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: 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).

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! 

"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!

Band Camp 50!

Welcome back, Marching Virginians and fans! We’ve missed seeing your smiling faces around the MVC these past few months. 

Band Camp flew by with field leadership, officers, rookies and returners working hard to get up to speed and get ready for our exciting 50th season ahead. Let’s hear what some of our MVs thought about the week!

Shawn “Ronald” Regalado, VTuba rookie. (photo credit to MV Online Content)

Was band camp what you expected?

“As someone who is coming from a small high school that had about forty-ish members, said VTubas rookie Shawn “Ronald” Regalado, “seeing the pace that we learn everything and the different cultures in each section and the sheer size of the band itself was a lot to take in. It really blew away my expectations going into band camp as a rookie.”

Carter Bohart, MVPix rank captain. (photo credit to MV Online Content)

How was your first week of leadership? 

“I enjoyed meeting all of the new band members and getting to work with them, [to] kind of hand down what I learned as an incoming member,” said new MVPix rank captain Carter Bohart. “[I enjoyed] giving them tips and tricks in the MV marching style and helping them become acclimated to the environment.”

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th season?

“I’m looking forward to bringing back some old shows that we used to march and just celebrating the accomplishments that this band has brought about in 50 years, being one of the youngest bands in the nation,” said Bohart.

Megan Mansfield, returning MV manager. (photo credit to Megan Mansfield)

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th season?

“The community,” said returning manager Megan Mansfield. “Now that I’ve met more people from last season and also [been] helping with uniforms, I know more people from almost every section. So now, the games, cookouts and going out with people, it’s going to be a lot more fun because it’s easier to make connections.”

All said, the MVs can’t wait for season 50 to really get started. Our first game is against ODU on September 2nd, and will be our annual MV for a Day event! This is a great opportunity for high schoolers to check out our program and see what collegiate marching is really like.

We’ll see you there!