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!
Hi, Paige! Photo: Paige Barnhart
For those who may not know you just yet, can you tell readers a little about yourself?
My name is Paige and I’m a rising junior majoring in Computational Modeling and Data Analytics from Chesapeake, Virginia! I am a member of the Net section and this upcoming season will be my third season with the MVs! This past season I served as the Marketing and Communications Officer (MCO) assisting in running this wonderful page known as Marching with the Virginians. I am SO excited to serve as the newest elected Executive Officer for 2024-2025 and the memories we will all make as a band!
Can you talk about your experience with the MVs up to this point?
I auditioned for the MVs as an incoming freshman who quite literally knew nobody and nothing about college life. Showing up to band camp the same day I moved into my college dorm, I was TERRIFIED. The audition process is so unique and personal to everyone auditioning and I truly am so happy I was able to find a home in the MVs. Going into my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to be a part of leadership, so I applied for the Officer Team and got the position of MCO! Being a part of the Officer Team, and just leadership in general, has changed the way I view the band in such a positive way, which led me to falling in love with and applying for the position of XO.
How have the MVs changed your life, and how will the XO position contribute to your experience with the band?
When I got admitted to VT, I knew I wanted to be in the marching band from being a part of the band all throughout high school and serving in leadership positions. College is hard, everyone will tell you that, but having a group of people to go through it with, makes it worth it and this band has brought me that. My amazing rank (Sass Rank 11 all the way!) not only welcomed me in with open arms but has always supported me and made long game days and practices SO much better with our rank snacks and traditions! To the entire Net section (current and olds), starting with the famous Aaron George who believed in me from the beginning, my roommates who we will forever be known as the “sophomore trio”, meeting my actual twin flames, and racing to Pigeon Forge on a random weekend in March with all of my best friends, I wouldn’t be able to accept the XO position and share my love for the MVs without any of you. Continuing to advocate for the band in the position of XO will only open me up to meeting more and more people. If you know me, I will yap forever and I cannot wait to meet all of our new members this upcoming season and welcome them with the same open arms my Net home gave me.
How do you plan to utilize the position as XO to continue great success within the MVs?
My goal for the MVs is to make the new members feel at home! Getting the news congratulating you on making it is such an amazing feeling, and I want to make sure that happy and joyful feeling of being excited for band never goes away while spending time with the MVs. From being in a sorority at the same time as the MVs, I have learned so much about sisterhood and the relationships that come with such tight knit groups of people. As XO, I aspire to create a form of mentorship program where new members can be matched with upperclassmen to better integrate them into the MV experience! Coming to college and having classes start almost immediately is already enough to worry about, but being a part of a strong and positive environment shouldn’t be something else our new members should have to worry about. By doing this, my goal is to ease the transition for our new members while also giving them the opportunity to socialize with sections of the band that are not their own! We are a band family, no doubt about it, and we are welcoming a whole new group VERY soon, so why not start now?
Paige and many other leadership members will be all around the Marching Virginians in the upcoming weeks. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself if you see them!
Returning Home in Remembrance
Every April, thousands of Hokie flock back to Blacksburg. While it brings about a joyous atmosphere being back with so many loved ones and strolling down memory lane, this time of year brings with it a somber air of remembrance as well.
In the coming week, Virginia Tech will hold its annual Day of Remembrance, which honors the 32 students and faculty whose lives were tragically taken in a shooting on April 16th, 2007. Although many of today’s students were very young when this tragedy occurred, the respect and understanding of the importance of this Day of Remembrance ripples throughout campus, and especially throughout the band. In this article, two Marching Virginians alumni, Beau Wong (Net ’21) and Katie Hale (Net ’17 and ’18), talk about coming back to Blacksburg for the remembrance events and what remembrance means to them.
In what ways do you honor the lives lost on April 16th, 2007?
“I participate in the 3.2 run virtually or in person!” – Beau Wong
“[I participate] in the remembrance run in honor of Emily Jane Hilscher. Emily was from the small community of Rappahannock County, which is also where I grew up. I run in her memory and in support of all those whose lives she touched with her positivity.” – Katie Hale
Katie Hale runs in remembrance with a big smile on her face! Credit Katie Hale
What is the most meaningful part of the remembrance activities for you?
“I attended the candlelight vigil a few times, and every time it is so moving. The shared moment of respect and the emotions it brings are so powerful.” – Beau Wong
“The moment of silence prior to the start of the remembrance run. Campus is typically abuzz with energy and sound, but in that moment, time seems to stop and everyone remains completely silent and still as we reflect on those who lost their lives.” – Katie Hale
Why do you choose to return to Blacksburg for the Day of Remembrance?
