ended with excitement as Marshall punted the ball on 4th down. Jaylin Lane received the ball and ran 50 yards towards the North End Zone to celebrate a Virginia Tech touchdown with the Marching Virginians and student section to end the quarter at 7-0.

Second Quarter

We saw more action in the 2nd quarter, starting with Virginia Tech taking a 42 yard field goal to put the team at 10-0. Marshall pushed back as they pushed the Virginia Tech defense down the field making a 2 yard touchdown, pushing the Hokies at 10-7.

Halftime

As the game clock hit 0:00, the Marching Virginians took the field, opening their Alumni Day performance of “Aranjuez,” a band favorite which first made its debut in the Marching Virginians repertoire as another Jim Sochinski classic arrangement, and played throughout the 2010s and 2020s. Over 500 alumni members took to the field afterwards, with the combined Super Sousaphone section inviting everyone in Lane Stadium to the Hokie Pokie. Shennandoah and VPI Victory March followed, with the combined bands setting the field to present a large “50” for the 50th Anniversary. And just like that, the Marching Virginians finished Tech Triumph and sprinted back to their stands to continue rooting for the Hokies!

The halftime show was incredible. Over 800 Marching Virginians on the field, playing their hearts out, entertaining thousands with the melodies which have been shared for decades. This was a special show, as always, with every song arranged by late staff arranger James Sochinski. While no longer with us physically, his memories are carried by every MV who hits the field, as they play his pieces. And that made the show even more special than it already was. 

“Without Uncle Jim, we would not have been able to complete what we have accomplished... he poured every bit of sweat and knowledge into his arrangements.”

— Dave McKee

Third Quarter

Virginia Tech meant business, returning from halftime and pushing Marshall into the Red Zone for a 1 yard touchdown to push the score to 17-7. Marshall pushed the score with a 18 yard pass and touchtown to make a close 17-14. However, the Hokies returned shortly after to go 65 yards down the field, and finish with a 3 yard run by quarterback Kyron Drones, sliding past Marshall’s defense for a touchdown, leaving the score in the 3rd quarter to 24-14.

MVs and Hokie Football! (Courtesy of Andrew Single)

Fourth Quarter

The Hokies were not backing down yet, and started the quarter off strong with Drones throwing a 5 yard pass to Da’Quan Felton for a touchdown, sitting Virginia Tech at a comfortable 31-14. The Hokies held back Marshall for the rest of the game, guaranteeing another Virginia Tech Hokies’ victory for the books!

The Marching Virginians finished off their night in Lane Stadium with a new tradition, playing the ending medley from the Metallica show (Sad But True, Wherever I May Roam, Creeping Death, Lux Æterna, and of course, Enter Sandman) to celebrate all Virginia Tech victories. Lastly, the remaining fans saw a sky full of flying Marching Virginians as the night was finished with Superman.

The weekend was slam packed and exhausting for most, but it is memories that will be shared for a lifetime and never forgotten. However, the weekend’s festivities show what community has been built by this incredible organization. It is important to remember who has come, what is now, and what is to be – a grand show. 

In the words of the great Marching Virginians band director, Dave McKee, 

“Know the tradition, grow the tradition!”

It's Great to Be Back!

All of us here in Blacksburg are more than thrilled to be able to welcome new members, returners, leadership, and staff back to the Marching Virginians Center for another great season! This season is incredibly special because it is our 50th Anniversary celebration, where we will be celebrating and welcoming back MV Alumni. Whether they were the class of 2024, or the class of 1974, the Marching Virginians are so excited to have them back. Here is a tiny sneak peek into what our schedule entails this season!

September

This Friday (September 6), we are welcoming our alumni back for what is known as our Reading Session. This will be an opportunity for us to play a couple of their absolute favorite shows and stand tunes with them.

Happy Band Camp! (Photo courtesy of MV Multimedia)

This Saturday (September 7), is our first home game. We play against Marshall University, and it’s the Marching Virginians’ 50th Anniversary Celebration as well as our MV Alumni Day! We will be welcoming over a thousand alumni and their loved ones back to Blacksburg, and we cannot wait to hear about their favorite memories of being in the MVs.

The following Saturday (September 14), is our exhibition performance at Christiansburg High School! The MVs will take a quick trip over to Christiansburg to perform for very excited high schoolers and families. We absolutely love exhibitions, because this is a way for high schools to see what our organization is all about. It’s also a chance for Hokie fans that may not be able to come to a game to see us perform. There’s always a chance that someone in the crowd is hoping to be an MV someday!

On Saturday, September 21, we are hosting lots and lots of high schools from around Virginia and nearby states at our annual MV for a Day! This is always such a fun day, and we are so excited to meet high schoolers and prospective MVs! The Marching Virginians always love getting to meet and perform with high school marchers.

