Lil Uzi Vert performs lil concert, Pg.5 Ciara Hostettler / Contributor
Female duo leads Pride of the Southland Band’s 148th year Ciara Hostettler Contributor
UT’s Pride of the Southland marching band has double girl power this year. Drum major Rebecca Percy, only the third woman to hold the position and second-year assistant drum major Laiton Pigg are the first females to lead the Pride at the same time in the band’s 148-year history. Percy, junior in flute performance and math, and Pigg, senior in music education, have led the Pride together in three games this season. They say the fun has just begun. While the Pride began in 1869 — making its first appearance at a UT football game in 1902 — the marching band did not receive its name until the 1940s after a Knoxville sports reporter dubbed the name. Throughout the Pride’s time at UT, women have served as drum majors or assistant drum majors. But although this is the first year the positions have been filled by two women, Percy and Pigg assured that the position isn’t any dif-
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ferent based on gender. “Our gender doesn’t change the position, the job is done the same way no matter who gets the position,” Percy said. And by demonstrating interest for the position, Percy and Pigg were already in the spotlight. “The spotlight on the position is known when you go out for it,” Pigg said. As drum major, Percy represents the Pride and sets the standard for other members. She worked at all the band’s orientation sessions, takes conducting lessons and practices the pregame drill, among other responsibilities. During rehearsals, she conducts the band from the ladder, and during games, she chooses what songs the band will play and when. Pigg is second-in-command of the band as assistant drum major. While she marches like any other band member, she also must be ready to assume the role and responsibilities of the drum major if Percy is not available. Director of bands and associate professor of music Donald Ryder also said Pigg has worked behind the scenes a lot, such as working in the band office, music folder preparation and drill
charts. “For the first home game, Rebecca (Percy) was very sick the day before the game … Laiton (Pigg) was prepared to ‘suit up’ and do the duties of the Head Drum Major,” Ryder said. “We will miss her attitude of ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.’” Percy and Pigg both served as drum majors in their high schools. Percy is from Trussville, Alabama, where she served as drum major for two years. Pigg is from Livingston, Tennessee, where she participated in band for four years and was drum major her senior year. Outside of directing the Pride, Percy is in the Chancellor’s Honors Program, serving as an honors ambassador to help future CHP students. Pigg is a part of UT’s National Association for Music Education and is actively involved in campus ministry. Percy and Pigg agreed that there was a sense of responsibility and commitment from the beginning, since the decision to audition for their respective positions was time-consuming and serious. The girls spend a lot of time together because of this, joking that they only see each other.
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“I don’t talk to anyone other than Laiton,” Percy said. “That’s not true, but sometimes it feels like it.” Band rehearsals began two weeks before classes started and band members practice four days a week for one to two hours. Ryder said both girls have had great success with leading the games, practicing to perfection. “They both bring unique strengths and qualities to their positions. But it is their planning and preparation that is the key factor in their successful performance,” Ryder said. “I hope they gain a sense of pride in knowing they gave their all for themselves, the members of the Pride and the University of Tennessee. Secondly, that they will have ... lasting memories of their performances.” Percy said she has been preparing for this season since December, and while it may be difficult at times, Percy knows it’s all in the spirit of making the Pride better. “It is less stressful now than ever because we have been forced to prepare for the inevitable mistakes that will happen on game day,” Percy said. “You are bound to make a mistake or have someone criticize you, but it’s about remembering that it’s in light of making the band better.”
Monday, September 25, 2017