“For this time specifically, I plan on moving away from Virginia sometime in the near future, so it’ll be a lot harder for me to come back. Usually though, it’s to go and visit with people I care about.” – Beau Wong
“The Roanoke Hokies alumni group does their own version of the 3.2 for 32 in downtown Roanoke, but I prefer to be in Blacksburg. Being able to run through campus, where the tragedy took place and past the April 16th memorial adds an additional level of meaning to the event. There’s a positive aspect to the morning in which we choose to come together and celebrate our ability to be resilient despite what has been endured.” – Katie Hale
Beau smiles for the camera with the Hokie Bird in his early days as an MV net. Credit: Beau Wong
Have The Marching Virginians played a role in how you choose to honor the 32 lives lost? If so, how?
“With the Stack Hokie Bird sitting at the entrance of the MVC field, I’d say being in the MVs has had a profound impact on how I honor the lives lost that day. Just passing that bird makes me want to exemplify the qualities of a Hokie. I can’t speak for the victims, but I’d like to think that’s what they would have wanted.” – Beau Wong
“Absolutely- the old version of the MV uniform had a patch sewn inside that was in honor of Ryan “Stack” Clark, so each time I put on the uniform, I thought about him and the stories of his love of service and helping others, and I wanted to represent that fully. Though I’ve graduated now and don’t put on that MV uniform with that reminder inside anymore, I still think about Ryan’s spirit today as I find ways to serve my students and school, my community, and my friends and family.” – Katie Hale
Whether you’re joining the thousands of other Hokies who are returning to Blacksburg this weekend or remembering with us from afar, I hope you get the chance to reflect on how joyous it is to be a Hokie. This community of Hokies and of Marching Virginians is filled with resilience, love, and support, and as we gather together over the next few days, I hope you’re filled with the Hokie spirit. Home is where the people you love are, and no matter how far you are from Virginia Tech now or how many years it’s been since you’ve stepped foot in Blacksburg, just know that you’re always welcome back Home. Welcome Home Hokies<3
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!”
Mackenzie Knox: Keeping the Music Alive
Graduation does not have to be the end of your career as a musician. Many alumni have found ways to stay involved with music after their time with the MVs has come to an end.
Some find a new band within the community they settle into after they graduate, like Jenna O’Brien. Jenna (Clarinet, ‘18) moved to Philadelphia during the pandemic and was seeking a way to build community and a creative outlet outside of work. After a quick Google search, she found the Philadelphia Freedom Band, an organization that comes together to perform throughout the greater Philadelphia area and provide visible, active support to the LGBTQ+ community, and decided to join as a clarinet player. Her choice to join was solidified at her first rehearsal when she ran into fellow MV Alumna Sophie Tenaglia-Neil (Mellophone ‘15, maiden name: Sophie Tenaglia).
To Jenna, “band has been the space where I feel the most accepted and comfortable being myself.” This band is no different as she has found another band family here. The community she has cultivated here is so deep that she has even played marching band tunes at a fellow bandmate’s surprise birthday party. If you are seeking a community like Jenna did, she highly recommends researching community bands in your area. If you live around Philadelphia and want to join the Philadelphia Freedom Band, you can join the email list and get more information here. If you are outside the Philly area, they have sibling bands in many major cities that you can seek out!
Philadelphia Freedom Band’s holiday performance in Manayunk with MV Alumna Jenna O’Brien (Clarinet, ’18, 3rd from the left wearing the green knitted hat) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (Tone, ’05, 4th from the right wearing the rust-colored hat)
Other alumni create their next music opportunity by forming their own bands, including MV Alumna Duncan Elston. Duncan (Tone, ’19) is a bone and keys player in an 8-piece Funk Rock band based out of Richmond called The Monumentals. The band features 4 other MV Alumni: Joe McDermott (Snare, ‘17) on Drums, Cammy Cohen (Trumpet, ‘18) on vocals and trumpet, Matt Jones (Alto, ‘18) on sax, Anne Kelly Newman (Pic, ‘19) on vocals and flute.
The band started in some form when Cammy, Joe and Anne Kelly were still students at Tech in 2016. Once they had settled into Richmond post-graduation, the band continued to evolve into the funk rock group it is today, picking up additional members, Duncan and Matt, along the way.
