| Catamount Marching Band North Carolina's Pride of the Mountains |
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| School | Western Carolina University |
| Location | Cullowhee, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Conference | Southern Conference |
| Founded | 1938 |
| Director | David Starnes |
| Members | 400+ |
| Uniform | Purple jackets with gold shoulder stripe, black pants, black hats with black plume |
The Catamount Marching Band (also known as The Pride of the Mountains) is the marching band of Western Carolina University and the most recent recipient of the Sudler Trophy.
The band performs pre-game, half-time, and post-game shows at all Catamount Football home games and provides exhibition performances throughout the Carolinas. The Pride of the Mountains has been featured several times as an exhibition band at the BOA Grand National Championships (a showcase for the nation’s top high school marching bands) and at four BOA regional competitions in Atlanta, Georgia. The band participated in the 2011 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, performing the song "You" by Suburban Legends, in memory of that band's former trombone player, Ryan Dallas Cook.[1]
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Western Carolina's marching band was founded 1938 with 23 students at Western Carolina Teachers College. In 1991 the band numbered 88 total members, including 18 dancers. Since that time the band has experienced a steady growth to its present membership level of approximately just over 400 members.
The marching band is open to all Western Carolina students regardless of class or major, with approximately 60% of its members non-music majors.
In 2008, the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band was the special guest at the 2008 Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis. In 2009, the "Pride of the Mountains" marching band was selected as one of the five best collegiate marching bands in the nation by the College Band Directors National Association[2] and featured [3] in the book "Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best” by Paul Buyer.
The Pride of the Mountains won the Sudler Trophy[4] in 2009. The award is often referred to as the "Heisman Trophy of collegiate marching bands". Western Carolina is the only institution in the state of North Carolina and the first member of the Southern Conference selected for this very prestigious award.[5]
The "Cathouse Band" pep band plays at home basketball games during basketball season.[6] A band of 100+ members for both men's and women's basketball games is open to all students. The pep bands travel with the WCU basketball teams to end of season conference and NCAA tournaments.
"Purple Thunder" is a standing, indoor percussion ensemble that performs during halftime at select home basketball games. The group is chosen through an audition process. In addition to the drums (snares, tenors, and basses), the group also includes colorguard and electronic sound system that runs the pop music that accompanies the percussion. The group made their debut performance in the spring of 2008.
Approximately one hour prior to the start of home Catamount Football games, the marching band will start its march to the stadium. The march across campus to the stadium is complete with police escort, lights and siren. The band begins in front of the Coulter Building and marches down Centennial Drive. They then turn left and march down University Way, past Scott Hall. The band takes a left onto Centennial Drive then takes a right onto Catamount Road, then a left into the Northwest entrance to E.J. Whitmire Stadium. The march to the stadium takes approximately 20–30 minutes and thousands of Catamount fans line the route to watch the band make their entrance.
During the conclusion of the pregame show each week, the band lines up facing the East stands, puts down their instrument and sings the Western Carolina University Alma Mater just prior to the playing of the National Anthem.
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Alma Mater
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Fight Song
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The Pride of the Mountain's Tournament of Champions is an invitational competition that invites 25 of the Southeast's top high school marching bands to the Cullowhee campus annually. This events attracts nearly 10,000 musicians and spectators.
Mr. David Starnes, is the Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University. He is the former director of bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School in Kennesaw, Ga. The 2011-2012 marching season was his first year as the Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University.
Mr. Matt Henley,[7] is a double graduate of Western Carolina University, receiving a BA in Music in 1993 and an MA in Music in 1995. His service to the “Pride of the Mountains” began in 1991 as a student and has continued through his appointment as the Assistant Director of the band. He is also responsible for all aspects of the marching percussion program at Western Carolina University, is the Director of the Summer Symposium for Marching Arts camp, is the Recruiting Coordinator for the School of Music, and currently serves on the Percussive Arts Society National Marching Committee.[8]
Mr. Jon Henson, [7] is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University. Some of his primary duties are to instruct and arrange for the rhythm section or "Soul Train" and serve as the primary instructor for the front ensemble. His other duties include the management of all aspects of the "Pride of the Mountains" Electronics as well as developing media for the band program. He also works with the "Pride of the Mountains" two “Cathouse Bands.[9]
Scott Beck serves as the Color Guard Director, Choreographer, and Instructor.
Adam Sage serves as a Color Guard Design Consultant.
Ashley Tetrault serves as the permanent Color Guard Instructor.
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