September 28 brings another exhibition day — a doubleheader at both Riverbend and North Stafford high schools! This really maximizes how many young marchers will get to see us play this season. We’re so excited!

Hi, Chad! (Photo courtesy of MV Multimedia)

October

On Friday, October 25, we have our homecoming parade. That Saturday, the 26th, is our homecoming game against Georgia Tech.

November

November 9th, we will be hosting Clemson University at Lane Stadium, and this is also our annual Hokies for the Hungry! Hokies for the Hungry is a friendly competition among the sections to see who can donate the most food to donate to charity. We always love this fundraiser at the end of the year!

On November the 30th, we will be hosting the University of Virginia for our last game of the regular season. This is Senior Recognition for the MVs, as well as Band Parents Day! This is the day that we get to recognize our wonderful seniors, and welcome our parents on Game Day to join our celebration!

December

In early December, before finals, we will have our end of year livestream concert. Stay tuned for details on dates, and to see if we play the ACC Championship on Sunday, December 7!

We have such a busy but exciting season coming up here in Blacksburg, and we cannot wait to celebrate our 50th anniversary alongside our alumni, high school bands, and all of Hokie nation!

Recap: Band Camp!

Happy first day of classes! 

After a long week in the sun, our MVs are ready to dive into their coursework – some for the very first time in college. While they settle into their classrooms and wait to come back for practice this evening, we’ll review the some highlights from the past week – band camp!

Photo courtesy of Daniel Gaete

Every day brought something unique to band camp this year. It was a wildly productive and successful week! We put nearly two full shows on the field (two weeks before our first game!), distributed uniforms through a carefully curated algorithm and the help of many hands, made new friends and so much more. 

Monday - Friday

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw our MVs reuniting, getting to know one another and starting to get our feet under us. We worked on fundamentals, drill for our first show – which is September 7th against Marshall University –, music new and old and so much more.

On Thursday, we started setting drill for our pregame show! This year, pregame will be the Boston College game – keep an eye out for our performance! Some of us have been marching the same dot for years, and some of us were brand new to the show. Everyone did great! We also practiced stand tunes. 

Thursday morning also saw our annual band camp DRILL DOWN. This intense event is a Simon-Says style marching competition. Our winner this year was Nik Stapleton!

Photo courtesy of Atlas Vernier

With Friday morning off for required meetings for our first-year meetings, returners slept in before we all reconvened at the MVC in the afternoon. For both afternoon and evening session this day, we worked on setting and cleaning shows.

Saturday

After a standard morning session, the MVs spent the afternoon in Lane Stadium, practicing some different arrangements in the stands and putting our shows to real grass. On the way there, we had our first March to Victory of the season! This was especially exciting for new members. 

In the evening, we hosted our livestreamed Meet the Band concert. The band got to watch the color guard perform, and then the drumline. Their performances were great! We wish we had more opportunities to watch their hard work, and are so grateful for everything they do on and off the field. Once they finished, the band performed drill from the two shows we’ve set and performed some spirit spots and stand tunes in concert arcs as well. 

Photo courtesy of Atlas Vernier

Saturday ended with great excitement and equally great solemnity. Before the livestream, our retired director Dave McKee came to the MVC to give a speech about the importance of this 50th anniversary season and to share information about long-standing band traditions and how this program has the potential to shape lives. After the livestream, we performed our traditional Superman ritual (I’ll save the details – we want future marchers to experience the joy in person!), and we dismissed for the evening. 

Sunday

The band got to sleep in late on the last day before classes, with an afternoon call time of 3:30. After a short rehearsal, we performed our second March to Victory of the season and made our way to Lane Stadium for the annual Hokie Hi Spirit Rally. 

At the Spirit Rally, formerly known as the Hokie Hi Picnic, we performed a number of pieces from our gameday repertoire to assist dance and cheer in their efforts to teach the Class of 2028 what to do at a game. Lively despite the heat, the band had a great time calling out different variations on the “LET’S - GO - HOK - IES” signs carried on the field. 

After we played, leadership, first-year members and some helpful returners filed onto the field to form the big VT outline for the annual freshman picture. We hope they remember to pick up a copy to take home!

All in all, band camp was a great success. We have our left feet forward and are ready to get started!

Recap: Leadership Retreat!

It’s Tuesday evening and soon everyone will be arriving at the Marching Virginians Center for the third full day of band camp. 

While the rookies and returners are rolling in fresh off of months away, our 2024-2025 leadership have been hard at work since Friday in-person and long before behind-the-scenes. Let’s get some insight into the process and see what they’ve been up to!