Each member comes into this group with their own reasons to keeping the music alive in their lives. As a music educator, it is important to Duncan to connect with making music and playing since that is where his love of music originated. Bringing that love and appreciation of music to his students is cultivated that much more by participating in many musical opportunities outside the classroom. He also participates in several community bands in the area, the Richmond Pops Band and Commonwealth Winds. For members who are not music educators, like Cammy, it felt like a sharp transition to no longer have music in their lives after graduation. To help bring that back in her life as she navigated the beginning of her career, Cammy enjoyed having things like jam sessions and rehearsals on the calendar to keep music in her life, especially as the band was continuing to evolve.
Cammy advises that “it takes a while after graduation to figure out what fits well you’re your new lifestyle and satisfies your need for music” so take some time to figure out what you like/need to stay in touch with your musical side. She continues that “something like starting your own group will take time, especially in a big transition like college to career” so be patient with yourself and others as you figure out what works in this new life stage you are in.
You can catch The Monumentals playing around local breweries in Richmond, VA as well as some of the music venues in the area. Most recently, the group had their first solo show at The Canal Club in downtown Richmond which was an incredible experience to play such an iconic local venue. You can follow the band on Instagram @themonumentalsrva.
Duncan Elston ‘19, Matt Jones ‘18, Joe McDermott ‘17, Anne Kelly Newman ‘19, Cammy Cohen ‘18. The Monumentals performing at The Canal Club
So, whether it is a local community band, a group you form on your own or simply hosting jam sessions with friends, there are plenty of ways to stay involved with music once you enter the “real world” after graduation.
Mackenzie Knox - Alumni Blogger
A True Marching Virginian
If you were to ask an MV what it means to be a Marching Virginian, they would likely respond with the importance of working hard, compassion, friendship, and being a leader. Many of the MVs today absolutely love what they do, and there is a special phrase that our organization lives by today: Ut Prosim, meaning, That I May Serve, in Latin. This Latin phrase is the motto of Virginia Tech, and as representatives of our university, we strive to keep it in the hearts of each MV. One very special Marching Virginian, however, is the very definition of “That I May Serve,” and his name was Ryan “Stack” Clark. Ryan was a victim of the Virginia Tech shooting that took place on April 16, 2007. He was, and is, very special to our organization, and I had the honor of getting to meet and talk with his remarkable mom, Mrs. Letitie Clark. I was able to talk to her about what her son was like, why he decided to become an MV, and how we can remember him and keep him in our hearts. Many of the Marching Virginians today didn’t get the chance to get to know Stack and understand the impact he had on the band. I hope by writing this blog post today, Mrs. Clark and I can keep his memory and spirit alive.
Tell me about what your son; Where did he grow up? What was he like?
Hi, Stack! (ryanstackclark.org)
My son Ryan was born in Germany with his twin brother, because at the time we were a military family moving from place to place. Soon after we moved back to the United States, where my son grew up in Georgia. He’s a lot like his mom in how he loved perfection; he always strived to pay attention to the little details. He loved people, and he lived by the phrase, “I can help.” He always looked for ways to brighten someone else’s day, or make the world a better place. My son had the biggest heart, and the Marching Virginians and the Blacksburg community was his pride and joy.
Why did Ryan decide to become part of the Marching Virginians?
Well, since our family is from Georgia, we knew that it might be tough on our family having a child go out of state for school. When Ryan was starting to tour colleges in his senior year of high school, he went on a tour of Virginia Tech. Right when he arrived, he turned to me and said, “Mom, this is it,” he knew Virginia Tech would be his home. Ryan had been involved with marching band during high school, and he wanted to continue band in college. He was just so excited to come up to Blacksburg early for band camp, and he told me how nervous he was that he wouldn’t make it. He wanted to be a Marching Virginian so bad, and he would find out at midnight during band camp. He stayed up so late, waiting on the results of whether he would be accepted or not. Ryan read his name on the list of baritones that were new to the MVs, and he was just overjoyed. He was now a Marching Virginian.
Can you tell me about the day that he passed away?
Yes. Even though it was 17 years ago, it feels like yesterday to me. Although I’m now retired, I was a teacher at a local school near our home in Georgia. That morning I was already at work, and there was a television in our lounge where the news broadcasters had gotten information about something happening at Virginia Tech. As I was in the lounge with a couple of my coworkers, a couple members of the administration came in and said, referring to me, “Take her home, take her home now.” Nobody had told me what was going on, but in my heart I knew that something was very wrong. Our family had a plan in place for if there was ever an emergency, but I didn’t hear from my son. I had people at the house with me, and it felt as if hours had passed. Then there was a knock at the door, and there was a gentleman alongside a couple police officers standing on my doorstep. This gentleman was the coroner, and he told me that they had received word from the emergency room in Blacksburg, VA, and he said to me, “Ma’am, your son is gone.” From that moment on everything changed. This was the worst day of my life.
