Famous Maroon Band Gears Up for Exciting Football Season
STARKVILLE, Miss. – As football season rapidly approaches, the Famous Maroon Band is diligently preparing to dazzle spectators with their renowned performance on gameday. Engaged in their rigorous summer band camp, the 400-strong ensemble is honing their synchrony, musical precision, and showmanship despite the sultry Starkville heat.
A Sport of its Own
For many, band may not be categorized typically under sports. Nonetheless, it requires significant discipline, coordination, and intense training to match the dynamism of the Bulldog football team. “We have been spending the past four days here at band camp, and we still have three or four more to go. They are long days, we are up here from 7:30am till 9:00pm and throughout the school year, we will continue to practice an hour every single day,” said Madeline Kelly, a senior drum major at MSU.
The Importance of Teamwork
Like any team sport, the impeccable performance of the Famous Maroon Band relies heavily on each individual’s contribution. A missed beat or the slightest of errors can ripple through and impact the overall performance. Hence, senior drum majors Asher Roe and Kelsei Moore ensure seamless communication with the squad leaders. To them, it’s comparable to a math class where missing a single problem throws off the entire equation!
Growing Numbers
The Famous Maroon Band isn’t just known for its performance. It holds a significant distinction for being one of the largest in school history, including an impressive influx of eager freshmen. MSU drum Major, Christopher Jolivette, expresses pride for the expanding numbers, attributing it to the positive atmosphere fostered at Mississippi State. “The fact that we have over 150 new people come in, and that we have around 420 people, it shows that people really enjoy what we do, and they want to be a part of this family,” said Jolivette.
Preparation Pays Off
Though the long hours of practice can be demanding, the dedicated MSU drum majors and band members assert that it is all worthwhile in the end. The resonating cheers of tens of thousands of spectators on gameday, truly reward their hard work and dedication.
As the football season is poised to kick-off, the Famous Maroon Band is fervently gearing up to leave their mark on the games with their enriching and energetic performances.