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Friday

Friday for the MV Leadership was our work day! This meant different things for everyone.

For SSAs, drum majors, the head manager and the presidents or representatives of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, this meant individual meetings with Polly and Chad. Officers took care of tasks specific to their positions. Field leadership largely attended to chores to help prepare the MVC for the year, and officers helped out where they could. These jobs included organizing equipment, reorganizing both rooms at the MVC and the office, cleaning the MVC and so many more essential tasks for a smooth-running band camp!

In the evening, we completed registration and then proceeded into a leadership session with Paige, Thomas and Emily – our executive officer and drum majors, respectively. Here, we set goals and spent time bonding in preparation for meeting all of our new and returning members later in the weekend.

Saturday

On Saturday, our MV Leadership met in the morning to discuss important topics like our schedule for the year and the special events that go on at each game. Later on, we met with Marching Virginian alumni Ben Nelson for a leadership training centered around respect, inclusion and what it means to be a leader.

In the evening, field leadership met to dust off their marching and instructional skills. The excitement for hitting the ground running is building!

Sunday

On the final day of leadership retreat, our field leadership had the special opportunity to perform at a funeral for a dedicated fan of Virginia Tech football and the Marching Virginians. This event was a great way to remind us as band camp starts how much we mean to our fans and how strong the impact is that we have on our Hokie community. 

Sunday also included more prep tasks for before band camp, like uniform organization and printing music. Our new winds registered in the early evening, and as they met their sections and had their first general meeting and fundamentals session, our returners came back to register as well.

We are so excited to get to know everyone in the band this year, and can’t wait to see what this awesome season has in store!

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.  

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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.

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

Between Band Practices: Lauren Powell

For the fourth blog in this series, color guard rank captain Lauren Powell talks about balancing clubs, Greek, Disney and engineering with the Marching Virginians.

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

This will be my third season, I joined my freshman year in 2021, and I’m a rank captain in the color guard.

Photo courtesy of Lauren Powell

What’s your degree program and how far along in it are you?

I just switched to biomedical engineering, so technically this is my fourth year but I’m junior standing with taking a semester off for the Disney College Program. I’ll be able to do all four years of MVs, which is great, because I’ll get my mug!

Before you went to biomed, what were you doing? What inspired the shift?

Mechanical engineering. A lot of what I wanted to do with mechanical was working on animatronics for Disney. In the last couple of months, seeing a lot of my family members with their medical issues kind of inspired me – that’s what I want to do, help people. I do a lot of service stuff… and I just love to help people in every aspect of what I do. I think the biomedical engineering is something that my dad has really inspired because he has a pacemaker and a defibrillator in him – growing up knowing that was saving his life every day, any time he could possibly need it, was really inspiring. It was like, I could do that with my degree and help more people and take our technology to a new level of innovation. 

What extracurriculars outside of the MVs did you engage in?

My freshman year, I joined SWE, which is the Society of Women Engineers. It gets me tons of networking events, I get to meet a ton of people and I’ve made tons of friends. It’s such a wide group. 

Photo courtesy of Lauren Powell

I’m also part of Valiant Indoor Guard, which is more spring semester, so I get to spin all year-round, which is fantastic! I’ll be serving as our treasurer this year. It’s really nice to have that change of pace in color guard and step away from the marching style to go more towards the story-telling. It’s like a totally different thing with indoor color guard because you have all of your weapons, you can do really insane flag tricks that you can’t do in Lane Stadium. There’s also the dance component. It’s a lot more artistic.

I’m also a part of Line Dance VT, which is our line dancing club. I’ll be serving as treasurer this year. It’s a nice group of people – just kind of getting people out, getting them on their feet. The last one is, I’m in Alpha Sigma Kappa, which is a social sorority for women in technical studies. It’s a lot more laid back from your actual sororities, but we do a lot of service events and philanthropy, and social events. 

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

It is the best decision I’ve ever made at VT. I could say changing my major was an amazing decision, joining every organization I’ve joined is an amazing decision, but the MVs is the best one. I’ve made some of my closest friends and met so many awesome people. 

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

It’s definitely been beneficial to me, because I’ve been able to meet people in similar majors who’ve had similar struggles. They know that experience and can help you through it. It’s really nice to have that support system academically. Being able to find those people and connect the dots is super nice. If I wasn’t in any of those organizations, who would I hang out with?

Photo courtesy of Lauren Powell

How have you managed your time?

One thing that I learned in my Hypatia class freshman year was to literally schedule my Google Calendar minute by minute. Importing all of your stuff from Canvas, your classes, the games, all the sorority events – I’m really able to manage it all and be like, so I can’t go this event, so I can do this, so I’ll go to this event instead. It works really well for me. Weekend off from band? I’m doing my homework for the next week. 