How can we remember Ryan and keep him in our hearts?
I think the way that you all have named your Hokie bird after him is beautifully touching, and I adore the way that others have told you all stories about him and taught the band about him. I hope we can remember not what happened to the 32 people that day, but who they were and their impact on this world.
Mrs. Clark told me that in the days following the shooting, she felt like she had gained 330 new family members; the Marching Virginians. She told me that they rallied around her, and their support and level of compassion was overwhelming in her time of grief. She has created a scholarship in memory of Ryan, called The Ryan “Stack” Clark Scholarship, where this organization hosts an annual 5K run that benefits the scholarship. I was absolutely honored to be able to interview such a warm, kind, and compassionate lady, and the Marching Virginians wish her all the best. We remember Ryan and the other 31 victims of that horrific day not by what happened to them, but the impact that they had on their loved ones and the people that they met. To each of the families who lost a loved one during the Virginia Tech shooting, the Virginia Tech community, and the Marching Virginians — We are Virginia Tech.
“The Hokie Nation embraces our own and reaches out with open hearts and hands to those who offer their hearts and minds. We are strong, and brave, and innocent, and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imaginations and the possibilities. We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness. We are the Hokies.”
-Nikki Giovanni, Distinguished Emerita Professor and Poet
Ryan Clark. (ryanstackclark.org)
Goodbye to the Graduates: Outgoing Officers, 2023-2024
Within the next month and a half the officer team for the 2024 season of the Marching Virginians will be assembled. While the band collectively waits to see who their new officers are, some time is needed to say goodbye to the graduating members.
Lauren Chuderwicz — Executive Officer
From the trumpet section, a presence felt at every MV practice, game, and event, who has been one of the most dedicated MVs: Lauren Chuderwicz. Lauren has been the executive officer for the previous three years and graduates in May with an M.S. in computer engineering.
Calvin moore — drum major
This recent season was Calvin’s second run as drum major. Before this, he was a member of the sax section. Calvin graduates in May with an M.S. in aerospace engineering.
Jillian sasso — service officer
From the clarinet section, Jillian has organized many amazing service projects like the MV Blood Drive and a volunteer concert at Warm Hearth Village in her time as service officer. Jillian graduates in May with B.A.s in history and political science.
Sydney deitrich — operations officer
From the piccolo section, Sydney is graduating in May with a B.A. in sustainable biomaterials. With Sydney’s graduation, we unfortunately also have to say goodbye to everyone’s favorite dog: Pippin!
MAX KATES-TATE — OPERATIONS OFFICER
From the trombone section, Max is graduating in May with a B.S. in ocean engineering.
MAGGIE KIRK — INSTRUMENT SUPPLY OFFICER
From the horn section, Maggie graduates in May with a B.F.A. in creative technologies with a focus in animation.
BREANNA GOODE — Online content officer
From the piccolo section, Bre is responsible for many of the great videos on the MV Instagram. Bre is graduating in May with a B.S. in biomedical biology and is preparing for medical school applications.
While the band may not see everything they do, we know that the officer team is the reason that the MVs function so well. To all our graduating (and graduated) leadership, thank you for making our last season possible. Those of us left behind cannot wait to see what amazing feats you all do, and we all hope to see you at a football game this fall!
From an Extreme Rookie to Leadership
Carter conducting at Hokies 4 The Hungry 2023! (MV Online Content)
I have been going to Virginia Tech football games my entire life; maroon and orange runs through my blood. I would sit by my Papa and Mama through the warm and sunny, rainy and windy, and whatever weather Blacksburg might bring us during the game. While I was always excited for every touchdown Virginia Tech made, I was more excited of the results of the touchdown — hearing the Marching Virginians play “Tech Triumph!”
I grew up begging my parents not to leave during halftime, saying “we can’t miss the band!” I knew that someday, I would be a dedicated marcher in high school, and furthermore, I would be a part of the Spirit of Tech. However, my dreams of participating in marching band were put on pause when I learned that I would have no high school marching band experience. My friends at other schools bragged about the community and all of the fun that they had at practice and making friends, practicing and rehearsing, and going to band competitions. My freshman year of high school, I remember going to the Virginia Tech football game and thinking “I will never be in that band; I will never be as good as them.”
