College marching ensembles from across the nation will collaborate in a virtual performance, showcasing their talents and commitment to the performing arts.
Three members of the Spirit of Stony Brook will be performing in the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Intercollegiate Marching Band (IMB). They will join nearly 1,500 nominated performers from 200 bands in 45 states and Puerto Rico, all working together to produce a virtual college marching band show. The IMB will perform “End of Time” by Beyonce in a video that will premiere online on the IMB YouTube channel and at the stadium during halftime of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game tonight, Monday, Jan. 11, 2021.
Congratulations to the following performers from the Spirit of Stony Brook:
- Adena Assawakulpaibool, Psychology, Junior, Color Guard
- Nicholas Manzella, Physics and Mathematics, Junior, Trombone
- Julie Micko, Biology, Senior, Bass Drum
“We’re excited to have three of our members joining this enormous virtual performance, which will bring national visibility to our band and to our University, said Dr. Justin R. Stolarik, director of the Spirit of Stony Brook.
Joining in unity during a time when college marching bands have been forced to the sidelines, the CBDNA IMB will keep the spirit alive by performing virtually together. This unique project will combine college marching bands from different conferences, regions and styles in a single performance.
“This is going to be a historical performance,” said Dr. Mark Spede, president of CBDNA and director of bands at Clemson University. “In this unusual year when bands have been unable to perform their traditional pregame and halftime shows during college football games, CBDNA is pleased to offer this opportunity with the help of its partners.”
The IMB performance will showcase all of the unique aspects of a college halftime show including musicians, drum majors, color guard members, dancers and majorettes.
“During these challenging times, we are excited that CBDNA, along with some amazing partners, can offer an event so positive to collegiate band programs across the country,” said Barry Houser, chair of CBDNA’s athletic bands committee and director of the Marching Illini at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “Many students in college bands have been forced apart due to COVID-19, but the virtual Intercollegiate Marching Band will be an event that will bring together nearly 1,500 college marching band students, unified as one band.”
More About the Show
The IMB brings together professional talent from across the marching band industry. Composer Scott Boerma, director of bands at Western Michigan University and past arranger for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, and Chuck Ricotta, percussion instructor and arranger for the University of Michigan, created the arrangement for “End of Time.”
Michael Rosales, choreographer for the 2018 Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps and the 2018 Paramount Winterguard, and Lexi Duda, a national- and world-champion twirler previously with the University of Maryland, designed routines for the visual performers.
All bands will be using Our Virtual Ensemble to practice music and routines as well as to submit individual videos. Editors at GPG Music will produce the final video. GPG Music, a publisher of marching band, indoor percussion and concert band music, started Our Virtual Ensemble in Spring 2020 as a direct response to stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information about the CBDNA Intercollegiate Marching Band, visit cbdna-imb.com.
[…] colleges and universities and nearly 1,500 marching band students from 45 states and Puerto Rico, to perform virtually for the College Football National Championship. The performers recorded their music and routines individually, and the final video was compiled […]