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

Try everything. I went to GobblerFest freshman year, tried everything I could, went to a couple meetings – if I felt like it was a good path for me, I stuck with it. If you’re scared to join the MVs, at least give it a try for a semester and see how it goes. A lot of people talk about freshman year being scary and it definitely was but MVs was the one thing that really helped me.

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Lauren is from Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Between Band Practices: Carrie Craig

For the third blog in this series, trumpet rank captain Carrie Craig speaks on her time as an undergraduate as she prepares for graduate school and her first year of leadership.

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Photo courtesy of Carrie Craig.

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

So I did the MVs ever since freshman year, so I’ve done it for four seasons. I joined in 2020, the Covid season, and all four years of undergrad I was just a normal band member but this year, I’ll be returning for my fifth and final season as a trumpet rank captain! I’m very excited about that.

What made you decide to go for leadership as you’re starting your masters, instead of during undergrad?

You would think I’d have more time as an undergrad, but the truth is, I had a lot of programs that I was apart of and leadership roles in other groups, specifically I was president of a club, so I didn’t really think it was fair to say I could be in a leadership position and then also be president of a club and maybe have conflicts with that. That’s why I never did it as an undergrad, but I always really wanted to do it. Now, I’m out of leadership with other groups, so I am 100% MVs right now. I also just wanted to give back and help train the next generation of MVs. 

Photo courtesy of Carrie Craig.

What was your undergraduate degree? What’s your master’s in now?

Mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering. Double ME! I love being a mechanical engineer. It’s a tough major, it’s a lot of time commitment, but as long as you’re good at time management and communicate… people are very understanding. 

What extracurriculars outside of the MVs did you engage in?

I was on the Baja Team at Virginia Tech, which is a competition design team that builds a new small high performance offroad vehicle every year and then we go and race against other colleges in different dynamic events… to see who has the best car. It’s a lot of fun! In addition to that, I was able to restart a club at Virginia Tech that’s been gone for about ten years. I was already a member of [the Society of Automotive Engineers] to do Baja, so I was like “well, I’ll look into it.” Little did I know, I would get so involved! We started with just three students and we were really able to take it and run with it. Virginia Tech has a lot of car teams… and what we were seeing was, teams weren’t actually talking to each other. What we did with SAE was, we kind of gave all those teams a place where they could come together and talk about their problems, share trailers, we’ve done all kind of stuff… meeting people in the industry, touring labs… It was so cool to grow it from three people to sixty – it was overwhelming.

Photo courtesy of Carrie Craig

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

It gave me my best friends, that’s probably the biggest way it changed my life. I met people I will stay in contact with for the rest of my life. It probably brought me out of my shell a lot too, because people were so energetic and welcoming and excited for you to be there, it’s just contagious. Everyone just wants the best for you and for you to succeed, it’s just such a refreshing environment to be a part of. Everyone has something to teach you, it’s just a big family. It’s awesome. 

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

Those organizations for sure gave me professional contacts that are invaluable. I’ve met people in actual industry, and professors at tech – people who can help me going forward. It’s all these different connections and it’s really built a network for me. Everyone, if they see that you’re really applying yourself, especially doing multiple groups, that’s something that recruiters and professionals really look at in my experience.

Photo courtesy of Carrie Craig.

How have you managed your time?

A calendar. I learned how to make a really good color-coded calendar. Also, recognizing that you do have to be a person. Sometimes taking a step back is way more valuable than powering through. I’m going to go to band, and when I come back I’m refreshed – you flex a different muscle. That’s a big deal to my success as an undergrad, being able to have that break every day.

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

Cherish your time here, because it’s going to go by very fast. It’s going to be hard sometimes. Recognizing that you’re not alone in it and that the MVs will give you the community and strength to push through it. I think it’s so important to have that.

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Carrie is a track geometry intern with Norfolk Southern.

Between Band Practices: Jaden Catalfamo

The first blog in this series, featuring trumpet rank captain Sarah Murray, showed that it’s possible to fully commit yourself to another organization – like VT Rec Sports – alongside the Marching Virginians. This week, we have an interview from piccolo rank captain Jaden Catalfamo, who shows that your time can be split even further, with just as much success. Let’s see what wisdom she has to share!

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Photo courtesy of Jaden Catalfamo

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

This is going into my fourth season but this upcoming year will be my second year being a rank captain for the piccolo section.

What’s your degree program? How far into it are you?

