Five members of the Shippensburg University Raider Marching Band collaborated in a nationwide virtual performance with the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Intercollegiate Marching Band. They were joined by 1,500 performers from 200 bands in 45 states and Puerto Rico, all working together to produce a virtual college marching band show.
The following students are set to participate:
- Kerri Loy, senior, alto saxophone, marketing major
- Ryan Cleary, sophomore, tenors/drumline, communication/journalism major
- Maggie Myers, senior, trumpet, math secondary education major
- Emily Osilka, junior, tuba, geoenvironmental studies ajor
- Matthew Zemba, senior, marimba/pit, communication/journalism major
“We are very proud to have these five talented musicians representing Shippensburg University in this once in a lifetime opportunity. This fall, with no football season, the SUMB did not perform in games or exhibitions. We continued to rehearse weekly and provide our students with the opportunity to artistically advance and maintain the all-important social relationships only a college marching band can provide,” Trever R. Famulare, associate professor/Director of Bands.
Joining in unity during a time when college marching bands have been forced to the sidelines, the CBDNA IMB will keep the spirit alive by performing virtually together. This unique project will combine college marching bands from different conferences, regions, and styles in a single performance.
The Intercollegiate Marching Band will perform “End of Time” by Beyonce in a video that will premiere online during halftime of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game on January 11, 2021.
“This is going to be a historical performance,” says Dr. Mark Spede, president of CBDNA and the director of bands at Clemson University. “In this unusual year when bands have been unable to perform their traditional pregame and halftime shows during college football games, CBDNA is pleased to offer this opportunity with the help of its partners.”
The IMB performance will showcase all of the unique aspects of a college halftime show including musicians, drum majors, color guard members, dancers, and majorettes.
The Raider Marching Band is a corps-style marching band performing diverse styles of music while executing challenging, contemporary marching drill. The band performs at all home football games and at several away games throughout the season. They are one of six inaugural participants in the Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, PA and perform in exhibition performances at band festivals and competitions across the region as well as feature performances for the Cavalcade of Bands and Tournament of Bands.
The band toured Italy in 2018-2019 performing in the New Year’s Day parade in Vatican City and for Pope Francis. They also toured Ireland in 2014-2015 and performed in the New Year’s Eve “Procession of Lights” in Dublin. The next tour is scheduled for Spain in 2022-2023. They also performed at a Pittsburgh Steelers NFL pregame and halftime in 2015. Membership is open to wind and percussion musicians, and front members including color guard, and majorettes.
