Elias of Indian Head, MD, will march on the football field at Jack
Kent Cook Memorial Stadium in Raljean, MD, this Fall as a member of the Washington
Redskins Marching Band.
"Hail to the Redskins" isn't quite "Carry on for Clarion" but it will have to suffice for Jay Elias '93 this fall.
Elias of Indian Head, MD, will march on the football field at Jack
Kent Cook Memorial Stadium in Raljean, MD, this Fall as a member of the Washington
Redskins Marching Band.
A music education/music marketing major while at Clarion, Elias teaches instrumental music to elementary school students and middle school students for General Smallwood Middle School in the Charles County Public Schools System.
After graduating from Clarion, Elias attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio where he received a graduate assistantship so he could work on his masters studies in music education.
He auditioned for the opportunity to become a part of the Redskins Marching Band.
Elias plays trumpet in the band and performed in the last game at RFK Stadium in December 1996. The 88 member Washington Redskins Marching Band plays for home games, playoffs, and even Super Bowls if they are able to get in. The band also plays at parades, benefits, and other public appearances.
Elias says, "We usually practice once a week from May through June and then we start back up in August through the rest of the football season. We don't receive any pay for being in the band but we do get two extra season tickets."
During next season's shows, the band will play "Hail to the Redskins" (the team's fanfare), "YMCA," and "Shake A Tail Feather" for their pregame show.
"One of the interesting aspects of being in the band is being situated behind the opposing team's goalposts," says Elias. "We can see the other team kick field goals. I remember one game last year where the opposing kicker didn't make one field goal."
Elias is also plays in the Southern Maryland Concert Band, the Solid Brass Jazz Band, and the Southern Maryland Swing Band.
"The music department did a fantastic job," says Elias about Clarion's influence on his career. "Dr. Jack Hall was my instructor and he did a wonderful job in teaching me. We had a lots of hands-on training and lots of opportunities to perform."
Even in non-musical organizations, Elias found opportunities to develop other abilities. "I was involved in the UAB (University Activities Board) and developed skills by talking on the phone and about how to be a better people person," he says. "This helped me out in different interviews."