So currently, I am pursuing a bachelor’s of science in neuroscience but my specific major is clinical neuroscience. I’m pretty much almost done. Technically I only have one semester left, it’s mostly prereqs that are left but everything else is just pharmacy school things. Spring semester [is] when I’ll be taking the remainder of my pharmacy school prerequisites, because some of them don’t necessarily line up with my degree program.

Is there a pre-pharmacy track you were able to enter into?

I kind of had to figure it out myself. I went onto multiple colleges’s websites and just looked at each prerequisite that they had. I had to create my own spreadsheet for what courses they required because some colleges are completely different. So that was pretty much all up to me.

Photo courtesy of Jaden Catalfamo

If you do engage in any extracurriculars outside of the MVs, what are they?

I am mostly involved in Hokie Ambassadors – those are the people who give those daily campus tours that you’ll see go around every day. Wthin that I am a mentor, so whenever the new training classes come around I usually mentor 2-3 different new guides. [I] help guide them throught the training process so they can give their own tours. Outside of that, I am also in Alpha Chi Sigma, which is a professional chemistry fraternity. Basically the whole point of this is to help develop my professionalism and to help get me ready for anything I want to do within the sciences, but it’s also a way for me to share my passion with other people who just so happen to like chemistry just as much as I do.

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

The biggest impact they’ve made on me I would say are the friendships, I’ve met all my best friends pretty much in the MVs. It’s created a sense of family… going to college, I was very much in my own little circle, but then I met the pix and whoever else is in band. It’s definitely deepened my sense of security when it comes to going to school. That’s something I’ll always be grateful for with the MVs.

Would you say that being in another organization outside of the MVs has benefited you? If so, how?

Photo courtesy of Jaden Catalfamo

Most definitely Hokie Ambassadors – becoming a mentor, I would say, strengthened the leadership qualities that I [can] work on in the MVs. It really put things into perspective for me, how I could actually apply the things that happened with that organization into the MVs. As for Alpha Chi Sigma, I would say, for me the big part of it was just trying to advocate for my littles. You have to advocate for other people in the MVs too sometimes because we’re one big family, we’re one big support system. Every single organization I’ve been in has contributed in some sort of way with the MVs.

How do you manage your time?

If I can get dates well ahead of time, then it’s easier for me to at least try and schedule whether I have to meet with mentees, whether I just want to spend some time with friends… I would say just – literally my Google Calendar has become my best friend for that. It’s always important to set time aside just for yourself and it took awhile for me to truly grasp that. I figured it, now, but  it took some time.

What advice do you have for new students both within and outside the MVs?

Honestly, don’t be afraid to branch out. With the MVs, it may feel very overwhelming, especially with how much time we spend at rehearsal, preparing for games… it can be a little overwhelming at first but if you have other passions that you want to pursue, then I highly suggest doing so, especially if you want to use your time in college wisely and want to enjoy it to the absolute fullest. I would recommend starting early – going to Gobblerfest, find what organizations you might want to join and just go from there, because you never know. There’s always going to be something for you, whether it’s the MVs or not.

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Jaden is from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Between Band Practices: Sarah Murray

The Marching Virginians is home to students with a wide range of interests – academic, hobby or otherwise. Our students are proof that you can try anything you set your mind to, even with band commitments five or six days a week. One of our busy field leadership took the time to sit down and do an interview – let’s see what Sarah Murray does within and outside of the MVs!

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So, Sarah – how long have you been in the MVs? What’s your role?

I have been in the MVs for three years now, going into my fourth year and my role is trumpet rank captain. I’ve done that my junior year and I’m going to be doing it again my senior year.

What’s your degree program, and how far into it are you?

Photo courtesy of Sarah Murray

I’m an animal science major with an emphasis in poultry, and [I’m] minoring in food science and technology. I’ve just completed my third year, so I’m going into my last one. 

If you engage in any extracurricular activities outside of the MVs, what are they?

Outside of the MVs would be with VT Recreational Sports. I got into it my fall semester of freshman year, I took a class. I ended up being an instructor this past semester and I loved it. I taught two different formats and then, going to this next semester, I’m going to add on additional formats so I’ll be teaching three. That’ll be BodyPump, BodyCombat, and cardio-kickboxing.

How do people get involved with those?

The first week of classes is free week. Usually, it’s about $50 a semester, but the first week is free and finals week is free so that’s how I got into it freshman year. I fell in love with it just because it’s [such a] strong community, very encouraging community, and I guess emotional-building with each other. You get to know the instructors and your other participants, and it kind of keeps you accountable – something to look forward to. If you purchase the group exercise pass for the semester or the year, then you can just go to any class at any time. There’s probably 30 classes going on in one day, maybe more than that, with many different formats… we’ll have more next semester because War [Memorial Gym] is opening. 

