7 minute read
"Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band
The students and staff of the 2022 "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band are proud to present our 2022 production entitled, “Let It Burn” presented by B.H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. The directors, staff, student leadership team, and membership have worked incredibly hard to provide audiences with another unforgettable performance experience.
The "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band is poised to set new performance standards in 2022, while continuing to push boundaries of design innovation and entertainment at the collegiate level. In addition to their halftime support, B. H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. is making possible the opportunity for The Pride of the Mountains to be a member of the Marching Health team. Marching Health is a nationwide physical conditioning initiative that serves as a training program for students in the marching arts. Through our involvement, students are receiving instruction on preemptive techniques that will reduce injury, and build a stronger body. We look forward to a long relationship with Dr. Elliot Cleveland, founder of Marching Health and feel confident that this program will build longevity to our students’ physical health while teaching best practices for life long wellness.
This fall promises to again be one of the busiest on record with regard to recruitment performances. Beginning Saturday, September 24th, the band will perform for over 3,000 spectators in exhibition at the J.F. Byrnes High School, SC competition which showcases 30 of the upstate’s top high school bands. The 21st annual Western Carolina University Tournament of Champions takes place on Saturday, October 15th, when we welcome 27 high school bands from around the Southeast to our campus as well as our world- class evaluation panel assimilated from across the United States. The "Pride of the Mountains" will perform twice during this event for over 10,000 attendees.
We are also very pleased to announce that the "Pride of the Mountains" has been asked to perform in exhibition at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. This is the most elite high school marching band competition in the world, and we feel honored to be invited to share our talents at such an esteemed venue. Lucas Oil Stadium will play host to this world class showcase of elite bands, and we cannot wait to participate in this celebration of the pageantry arts!
About our 2022 production… ”LET IT BURN”
Part 1 – JOY “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” – Henri Nouwen
We begin our show with a testament to living our lives with Joy in our heart, and in our daily lives. “Firework” by Katy Perry gives us a reminder that life is a gift, and should be celebrated every day. Living each day with Joy is a choice. We have to make that choice, and try to envision ourselves as being the hero of our own life story. Who do we want to be? How can we get there? It begins with Joy, and knowing that our internal flame must be fanned by our own positive choices. “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven symbolically states this idea of the power of positivity. “The Heat Is On” by Glenn Frey, and “This Girl is On Fire” by Alicia Keys are spirited songs that help fuel our flame, and gives focus as to why we should all make Joy a part of our lives, every single day.
Part 2 – LOVE & PASSION
“Northing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” – Georg W.F. Hegel
It is so very important to begin with loving oneself, then focusing on what we can be passionate about in our lives. “Believe” by Cher is set in a ballad style that swells to an intense crescendo and encourages us to believe in ourselves. Our outstanding student vocalist, Ms. Kennedy Cox, will be featured and will certainly inspire you! “Love on Top” by Beyonce’ pushes us forward and really let’s Kennedy shine with her amazing talent. We must make ourself important, we must make our life passions a priority, and true happiness and fulfillment will follow.
Part 3 – ADVERSITY “We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” – Barbara De Angelis
The pursuit of our purpose as people is always a challenging one. It is a difficult journey that is worth every step, because each step defines who we are. “Play with Fire” by Sam Tinnesz sets the tone as our percussion section is featured. Pushing our personal limits, and not being afraid to take chances along the way will help us to grow, but we will most certainly be faced with adversity. Our Gold Drumline and our Purple Drumline will demonstrate a musical and visual drum battle that represents the turmoil that we face, the conflicts we will deal with, and the coming to terms of moving through these difficult times, to be stronger in the end for it, and hopefully arriving with our own purpose defined.
Part 4 – PURPOSE
“Let your passion burn brighter than your fears.” – Mark Anthony
“Set Fire to the Rain” by Adele begins the final part of our show. It will once again feature Ms. Kennedy Cox, and will help to focus what we have learned. Living our life with Joy each day, loving ourselves and embracing our passion, and not being afraid to go through and grow from adversity in our life journey, will ultimately help us to arrive at our focused life purpose. As Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in our life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.”
Once you find that purpose, fan that flame, fuel that fire, and set your heart and soul ablaze with meaning and Joy. Once you find it – “LET IT BURN!”
Instructional Staff and Design Team
Dr. Jack Eaddy Director of Athletic Bands Matt Henley Assistant Director of Athletic Bands Trevor Bailey Assistant Director of Athletic Bands Doug Thrower Music Arranger Matt Henley Gold Drumline Director / Arranger Jon Henson Front Ensemble, Rhythm Section and Sound Design/Arranger
Jamey Thompson Drill Designer Bob Buckner Pregame Drill Designer Emily Lawson Director of the Colorguard Katie Pacifico Colorguard Director Billy Pacifico Colorguard Choreographer Ian Lewis Colorguard Choreographer Kris Harris Colorguard Choreographer Adrian Galvin Colorguard Choreographer Rebekah Chadderdon Colorguard Instructor
Bobby Richardson Colorguard Instructor Matt Henley Purple Drumline Director / Arranger Tucker McGrew Front Ensemble Director Heath Ballard Audio Production Director
STAFF COORDINATORS:
Jude Hahn, Brandon Rice, Keaton Shaw 2022 DRUM MAJORS:
Megan Newton (Head), Samantha Cannon, Cody Dalton, McKenzie Yazan CAPTION COORDINATORS:
Andrew Brown, William Finigan, Gillian Robbins, Hannah Taylor, Katie Whitehouse
WESTERN CAROLINA FIGHT SONG
Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry! Western, Western, Go–Western!
Go—Cats! Fight on! You Catamounts, Fight for purple and gold. Fight on to victory, True warriors bold. Wave the royal banner high, And let it fill the Western sky. So, fight on! you Catamounts, Fight to vic–to–ry!
Adopted in 1981, Western Carolina’s fight song was composed by members of the University faculty including Mr. Dick Trevarthen.
Western Carolina and Catamount Athletics was saddened to learn of his passing this past August 2022
WESTERN CAROLINA ALMA MATER
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater; Faithful, kind, and true; Every son and every daughter Offers praise to you. – CHORUS – Hail to the dearest spot of all; Hail to WCU! Light and life and fond devotion, All to thee are due. Purple robes and colors golden, Streaming everywhere, Swell our hearts with pride for olden Days and friendships dear. – CHORUS – Under shade trees’ friendly bowers, Voices, ever gay, Mingles with breath of flowers And the song birds’ lay. – CHORUS – Shout aloud with one loud chorus, Voices clear and true, Lifted high in praise and honor, All for WCU! – CHORUS –
