The 2021 season is starting of great for Drury’s marching band. Marching Band was added to Drury’s extracurricular activities last year but since it was during the height of the Covid pandemic, the band was limited in their performances and competitions.

Troy Peterson, the band’s director, is enthusiastic about this season with limited restrictions: “I am super proud of our pioneer members of the marching band last year and this year. Last year’s band learned over 30 songs and did several “pop-up” performances outside. Our second year promises to be even more productive both in performances and the amount of material learned. Our Color Guard / Winterguard competed remotely last year, and we are looking forward to competing live and “in-person” this year!”

The marching band performs at Family Day, Sept. 25, 2021. Photo by Brandon Menifee

The band’s next big event will be the Veterans’ parade in Willard on November 6.

“It will probably have our biggest audience of the year, and we will be one of 120 units in this parade,” Peterson said.

But if you can’t make it to the parade Peterson assures that you will have a chance to see a performance,“We are also performing our marching band production at several Lady Panther and Panther basketball games. It is a miniature marching band show on a basketball court, and I can’t wait to share it with our Panther fans!”

Peterson says of their preparation for these events, “We’ve been using the basketball courts behind Clara Thompson Hall and a corner of Sunderland field to rehearse and practice our production.”

Peterson says the band is always looking for new members. “We are always looking for students to be a part of our fun, and we would love to have you join the band and rekindle your love of music and marching band! The band membership is made up of both music and non-music majors.”

Article by Marissa Mayfield