Carter and Pix friends at dinner on the Military Bowl trip. (Rafael Garcia-Rodriguez)
Entering into my freshman year at Virginia Tech, I applied to the band and went to band camp to try out for the Marching Virginians. I cannot lie, it was overwhelming at first. To show up at a band camp with scores of freshmen sharing their high school experiences, talking about how incredible their high school bands were, terrified me. I thought I would not last. However, I did my best, I pushed to learn, and I worked as hard as I could to be the best marcher I could be. The leadership of the band was nothing but welcoming and encouraging. I remember one of my leaders in the piccolo section sharing with me that she had never marched before coming to Virginia Tech and she was impressed by the progress I was showing. I was determined to finish auditions as strong as I could whether I made the band or not. But let me tell you, to play Tech Triumph for my first time with the Marching Virginians was the most emotional experience I have ever had. I could not help but to cry. I had finally made it to the point I had dreamed about since elementary school. Whether or not I made the final cuts for the band, I finally had reached my goal.
Carter during band camp 2023. (MV Online Content)
Since then, I’ve surpassed that goal and have made it to my next goal, which was to become a member of MV leadership. Now, I am a piccolo rank captain.
I hope my story can be a testimony to what new members of the band can do, regardless of experience, and share what the Spirit of Tech is all about. The Marching Virginians is an organization that cares about community and service. I have made friends that I have gone through some amazing and terrible times with, and I know I can lean on them for anything. I have had some of my greatest memories of college in this band, whether it be at rehearsal laughing on the turf field, standing in the freezing and pouring rain, or jumping during “Enter Sandman” on Worsham Field in Lane Stadium. The Marching Virginians is an experience like no other.
If I could give any advice, tips, and tricks to any new member to the band, experienced or new to the world of marching, I would say you never know until you try. The Marching Virginians care about attitude, integrity, grit, and persistence. It is a matter of trying your best, listening to feedback, staying positive, and contributing as a member of the organization and the band. It takes work, but marching and adjusting to a different band arrangement is not hard if you put your time and effort into it. I now look back as a leader in the band to understand the incredible progress I have made, and how thankful I am to have people like Dr. Polly, Chad, and my section leadership who believed in me from the beginning, even as a new marcher.
There is nothing on this campus more incredible to be a part of than the Marching Virginians. It’s family, it’s support, it’s memories, and it truly is the foundation and the Spirit of Tech.
Karen Small: Much Love in the Band
In this post, Karen Small, MV Sax alumna, highlights the connections made from the Marching Virginians, and how they are truly ones that stick with you for the rest of your life.
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Dave McKee once said to the band, “look to your right, now look to your left. You could be married to one of these people some day!” When I first heard that, I laughed because of how ridiculous it sounded at the time. Looking back now, Dave was absolutely correct. The Marching Virginians will help you find your friends for life, but some find their person for life too.
MV picture at Faith and Tyler’s wedding, provided by Faith and Tyler Powers
Many of my MV friends from my time are still dating their MV partners, myself included. As I write this, I have been to 3 weddings where a Marching Virginian has married another Marching Virginian, and there are definitely more to come in the not so distant future. Each of these couples responded very promptly when I asked them to send me beautiful wedding photos (thanks guys!) and were happy to share their stories.
Sam and Jamie (both class of 2018) met during band camp their freshman year and began dating in the spring semester. Sam’s first memory of Jamie was carrying his quad stand during Hokie Village, while Jamie’s first memory of Sam was hearing her talk too loudly from across the room at a drumline hangout.
Sam and Jamie, provided by Sam and Jamie Slade
The Slades had a beautiful ceremony in March of 2022 in Woodbridge, VA. Many of their fellow percussion players, Sam’s cymbal ladies and Jamie’s quad squad, were not only in attendance, but in the wedding party as well. I first met Sam when she asked if I’d like to rush Tau Beta Sigma when I was a freshman. She made the rush process much less stressful than it could have been, and was the best grand-big to me throughout the semester. I am so grateful for that experience for allowing me to meet Sam, and eternally grateful to Sam and Jamie for letting me live with them during my summer internship that one time.
Karen and Sam in their TBS family, provided by Karen Small
Faith and Tyler (class of 2021 and 2020, respectively) met in the 2017 MV season as trumpets. They first connected while learning drill for the Aranjuez (note from Faith: trumpet rowing team!) show. They enjoyed their time together in the MVs, and still play together in the Durham County Concert Band. Faith says, “in separate majors and years, our paths would've never crossed without the Marching Virginians! We are thankful to the organization for the fun experiences and the connections [we made]”.