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

I met all my best friends in the MVs. I’m sure everyone says that but it’s one hundred percent true. I wasn’t going to join MVs, actually, and then my roommate was doing it and I was like, ‘What am I going to do when she’s at practice all day?’ so I joined and I’m so glad I did… I had a huge 330 [person] family on my very first day on campus. I’ve always felt welcome and since then I’ve met people with the same interests as me but also different interests as me and it's kind of opened my view on what I can get involved with and what my opportunities are. That also applies to education – before, I didn’t know what food science was and now I’m very passionate about it. Everybody supports everybody… if you ever feel lost or overwhelmed or stressed, you always have that group to go back to, because we’re all in the same situation.

Photo courtesy of Sarah Murray

How manageable would you say that your work with Rec Sports is with the MVs?

I actually struggle more in the spring semester because I don’t have that daily schedule. The MVs help me manage my time a lot better and it kind of makes me get ahead on my schoolwork – or at least think I’m getting ahead when in reality it’s on time. In the spring semester I’m like ‘oh, I have time’ when I should probably do it ahead of time. Rec Sports, being an instructor kind of does the same thing [as the MVs]... in the spring. It actually really helps me and it’s very manageable.

Do you have any other time management tips for incoming students?

Find study buddies. Sometimes I need those people to keep me accountable and just make me feel that I’m not in this alone. College is supposed to be hard.

Do you have any advice for new students who get involved outside of the MVs?

Talk to as many people as you can, because they’re all in different organizations that you’re not involved with and you don’t even know if they exist, probably. Going to Gobblerfest, that got me involved with a lot… visually seeing what is out there. There’s some organizations that I wish that I would have gotten involved with before that I didn’t know existed. 

Do you have any advice for making friends outside of the MVs, especially as you’re getting there in the fall and it’s your whole world?

Photo courtesy of Sarah Murray

Right, it is very overwhelming. I would say – talk to people in class, because I didn’t do that my freshman year but I’ve been doing it now and it really helps. If you’re in a class with someone, if you’re not in the same major, you’re probably in a similar major… if you’re scared to talk to them, they’re probably scared to talk to you too. It’s nice to feel like you are welcome, that you are home. 

Anything else you think incoming students should know?

Joining the MVs can seem overwhelming at first. Have an open mind and understand that it comes with time and make those small relationships at first. I can guarantee you that it will be a second home that you can always go to when you need it.

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Sarah Murray is from Abingdon, Virginia, and is interning this summer in Wytheville with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).

Recap: Spring Game!

Today the Marching Virginians found themselves right back at the MVC gearing up for kickoff and their much-anticipated win! This past Saturday was Virginia Tech’s Spring Game, and this was a scrimmage that the football team opened up Lane Stadium for. A scrimmage is where a team goes up against itself, with half of the team vs. the other half of the team. None of us were exactly skeptical about winning our game, since it was Hokies against Hokies! We were so incredibly happy to be back together playing Tech Triumph, VPI Victory March, and many other beloved stand tunes. Read more to see which team WON the Spring Game, the Orange, or the Maroon Team!

photo credit to VT Recreational Sports

The morning began with several early risers who volunteered to play in the Marching Virginians Pep Band for the VT Run in Remembrance in honor of the Virginia Tech shooting that took place on April 16th, 2007. Atlas, one of our wonderful Senior Staff Assistants, led the band down to the intersection between Washington Street and Beamer Way. We were able to play a lot of our favorite tunes while the runners and walkers passed us by!

The Spring Game this year was quite close, with the Maroon Team securing a win of 21-14 over the Orange Team. During Halftime, although the MVs didn’t perform, special awards were given to the football team in recognition of their performance during the 2023 season.

(photo credit to Hokie Sports)

2024 Spring Ball Award Winners

Most Improved: Ayden Greene, Mansoor Delane

Frank Beamer Ultimate Teammate Award: Miles Ellis, P.J. Prioleau

Offensive MVP: Kyron Drones

Defensive MVP: Cole Nelson

Special Teams MVP: Jaden Keller

President's Leadership: Kaden Moore, Josh Fuga

Although we weren’t able to get all decked out in our uniforms, the MVs were so happy to get back together one last time before the 2024-2025 season. Tune in to see our preparations for the upcoming season! Springtime is the time for the MVs to pick out our new XO, Drum Majors, leadership, and film auditions to be sent in! We want to send a big thank-you to Hokie Nation for having us back in Lane Stadium this past Saturday, and we’re so excited to see everyone this coming August!

(cover photo credit to Hokie Sports)

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! 

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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?

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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! 

