Video: Josh falls in step

Video: Josh falls in step

Western Carolina University freshman Josh Burr describes his experience with the WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and the excitement of preparing to march in the Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2011. Burr also talks about what Jeff Throop, president of the Rose Parade,...

Road Report #2: Band trucks roll past Memphis

The three trucks carrying the WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band equipment to Pasadena, Calif., made it Memphis, Tenn., on a journey that was slowed by wintry weather and snow. The drivers, who are all volunteering their time to help out the band, are planning...

The band thanks sponsors … in fast motion

The band spelled out on the field the names of 24 major sponsors whose gifts totaled about $60,000 toward the $640,000 cost of the trip. The two-hour session (that took 36 hours for the band directors to chart) can be seen in 2 minutes and 24 seconds in this video,...

Road Report #1: Band trucks make it to Tennessee

The three trucks driving the California-bound WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band’s equipment to California were wheels rolling out of Waynesville by 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 26. The drivers navigated snowy roads and wintry weather on Interstate 40 –...
Volunteer truck drivers prepare for wintry weather

Volunteer truck drivers prepare for wintry weather

In advance of a planned 4 a.m. departure on Sunday, Dec. 26, two truck drivers spent Christmas morning putting chains on the wheels of the three trucks taking the WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band’s equipment to California for the Rose Parade. Jimmy...

Holiday Greetings

Here’s hoping the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band’s “California” dreams come true. Enjoy this special holiday greeting starring Bob Buckner, director of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band; Matt Henley and Jon Henson, assistant...

Slideshow: Watch the band grow from 1942 to today

See in 10 photos and scanned-in images how the band has evolved from a small group in 1942 to a nearly 400-member band marching Jan. 1 in the Rose Parade. Click here to read about how the band’s innovations over the years earned recognition with the 2009 Sudler...
Desire to give back motivates volunteer seamstress

Desire to give back motivates volunteer seamstress

Uniform rips and tears are the common casualties of having a dynamic field show – a show where nearly 400 band members move at 180 beats per minute, and student Renee K. Morgan is one of the volunteer seamstresses who come to the rescue. Morgan, a senior baritone...

Mark time, march: Band members log steps

In preparation for the 5.5-mile Rose Parade route, members of the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band wore pedometers during the fall semester as they worked to get in shape. Kevin Kimbrough, a student band staff coordinator, said band members have walked more than...