The Marching Virginians

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The Marching Virginians perform at the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The Marching Virginians perform at the 2006 Chick-fil-A Bowl

The Marching Virginians are one of two collegiate marching bands at Virginia Tech (the other being the Highty Tighties, the regimental band of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets). Established in 1974, their shows feature standard DCI techniques. Because the Marching Virginians draw from the general student body, they are considerably larger than the Highty Tighties. Despite offering no scholarships to band members, the Marching Virginians consists of students from every college and virtually every major within the university, as well as several graduate students.

Known as "The Spirit of Tech," the band performs at Virginia Tech football games, fundraisers, and charity events. The Marching Virginians also hold their own yearly charity event, 'Hokies for the Hungry,' during which canned food is collected by band members prior to a Virginia Tech home football game to benefit the Montgomery County Christmas Store. The Marching Virginians are the creators of Virginia Tech's 'Stick It In' cheer, though the MVs were recently (Fall, 2007) banned from performing this cheer by the Virginia Tech Athletics Department.

Among other venues, the Marching Virginians have performed at the Orange Bowl, Peach Bowl, Independence Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, Toyota Gator Bowl, and were featured on the Blacksburg edition of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

The Marching Virginians are currently under the leadership of director Dave McKee and assistant director Will Peterson. A majority of the music is arranged by Dr. James Sochinski, and the halftime performances are narrated by Tony Distler, "The Voice of the Marching Virginians."

The Marching Virginians are assisted by the Eta Beta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi and the Zeta Omicron Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma.

Contents

[edit] Traditions

The Marching Virginians perform at Lane Stadium before the Hokies' 2007 opener against the East Carolina Pirates
The Marching Virginians perform at Lane Stadium before the Hokies' 2007 opener against the East Carolina Pirates

The Marching Virginians, since their establishment in 1974, have developed a multitude of traditions and rituals.

  • For every home game, the Marching Virginians have a pre-game rehearsal (and are sometimes provided breakfast or lunch) before marching a small pep-parade from the south-end of the Cassell Coliseum parking lot, down Spring Road, to the south-west tunnel into Lane Stadium at Worsham Field. (Previously, two "Renegade" Pep Bands roamed the parking lots surrounding the stadium playing for fans before either meeting back up with the rest of the band before a pre-game performance or playing "call-and-answer" style with the main band (east stands) and the other renegade band (other corner of west stands))
  • Each section independently develops its own cheers, calls, dances, and chants, sometimes involving inter-sectional cooperation (such as the clarinet/saxophone sections' combined "STROKE-OH!" chant). These chants often begin with a section leader or rank captain calling a command, usually ending in something along the lines of "TWEET-TWEET-HO" to simulate a whistle command.
  • The MVs were also the original creators of the "Stick It In" cheer, which has become one of the most popular cheers of Virginia Tech football.
  • Entering Lane Stadium, each band member falls out of rank, touches his/her hand to the Hokie Stone at the entrance to the field, and falls back into their position in the parade block.
  • As the Marching Virginians enter any stadium before a VT Hokies football game, the band chants "V-I-R---G-I-N-I-A TECH!"
  • Far less formal than the Highty-Tighties, the Marching Virginians are allowed to wear their Marching Virginians baseball cap given to them at the beginning of the season (or their MVs ski cap for colder weather) if one feels so inclined. Other forms of personal flair which do not interfere with or deface their uniforms, such as sunglasses, keychains, or temporary facial tattoos, are frequent among band members.
  • In the stands, sections will often choreograph their own dances and horn movements to different songs and drum breaks, giving the sections more individual freedom with their stand music.
  • In every fieldshow, the MVs usually perform three songs followed by "Tech Triumph". The first song and last song (the opener and closer) are marched with varying DCI-style formations, while the middle song is usually performed in a single block formation with a dance in the middle.
  • In between the 3rd and 4th quarters of each home football game, the tuba section leads Lane Stadium in the MV's signature rendition of the Hokie Pokie.

[edit] Music

The MVs play the following pieces in the stands on a regular basis, as well as many other favorites.

And of course: The Hokey Pokey; "Hokie Pokie"

[edit] Sections

The MVs currently feature the following instruments

In addition to these instruments, the MVs also feature a color guard, baton twirlers, managers, and two drum majors.

[edit] Directors of the Marching Virginians

  • Roger C. Heath 1974-1976
  • James Sochinski 1976-1981
  • Harry Price 1981-1986
  • David McKee 1986-Present
  • Jay Crone 1994-2003 (Assistant)
  • Patrick Casey 2004 (Assistant)
  • Will Petersen 2005-Present (Assistant)

[edit] External links

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