Goodbye to the Graduates: Outgoing Field Leadership, 2023-2024

As with the officer team, the field leadership for the 2024 edition of the Marching Virginians is in the process of being selected. While we wait in excitement to hear, let’s take a look at the graduating field leadership.

Sean christian — pix section leader

Sean is graduating in May with a chemical engineering degree and hopes to use his knowledge to benefit sustainability efforts. 

ERIN STEVENSON — Pix rank captain

Graduating a year early, Erin will cross the stage this May with a degree in biomedical biology. Next up is a gap year, then medical school.

rachel virostek — pix rank captain

After graduating, Rachel wants to pursue a career in medicine with the aim of becoming a PA. She will earn her biomedical biology degree this May.

EMILY TUCKER — net section leader

Emily is graduating this May with a B.S. in childhood pre-education.

DILLON KEY — NET RANK CAPTAIN

Dillon will receive his degree in finance with a concentration in certified financial planning. He recently accepted a client service associate position in Atlanta and will begin this summer.

LISA SMALL — NET RANK CAPTAIN

Lisa will gain her degree in biological systems engineering this spring and hopes to focus in watershed and resource management.

kayla roberts — sax rank captain

Kayla will graduate this May with her degree in English.

Thomas McWithey – Trumpet s. leader

Thomas will gain his mechanical engineering degree this spring as the walks the stage in Lane.

NICK MARTIN — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

Nick will move on from the MVs this year with his degree in electrical engineering, with a focus in radio frequency and microwave technology communications.

JOSH PRYOR — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

Josh will receive his degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics.

LENA SCAER — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

 Lena will graduate this May with a degree in aerospace engineering.

JADEN YON — TRUMPET R. CAPTAIN

Jaden will graduate from Tech this spring with two degrees: computer science and chemistry. Jaden hopes to pursue a career in computational quantum chemistry.

JACKSON MOYER — HORN RANK CAPTAIN

Jackson will receive his B.E. in industrial systems engineering in May. After he graduates, Jackson will begin his role as a process engineer for BWX Technologies.

COLE SAWYER — HORN S. LEADER

Cole will receive his degree in construction engineering and management at graduation.

rafael garcia-rodriguez — trombone s. LEADER

Rafael, resident pilot of the Marching Virginians, will receive his degree in aerospace engineering in May.

sam knowles — bone rank captain

Sam will receive his degree in market management this June.

silas nickerson — bone rank captain

Silas will say goodbye to the MVs, and VT, when he receives his aerospace engineering degree this spring.

anthony “bubbles” white — tuba s.L.

Bubbles will receive his degree in automotive engineering this May. Bubbles will follow his car-themed passion and is moving to Roanoke to begin a new position after he graduates.

kat zinn — flag rank captain

Kat graduated in December with her B.A. in English language and literature. Kat is currently working at Tech as a project archivist.

Zarah king — flag section leader

Zarah will graduate in May from Pamplin with an undergraduate degree in hospitality and management.

To all our graduating (and graduated) leadership, thank you for making our last season possible. We can’t wait to see what comes next for you, and hope to see you at a football game soon.

A Musical Metamorphosis: How the Marching Virginians Transformed My Life

Jillian Sasso, who guest wrote this blog, is a current MV.

In order to become a beautiful butterfly, a caterpillar must undergo an intense transformation inside a cocoon for a couple of weeks. Now, I know nothing about entomology, but I do know that this same process can be seen in other areas of life. Two weeks may not be enough time, though, as some transformations can take many years.

Me in my freshman year at the Baseball Stadium game — September 26, 2020. (Beau Wong)

If you are currently a member of the Marching Virginians, you may know me as the Service Officer, the girl who makes really good food, the girl who says some really weird stuff, or just “Jill.” It was not always like this though. I entered college as a ball of anxiety during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every other MV who was here in 2020 knows the struggle; bags over our instruments, two masks at all times, and very limited rehearsals. Yet, I could not have asked for a better freshman year.

Let’s just say my high school marching band experience was not the best. Coming from a small band of 30 people to over 330 in the Marching Virginians was a massive shock for me. Not only was the clarinet section larger than my entire high school band, but everything was different. I came to the MVs looking for a better experience, and I wanted to remedy the problems I had faced in high school marching band. What I found was exactly that – and more!

Justine Campbell, Samuel Martin, Aidan Fishenden, and me at a game — September 10, 2022. (Jillian Sasso)

Like many others, I started out as a nervous young adult who had no idea what to do in life. The thought of college was scary and it certainly didn’t help that there wasn’t anyone else from my hometown in the band. I was terrified of everyone and everything, so trying out for the MVs was a major step out of my comfort zone. The MVs is a place of taking chances though, both for yourself and others. For me, the audition process was frightening, but I am so thankful that the clarinet leadership took a chance on me (cue ABBA music) that year. Although the conditions were not exactly favorable due to the pandemic, I still got my foot in the door to the greatest organization that exists at Virginia Tech.

