It’s totally tempting to pull out every American Pie reference (flute jokes anyone?) for a story about the Cavalier Marching Band. Really, how hard is it to make fun of a group that wears weird hats, roll-steps in formation and rocks out to the grooves of John Philip Sousa? But, band Director Bill Pease won us over. “These are the best students I’ve ever worked with,” he says.
Who could laugh in the face of such earnestness? So, here’s the straight dope.
The Cavalier Marching Band became UVA’s primary athletics band after the Pep Band was barred from University events two years ago. The marching band opened that season with 170 members—this year, Pease expects about 250 participants, with about a dozen of those students coming from PVCC.
The band also starts recruiting early from local high schools. July 27-30, young players can hang with the Hoos and even get tips on how band participation can help with college admissions.
Band camp starts up August 12 when the band will learn six new halftime routines. “Without giving everything away,” Pease says, spectators can look forward to a swing show, a classic rock show, a drumline show and, get this, a Jimmy Buffett show. “Students give me their thoughts and ideas of what they’d like to play,” Pease says. Props to the guy who thought of putting “Cheeseburger in Paradise” on the football field.
Apparently, band camp is no joke. Saxophonist Preston Gisch narrated a day in the life of a Cavalier Marching Band camper in a September 8, 2004 Cavalier Daily article. He rises at 6:30am, “knees aching, thighs numb and voice hoarse from the previous day’s drill instruction.” On the field, “after stretching, we take a lap around the field and begin morning rehearsal.” Stretching? Laps? Who knew performing “Land of a Thousand Dances” was so intense?
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