Anyone who listens closely on a given Saturday on Grounds will likely hear the soundtrack of a student band. The University harbors an unparalleled student band culture, resulting in the creation of various musical groups that span across ages, Greek letters and friend groups, united by the shared passion of playing live music together. However, the oft-deemed “best four years of one’s life” can pass quickly, leaving these bands at a loss after graduating members leave Grounds.
Not only do the graduating members have to decide how music will fit into their post-graduate lives, but remaining band members also have to reevaluate the group’s structure. With large careers looming and potential corporate ladders waiting to be climbed, it can be difficult to prioritize hobbies as students make their farewell tour of Grounds.
Made up of five Class of 2026 alumni and one rising fourth-year, student band Irish Exit is forced to take its exit at the end of the spring semester. Bella Chadwick, one of the lead singers of Irish Exit and Class of 2026 alumna, shared her plans to maintain her musical passion as a career by pursuing music marketing in New York City.
“Music has to be a part of my life in such a meaningful way,” Chadwick said. “I realized that there is a chance that I could continue doing music in a different capacity and manifest that love in a different way. I will say, though, there just is something about performing. It's just so special [and] just so magical, especially at U.Va.”
While music may continue in a professional sense following graduation, the excitement of performing live may be confined to the undergraduate experience. However, music can transform from a creative outlet into a much-needed break from work stressors. Aadit Rajangam, drummer for Irish Exit and Class of 2026 alumnus, said he was content without studying music or pursuing it professionally.
“I never really studied music in a way that I would ever be able to pursue it as a profession. But that's good enough for me,” Rajangam said.
With three Irish Exit members moving to New York City, they have discussed reforming the band in the future. In the meantime, Eli Bare, the band’s bassist and the sole rising fourth-year Engineering student, plans to form a new group with fellow students whose bands are also disassembling.
“I guess I'm just gonna have to start looking [for a band] again,” Bare said. “But I know there are some other bands and some other people who will be in the same position as me.”
New York City just may be the University’s very own Nashville as a meeting point for young artists also seeking a professional career — two graduating members from the student band Lucky Number also plan to relocate there after graduation. Mary Jane Erskin, the band’s lead singer, and JP Hoffman, the band’s guitarist, both Class of 2026 alumni, said they are eager about the idea of creating their own small-form acoustic version of the band. Having all grown up playing music, members of the group said they cannot imagine a future without their musical expression.
“I see myself playing some semblance of music for the rest of my life,” Erskin said. “I think we see ourselves at least coming together as much as we can, moving forward to play together.”
Louis Leouzon, pianist for Lucky Number and Class of 2026 alumnus, also acknowledged music’s everlasting presence not only at the University, but in his life.
“Music's kind of been my most seriously taken hobby throughout my entire life,” Leouzon said. “So I don't really see that changing anytime soon.”
The group even joked about tentative plans to perform at Leouzon’s wedding at some point in the future, showcasing the friendship that will remain strong long past college. However, Lucky Number has the potential to live on through the two rising third-year members of the band. Hoffman said these remaining members plan to forge their own musical paths in their remaining time on Grounds.
Even newer student bands such as British Racing Green, which formed in fall 2025, have to grapple with the changes in the group’s structure following graduation. Blake Richardson, British Racing Green’s bassist, singer and sole Class of 2026 alumna, is leaving the band in the hands of the remaining four rising fourth-years as she pursues a law career. However, Richardson said that musicality will accompany her throughout her adult years.
“Being in music spaces my entire life, they have a lot of different community spaces [such as] community orchestras or community music clubs,” Richardson said. “So I definitely plan on joining something like that … It's always been a part of my life, and I assume it will continue to be.”
Despite the various members’ unknown futures, members said the bands left an undeniable impact on each of their University experiences, and even more on how they approach daily life. Johnny Visioni, Irish Exit guitarist and Class of 2026 alumnus, reflected on the lasting impact the group had on his time at the University.
“It's made me a lot more social,” Visioni said. “[Irish Exit] put me out of my comfort zone. We played for pretty large crowds, and I never really did that in high school. It's made me a lot more comfortable playing with other people, for the people.”
This sentiment is shared among many of the bands playing their final notes on Grounds. Marshall Wenger, keyboardist for Irish Exit and Class of 2026 alumnus, contended with the band’s positive impact on his past four years and the bittersweet notion of that experience coming to an end.
“It’s been pretty much my favorite thing I've done at U.Va.,” Wenger said. “I love playing music with people, and I think it's especially fun to be able to play for a lot of our friends at various gigs and have people come out and support us … It's been a kind of integral part of my college experience.”
Spontaneity seems to be a common theme among college bands, where instruments can break and set lists may require last-minute adjustments. According to Richardson, not only have those experiences made for fun stories with the band, but they have also made her a calmer, more relaxed person overall. Moreover, each setback is experienced as a group, forming close bonds and chemistry that shines through the performances. Not only do they plan to bring music into their adulthood, but they will also carry the relationships created over the years.
“Music brings people together, like no other thing, and I've become so close with my band members,” Richardson said. “They're like family, and I feel like a lot of other things that you do … it takes years to kind of form that, but being in a band, you're kind of tight for life.”
Some student musicians, such as Chadwick, have spent nearly their entire collegiate career performing live and crafting the inter-band relations.
“It's been so special to watch everyone grow individually within their own instruments, but also as a band … go through a lot of struggles and challenges with each other to continue stronger. It's just been super meaningful,” Chadwick said.
Live music is a pillar of the college experience, where friends unite by dancing to the Red Hot Chili Peppers or the University classic “Valerie.” Jack Mitchell, Irish Exit acoustic guitarist and Class of 2026 alumnus, said the inherent culture of the University encourages new bands to crop up and allows for anyone to follow their musical passion.
“[There’s] a pretty low barrier to entry, too, just because there are so many other musicians," Mitchell said. “U.Va. is just a great, great place to be in a band.”
Nonetheless, the platform given to these student bands is particularly special and enables them to blossom at fraternity events, local bars and everywhere in between. The result is an overwhelmingly positive, accessible music scene that encompasses all facets of the University yet unites its members through a love of performing their art.
“Live music is so special because it somehow hits these emotions that you don't get [from] Spotify … You can feed off of other people's energies, especially off the crowd's energy,” Hoffman said. “Because of that, there are certain moments that we've played that you just can't replicate.”
While leaving the University music scene is inevitable upon graduation, the University will continue to welcome new generations of musicians to Grounds. No matter where life takes the graduated members, they will always have a home in Charlottesville and an opportunity to get the band back together.
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