Alexis Trippel, Ella Wolfe, and me after a failed picture attempt — September 16, 2023. (Beau Wong)

Sophomore year, Executive Officer Lauren Chuderewicz gave me an opportunity to be a part of something greater than myself – the MV Officer Team. The officers are the backbone of the entire band and nothing can operate without this incredible group of people. Becoming an officer was the beginning of my metamorphosis, and I felt that it was my duty to serve the band for as long as I could. I started out as the Music Librarian, printing copies of sheet music for numerous sections within the MVs. This was a wonderful position, and I was so thankful that Lauren gave me this chance.

Things only got better from there. I started to emerge from my “cocoon,” as I found a solid group of friends within the clarinet section. I also had the chance to interact with other sections and leadership through my position as an officer. College was still scary, and sophomore year proved to be more challenging than I thought. Things were adjusting “back to normal” after the pandemic had mostly subsided, including a return to in-person classes, an increased schedule for band, and many other things. It was a lot of stress for me, and things came to a critical point when I decided to switch my major over winter break. Yet again, the changes in my life changed me as a person. College is about exploration, and I realized that it was perfectly alright for me to acknowledge the current problems and choose a different path in life.

Some of the officers and managers that helped with counting cans for Hokies for the Hungry 2023 — November 17, 2023. (Jillian Sasso)

Throughout all of this, the MVs helped me to navigate everything. Even if nothing else was going right in my life, I had the support of my friends in the MVs and I still had music to perform for 60,000 fans in the fall. I was developing solid relationships, learning how to communicate with people of all different backgrounds, and working with others to create a better experience for current and future MVs. Then, I was selected to be the band’s Service Officer, which was a new opportunity to do more within the MVs. It took some time to adjust to the position, but I think I got the hang of it the second time around. 

My senior year proved to be the best part of my time in the MVs. I had entered my college cocoon as an anxious freshman afraid to talk to anyone, but I emerged from this cocoon as a more confident senior with a reputation within the MVs. As a senior and the band’s Service Officer, I felt it was my duty to help other MVs have the best possible experience. It has been such an honor to serve in this particular officer position. From coordinating band camp activities to setting a record for “Hokies for the Hungry” this past season, being the Service Officer has been the greatest achievement of my college career.

My mom and I when she visited for a game during my sophomore year — September 11, 2021. (Jillian Sasso)

I wanted to also take a moment to shout out my biggest supporter throughout the entirety of my college career and life–my mom! I have made so many friends in the MVs, but my mom is my absolute best friend. You may have seen her at the MVC with a “Hokie Mama” shirt on, mostly embarrassing me, as many moms do. Regardless, she has supported me through everything I have done in my life, especially music. My mom has constantly encouraged my clarinet playing in numerous ensembles, showed up to see me perform at as many football games as possible, and has even helped me count cans for “Hokies for the Hungry.” All of my friends love “Momma Sasso” and I have to say that I do too! Thank you, Mom, for being my biggest fan!

So, why am I telling you about all of this? Well, whether you’re an MV Alumni or a prospective MV for the next season, I hope my story reflects just how special this organization is to all of us. In the MVs, I have found friends, family, and love all through the concept of music. It’s not just about playing James Bond and Led Zeppelin in Yankee Stadium or trying not to cry when the crowd cheers during our Pregame show. It’s about coming to rehearsal and seeing your friends after a hard day of classes. It’s about finding people who make you a better version of yourself, and that is what I have found during my time as an MV.

Me flying during Superman after the 5.5 hour rain delay game — September 9, 2023. (Beau Wong)

My advice to any prospective MV is to try everything you can, even if you’re a ball of anxiety like me. College is a time of exploration, so just go out and do everything that you possibly can. Audition for the MVs, apply to be field leadership or a member of the officer team, and suggest ways to improve the organization as a whole. Be curious, ask questions, and keep practicing. In other words, start your own metamorphosis and join this wonderful organization that can transform you into a beautiful butterfly!

As I sit here typing this, about to graduate in May 2024, I feel mixed emotions. On one hand, I could spend my entire life performing as a clarinet player in the MVs. On the other hand, I have served my four years in the MVs and it is time to move on to the next chapter of life. I will miss performing in Lane Stadium, I will miss the MVC sunsets, I will miss the jokes and memes, but most importantly, I will miss this part of my life. However, I have completed my college musical metamorphosis, and I believe it’s time to start another. It’s time to follow the advice of one of my tattoos and “Keep Moving Forward!”