Donors moved by band’s commitment to excellence

The WCU Pride of the Mountains Marching Band’s originality combined with a field show full of energy and spirit often keeps Western Carolina almuna Pat Kaemmerling and her husband, David, in the stands after home football games to see the group’s encore performance....

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,...
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...

Trucks get ‘wrapped up’ for the trip west

Before band members pack up the three trucks with all of the instruments, uniform, equipment and luggage that they will need for the Tournament of Roses Bandfest performance on Thursday, Dec. 30, and the Rose Parade on Jan. 1, the trucks got “wrapped up.”...
The band surprises director Bob Buckner

The band surprises director Bob Buckner

In 30-something degree temperatures on Friday, Dec. 17, the members of the Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band spelled 24 names on the field in two hours as part of a fundraiser. Photographs of the band in name formations, which honored...