My partner, trumpet Kent McDonough, introduced me to Faith and Tyler, and I was invited to their wedding as his plus one. It was a picturesque October evening in 2021, and I have fond memories of good company and clapping along to Tech Triumph with fellow Hokies at the reception. I became much closer with Faith and Tyler when I learned they resided close by when I lived in NC after graduation. They helped me out many times at my old apartment, and I’m still not sure how, but we even watched all of Morbius together.
Faith and Tyler wedding photos, provided by Faith and Tyler Powers
Hannah and Chris (sax and trumpet, respectively, both class of 2022) are actually high school sweethearts! They met in middle school and went to the 8th grade formal together, and have been together ever since. Hannah says “being in the MVs together was great because I had my best friend there with me from the first day of auditions to the last day of senior year”.
Their December 2023 wedding in Williamsburg, VA (their hometown, and mine!) was incredibly sweet, filled with their friends new and old, and lots of family. I attended with a group of fellow sax alumna and we had a blast reminiscing on our times together, catching up with where we are now, and appreciating how Hannah’s dad is an amazing dancer. Hannah and Chris went to my rival high school and we certainly had mutual friends back then, but I really got to know Hannah during her first year in the MVs. She was the only girl rookie sax that year, but that didn’t stop her from becoming the heart of the section. Hannah’s positivity and laughter are contagious, and her contributions to the game day braid train will be remembered famously.
Hannah and Christopher, provided by Hannah and Christopher Paolucci
Looking back again to Dave McKee’s words, and thinking about how many people I didn’t know then that I have formed connections with now, it’s uncanny how right he was. The Marching Virginians led me to meet people who I will be friends with forever, and some of those friends have met their forever person through the band. How many people thought on their first game day that one day they’d walk down the aisle with someone from the band?
Thank you to the Slades, Powerses, and Paoluccis for generously letting me share a piece of your stories, and thank you to the MVs who helped me find my people, married or otherwise. There is much love in the band!
Karen Small - Alumni Blogger
Giving Day Recap!
Virginia Tech’s annual Giving Day fired off at noon on February 21, and for the following 24 hours the many schools, departments, and groups ‘competed’ in raising funds. The inaugural Giving Day event occurred in 2018, where 4,300 donors raised an unbelievable 1.62 million dollars. Giving Day has continued every year, save for 2020, and each year the number of donors and total funding has skyrocketed even higher.
So, what happened on Giving Day 2024? A total of $13 million was raised, just over $3 million more than the previous year. This is the single greatest jump in funding between years. Similarly, there was a massive increase in donors: 18,900 from the 17,000 of the previous year.
These are certainly impressive numbers, but we all want to know is: How did the Marching Virginians do? The total fund numbers for the amount the MVs raised is unavailable. However, we can see the donor numbers!
This year, 521 friends of the MV family contributed on Giving Day. This is a remarkable number; 171 more than the previous year. Much of this was possible due to the efforts of our very own MVs who, over the 24 hours, reached out to friends, family, and alumni. On nearly all social media websites there were calls to support the MVs, by both current members and alumni.
Through the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, the Marching Virginians sought to knock down several funding challenges. One, the aptly named ‘Spirit of Tech Challenge,’ asked the band to reach over 425 donors, which unlocked the Jim Sochinski Spirit of Tech Award. Jim Sochinski was the second director of the MVs (1976-1981) and arranged many beloved pieces for the band. The MVs were also the recipient of the Ambassador Donor Challenge, which was awarded to the group with the highest number of donors!
For Giving Day, the Marching Virginians set up several giveaways. For those donors first in line, 10 MV swag items were given away. This included MV beanies, gameday baseball caps, or a bag of merch! After the first hour, drawings commenced for more item giveaways, most notably some retired MV uniforms. By the conclusion of Giving Day, 16 swag items and 9 uniforms were given to our amazing donors! The director of the MVs, Dr. Polly Middleton, posted a short video on the MV Facebook page thanking everyone who was a part of Giving Day 2024.
MVs4Lyfe is an expression the band uses to say that a person will always be an MV, even after their time in band. The display of gratitude seen on Giving Day shows that MVs4Lyfe is more than words we say, it is in the actions we take. Thank you to everyone who made Giving Day a success for the MVs.