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NEWS
MU marching band surpasses 300 members for first time in history
Marshall featured twirler Brittany Shawver throws her baton as members of the Marshall University Marching Band practice on Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University's marching band, the Marching Thunder, is more than 300 strong for the first time in school history.
Steve Barnett, director of bands, said there are 305 marching band members. That's the second year in a row the band has hit a record, having 282 members last year.
"We have seen growth in almost every section of the band from last year's band, including about 120 new freshmen," Barnett said, adding that numbers are good, but the quality of the music is most important. "I have always been more concerned about the character and quality of the students that we recruit to be in the band. I am very proud of the reputation that the Marching Thunder has built on a national level in the last few years - both in the quality of performance and in the citizenship."
Last year, after the band left the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl game in Detroit, Barnett received comments from the manager of the hotel where the band stayed.
"The manager said that we were the best behaved group they had ever had there," Barnett said. "Comments like that are what we strive for and make me very proud to be associated with these fine young ladies and gentlemen. I would take them anywhere without hesitation as ambassadors for Marshall University."
The band's first performance will come during the football team's home opener on Friday, Sept. 10, against West Virginia University. This year's lineup includes medleys from Dave Matthews Band and Huey Lewis and the News.
Although the band has not confirmed it, the other new number is a rendition of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which replaces "Country Roads." The new song has been heard during afternoon practices on the multipurpose field behind the Marshall Recreation Center.
In addition to football game performances, the Marching Thunder will be the featured band and perform in exhibitions at the Black Walnut Festival in Spencer, W.Va.; the Spring Valley Marching Festival in Wayne County; and the Kanawha County Band and Majorette Festival in Charleston.
The band also will host Band Day on Sept. 25 and the annual Tri-State Marching Festival on Nov. 6, which is the largest marching festival in the state and region.
