The University Cavalier Marching Band will be joined this upcoming football season by students of Piedmont Virginia Community College as part of an ongoing relationship the new band has with the community college.
Previously, PVCC has had many students with an interest in marching and concert band, but no way to accommodate that interest. PVCC students will now be able to participate in the same tryout process as University students during an August band camp.
"I'm trying to bring a connection with the public schools in the area," University Director of Bands William Pease said.
He added that it is a great opportunity for students who do not want to go to four-year schools, or may go to a four-year school in the future, and play an instrument, but do not currently have an outlet.
"We have no capacity to provide instruments, but the University will have an inventory of instruments," PVCC Dean of Humanities Clifford Haury said.
PVCC has reserved 20 spots in its two-credit performing arts course. Registration for courses has just begun, and it is unclear how many students will take advantage of the course opportunity.
Kyle Singleton, University trombone and baritone section drill instructor, sees the relationship with PVCC as a way "to have more people to pull from," improving the quality of the band.
Haury also hopes that the band will allow PVCC students interested in transferring to confront reservations about attending a four-year institution.
"It's a great way to demonstrate skill and build confidence," Haury said.
Allowing community college students to participate in university marching bands is not an entirely new concept. Pease previously served as associate director of bands at Western Michigan University, where he collaborated with Kalamazoo Community College. The University of Miami also uses a large number of community college students in its band.
The new marching band will have its first performance during the first home football game of the season on Sept. 11 against the University of North Carolina.
Material for the half-time performance has not yet been selected. However, the pre-game show is mostly developed and will feature traditional University songs.
"I got songbooks from 1907
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