MSU’s Famous Maroon Band Ushers in a New Tradition for Fall Football Season
As the anticipation builds for the kickoff of the fall football season, the Famous Maroon Band of Mississippi State University (MSU) is also preparing to bring a new tradition to the field. Born during the previous season, the half time sing-along will become a permanent part of the band’s performances this season, featuring beloved crowd favorites “Sweet Caroline” and “Livin’ on a Prayer.”
A New Tradition in the Making
Last season, as the band introduced the sing-along during half time, the crowd, full of Bulldog students and fans, heartily joined in. Watching this energetic participation, Director of Bands Elva Kaye Lance, and Associate Directors Craig Aarhus and Cliff Taylor, witnessed the birth of a new tradition they hope will become an integral part of MSU’s football experience.
“Our students loved it and it’s important that we have student buy-in if we want to have success,” Lance stated, underlining the importance of the new tradition in creating a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere at the games.
A Diverse and Talented Group
Comprising more than 400 members from nearly 200 high schools across 15 states, the Famous Maroon Band beautifully mirrors the diverse nature of MSU. Students from every college on campus are represented in the band, with engineering being the major of choice for nearly 40 percent of the members. Adding to the band’s remarkable diversity, 35 members are “legacy” band members, having siblings, parents, or grandparents who were previously in the band.
Lance observed, “These students are very interesting—their backgrounds and their career aspirations. For many of our students who are not music majors, it’s a good avocation for them and we hope they continue their musical interest.”
Excellence On and Off the Field
The band members’ commitment and dedication extend beyond the music to their academics: last year’s members maintained an overall GPA of 3.34, with nearly a quarter of them achieving a perfect 4.0. This balance of academics and extracurricular excellence is a source of pride for Lance and the band’s directors.
Keeping the Spirit Alive
As an institution within the university that has deep roots dating back almost 120 years, the Famous Maroon Band is a vibrant symbol of Bulldog pride. Even as they usher in a new tradition, the band members remain true to the classics of yesteryears. Fans can expect to hear the fight song as always, and also look forward to a Latin Jazz twist with “Malaguena” by Ernesto Lecuona, “Spanish Fantasy” by Chick Corea, and “Smooth” by Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas at the first football game of the season on Aug. 31.
Going forward, the season’s music repertoire will feature a mix of diverse tunes, including pieces from popular movies, “How to Train you Dragon” and video game series “The Legend of Zelda” later in the year.
Associate Director, Taylor, who prepares the sheet music, finds joy in seeing the students breathe life into the notes on the page. He said, “I spend a lot of my summer putting dots on a page, and it’s neat to see what it becomes—a living organism.”
For more details about the Famous Maroon Band, you can visit their websites at www.msuband.msstate.edu or www.music.msstate.edu.
