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Golden Eagle Marching Band Sees Highest Membership in Sixteen Years

October 12, 2016
David McFarland
The Golden Eagle Marching Band showcased their new uniforms at Clarion's Autumn Leaf Festival.

The Clarion University Golden Eagle Marching Band has a long tradition of providing audiences throughout the state with entertaining and exciting musical performances. 

This year the band has another reason to be proud. Its membership has swelled to 100, the highest in 16 years.

From its earliest beginnings in the 1940s until now, the band has remained a symbol of Clarion University pride and accomplishment.

With its new uniforms unveiled last season and this year’s increased numbers, the Golden Eagle Marching Band continues to be an example of not only their own, but also Clarion University’s, continued growth and success.

Dr. Casey C. Teske, who first served as director from 1996 through 2001, has led the band since fall 2014.  He feels what makes the marching band so successful is the eclectic mix and hard work of the instrumentalists, color guard and majorettes from all majors that make up the group.

“Our band is comprised of students ranging from freshmen to graduate students, and this melding of different ages and experience levels, as well as skills and personalities is what makes the Golden Eagle Marching Band one of the most entertaining collegiate marching bands you will see in our area,” says Dr. Teske.    

“Every aspect of the (marching band) class is student-centered, and that provides a very welcoming environment and is completely different than any high school band experience.”

Earlier this summer, four students took time out of their rigorous band camp schedule to share some of their feelings about Clarion University and their ‘band family’.

Beth Shetler, a senior and the band’s Drum Major, explained that the band hones its skills not only by practicing, but by performing at pep rallies and football games (six home games and one away game), marching in the Autumn Leaf Festival Parade, attending the annual Collegiate Marching Band Festival in Allentown, and making guest appearances at local high school band competitions.

“I’m glad that we’re bigger this year and making our presence known on campus and in the community,” said Shetler.

“We’re not your typical band kids. We’re a very unique and diverse group, and we’re proud that the band is a place where we can all be ourselves and let our individuality shine through.”

Third year junior and clarinet player, Tori Heckert, has enjoyed watching the band grow and become a real collegiate-level performance group, and enjoys its cohesiveness.

She adds, “Whether you’ve been in bands all through high school or you just started in college, the marching band is a very accepting community, and there’s nothing in this world that I’d trade for that kind of acceptance. It’s very gratifying.”

“The friendships I’ve made in the band will last well past my time here at Clarion.”

One of the most seasoned members is Stephen Francica, a sixth-year graduate student and trumpet player who has been in the band every year since coming to Clarion as a freshman.

He shares these words of wisdom with younger musicians, “Being in the Marching Band allows you to focus on one thing – music. The stresses of college go away while you’re practicing and performing.”

“Although being in the band involves a lot of practice, you get out of it what you put in, and as long as you’re having fun while contributing to the success of the band, that’s a pretty great thing,” he adds.

One of the newest members of the Marching Band this year is Tyler Bradley, freshman trombone player. Tyler mirrors the other students’ feelings about finding in the band, and in the university, an open and welcoming atmosphere.

Bradley states, “From day one, Dr. Teske and the rest of the band has made it feel like a new home for me.  Everyone has been very friendly, and I feel welcome in the band and at the university.”

Dr. Teske summed up his experience leading the 100-strong band this way, “The talented students that make up the Golden Eagle Marching Band are very committed to their craft.  The amount of hard work they put into the band shows in every one of their performances, where we are known for our quality product and high energy.”

“It is always an honor to work and serve as their director, and look forward to the band’s continued success.  We believe strongly in students recruiting students, and their efforts have provided exponential growth both in numbers and quality,” says Dr. Teske.

Students interested in joining the Golden Eagle Marching Band are required to register for MUSA136 (marching band) during the fall semester and attend a pre-season training camp.

This course is for one academic credit and can be used toward graduation requirements for every major on campus.

Those students successfully completing band camp, MUSA136 and the marching band season will automatically receive a $250 scholarship, and are also eligible for other scholarship opportunities.

Last Updated 1/11/21