"Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band

The students and staff of the 2021 "Pride of the Mountains" Marching Band are proud to present our 2021 production entitled, “INVINCIBLE” presented by B.H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. The directors, staff, student leadership team, and membership have worked incredibly hard to provide audiences with another unforgettable performance experience.

With a membership of over 410 elite members, the Pride of the Mountains marching band is poised to set new performance standards in 2021, while continuing to push boundaries of design innovation and entertainment at the collegiate level. In addition to their halftime support, B. H. Graning Landscapes, Inc. is making possible the opportunity for the Pride of the Mountains to be a member of the Marching Health team. Marching Health is a nationwide physical conditioning initiative that serves as a training program for students in the marching arts. Through our involvement, students are receiving instruction on preemptive techniques that will reduce injury, build a stronger body.

We look forward to a long relationship with Dr. Elliot Cleveland, founder of Marching Health and feel confident that this program will build longevity to our students’ physical health while teaching best practices for life long wellness.

The production is designed by Matt Henley (Asst. Director of Athletic Bands and Percussion Arranger), Jon Henson (Front Ensemble Arranger), and Ian Lewis (Colorguard Choreographer and Designer). Musical arrangements are created by Drum Corps International Hall of Fame composer Doug Thrower and the drill is written by acclaimed creative designer, Jamey Thompson. Both of these gentlemen are internationally recognized for their contribution to the pageantry arts world and are iconic names in the marching band and drum and bugle corps activity. With the national reputation the Pride of the Mountains maintains, we recognize our design team as prime contributors to the innovation and entertainment excitement centered upon each year’s production.

This fall promises to again be one of the busiest on record with regard to recruitment performances. Beginning Saturday, September 25th, the band will perform for over 3000 spectators in exhibition at the Enka Land of the Sky competition which showcases 30 of the region’s top high school bands. The 20th annual Western Carolina University Tournament of Champions takes place on Saturday, October 23rd , when we welcome high school bands from around the Southeast to our campus as well as our world- class evaluation panel assimilated from across the United States. The Pride of the Mountains will perform twice during this event for over 10,000 attendees.

On October 30th we are also excited to travel to Atlanta, GA to perform at the Lafayette Classic Marching Band Competition to perform in exhibition for some of Georgia’s premier high school band programs. It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to showcase our talented students and our passion for the marching arts with this esteemed community.

About our 2021 production… “INVINCIBLE”

With all of the sadness and negativity surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the dismantling of education systems, experiences, programs, families, lives and all things surrounding the past year and a half – it would be easy and even natural for people to give up.

However, it is with great pride and conviction that we say that our Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains students have not only NOT given up, but are THRIVING in spite of the difficult situations and constantly changing landscape! It is this valiant spirit that has inspired this year’s production – because our band program, our University, our Alumni, and our community are without a doubt – INVINCIBLE!!!

PART ONE – The entire production actually begins where we left off in the fall of 2020. Our percussion students last performed a piece that was leaning on how we felt at the time. “Uninvited” by Alannis Morissette represents the uninvited virus and all things that came with it in our world. Also, the powerful song “Shatter Me” by Lindsey Stirling represented the shattering of so many lives and programs, including our own. The PotM bass drum line begins with a virtuosic solo performance while the remainder of the band is visibly broken and shattered into a million pieces all over the field. As the music evolves, you will see our incredible students pick themselves up and put themselves back together again, one piece at a time. This is the invincible spirit that our program has continued to exhibit even during the most difficult of times.

“Yesterday” by the Beatles is our opening full band statement! This classic and beautiful melody screams the sentiment that, yes, we were broken – but that was yesterday. We are moving on, and we will be stronger than before. This spirit carries forward with the popular and meaningful song “Invincible” by Kelly Clarkson. This passage features a musical and visual fugue where you can experience us piece together once again, in small groups this time, to a penultimate moment of victory and strength!

Our final song in this fun medley is “Get Back” by the Beatles, that emphatically states that we are back, back to where we once belonged, experiencing the thrill of live performance with our friends – ALL OF YOU!!

PART TWO is intended to be one BIG thank you to our Alumni! Throughout all things the vast majority of our former members have been massive supporters of our current students and the program that was so good to them. The “long purple line” is real, it is meaningful, and we do not take for granted the shoulders in which we stand on today. “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5 expresses the sentiment in which we felt from our alumni, and that we appreciate so very much. This meaningful song blends directly

Dr. Jack Eaddy Director of Athletic Bands Matt Henley Assistant Director of Athletic Bands Trevor Bailey Assistant Director of Athletic Bands Doug Thrower Music Arranger

Jamey Thompson Drill Designer Jon Henson Front Ensemble Arranger Bob Buckner Pregame Drill Designer Emily Lawson Director of the Colorguard Ian Lewis Colorguard Choreographer Rebekah Chadderdon Colorguard Instructor Tucker McGrew Director of Front Ensemble Heath Ballard Director of Audio Production Taylor Barnes Bass Drum Technician Seaon Carter Cymbal Technician

Ohnyale Patterson Cymbal Technician

Jennifer Burhans, Maddy Farmer, Holly Hauschild

Ren Byrnes, Connor Nelson, Megan Newton, Grace Pressley

Madison McCoy, Hannah Taylor, Abby Traylor, Nick Tirpak

into the Aretha Franklin hit “You’re All I Need to Get By”, which most certainly sends the correct message of how we need one another, young and old, to have strength through the most difficult of times. In tandem with this aspect of the program, we also have a gift to the alumni that you can experience on the Jumbo Tron during the performance. #longpurpleline #thankyou #invincible

PART THREE is a figurative and literal light at the end of the tunnel. The phenomenal WCU percussion section takes the stage with “Lights” by Ellie Goulding. With an actual tunnel on the field, once they enter, will they come out the other side? Will they find the light that we have all been seeking at the end of this scary period of time? YES – and we will be bigger and better than before!!! You simply won’t believe the “magic” before your eyes!

It is with great pride as we begin PART FOUR with “Rise Up” by Andra Day, and we celebrate the camaraderie and sense of community that we have missed for so long. With the help of our friends, our family, our alumni, and our community we can and will help each other out of the darkness and RISE UP into a place of light and optimism.

Megan Newton, Ren Byrnes, Grace Pressley, Connor Nelson

Adopted in 1981, Western Carolina’s fight song was composed by members of the University faculty

Hail to thee, our Alma Mater; Faithful, kind, and true; Every son and every daughter Offers praise to you. – CHORUS – Hail to the dearest spot of all; Hail to WCU! Light and life and fond devotion, All to thee are due. Purple robes and colors golden, Streaming everywhere, Swell our hearts with pride for olden Days and friendships dear. – CHORUS – Under shade trees’ friendly bowers, Voices, ever gay, Mingles with breath of flowers And the song birds’ lay. – CHORUS – Shout aloud with one loud chorus, Voices clear and true, Lifted high in praise and honor, All for WCU! – CHORUS –