Marching bands from around the world have stood tall every year since 1890 for the esteemed Tournament of Roses Parade; displaying the very best of what these masterful musicians can offer.
This coming spring, the University of Wyoming Western Thunder Marching Band will proudly join the ranks for the first time ever. A monumental moment in the history of not just UW Marching Band history, but the history of the very university itself. With a guaranteed spot in the TV corner, 30 million viewers will see as the Western Thunder Marching Band represents the state of Wyoming on an international stage.
Dr. Joseph Carver expressed his excitement to, “showcase all the hard work the band has been doing and to support both the band and the university.” This sentiment was shared by the Western Thunder Drum Majors Leah Rose, Jordan Peschong, and Duncan Lewis. These students serve as ambassadors and a leadership team.
Duncan spoke on the band receiving the honor of being able to perform, “I’m very excited, I’ve been part of the band for a long time and I’ve gotten to see it grow. I think the band is finally ready for something like this and I am beyond excited for it. I think that sentiment really goes across the board with everyone.”
The team spoke on how there’s a wide range of experience in the band: with members who have never marched practicing alongside members who have been marching for upwards of eight years. This is a turning point for the Western Thunder Marching Band, in the skill level, the size, and legitimacy of the band as a whole.
This will be the first solo event the Western Thunder Marching has done in recent memory, being entirely disconnected from their performances with the football team. That being the case, this will be a very hard process for the marchers. As Carver iterated, “The parade is very physically demanding. It is a 5.5 mile parade and a total of 7 miles from the platform to the end.”
With a makeup of 235 students, the largest amount the band has ever seen, the band must ensure that they are all coordinated and ready to present their A-game. A kinesiology student in the band’s ranks, Daphne Hawley, designed a training regimen specifically for the event, helping the band prepare for the physical needs of something of this caliber.
The band will spend a total of five days in the LA area, many of whom have never seen a city or even left Wyoming. Carver spoke on how he hopes this will not only allow his students to gain new experiences but will also give them a chance to show people that Wyoming ought not be overlooked.
The drum majors shared how Carver, above all else, has been an inspiration to them and the entire band. His commitment has helped to foster community, culture, recruitment, and retention in a way that has truly redefined what is means to be a part of the Western Thunder Marching Band.
The Western Thunder Marching Band will be fundraising in order to help support the many students and the months of work that will go into preparing for the parade. The students are, as Carver stated, a “snapshot of campus,” with these students being from all facets and majors at the university; each student offering their personal time and dedicating it to something they are passionate about.
These students have earned their place in the parade: and now, with 30 million viewers, they will be able to show the world what it means to be a member of the Western Thunder Marching Band, what it means to be a student at the University of Wyoming, and what it means to be a cowboy.
