Electronics coordinator Dustin Painter (pictured far right) will sing “can’t stop the rock” through the vocoder today (Thursday, Dec. 30) during the band’s field show “Rock U,” which will be performed at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest.
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Band attracts future music educators
“This band is different,” said music education graduate student Darryl Victorio, who has marched in the Macy’s Day Parade and with the Olympic Band at opening and closing ceremonies in Atlanta.
A marching band with electric guitars
Andrew J. Malanowski said three things brought him to Western Carolina University – a chance to major in commercial and electronic music, a multimillion dollar recording studio and the fact that WCU’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band features guitars in its halftime show.
Parade helps inspire bandsman to get in shape
Cole Watkins, a senior psychology major from Charlotte who plays mellophone in the band, lost 65 pounds after he began a daily routine of running to prepare to march in the 5-and-a-half mile Rose Parade.
Vocalist: ‘It’s like a rush of energy’
Sophomore Whitney Collins sings “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution” in the band’s field show “Rock U,” which will be performed Dec. 30 at the Tournament of Roses Bandfest.
Video: Josh falls in step
WCU freshman Josh Burr shares in this video what it means to get to go to Pasadena to march in the Rose Parade.
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 180 beats per minute, and student Renee K. Morgan is one of the volunteer seamstresses who comes to the rescue.
The world’s largest funk-rock band … with bagpipes
Among the unusual instruments incorporated into the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band “Rock U” field show is bagpipes, and playing the instrument is Ezra G. Byrd, a freshman tuba player majoring in secondary history education from Mebane.
See who is going to the parade
Students who are going to the Rose Parade come from near and far to WCU – from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virgina as well as from Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California.
Trumpeter overcomes challenges to march in parade
Kirby Blackwelder, a sophomore trumpet player who has mild cerebral palsy, has increased and expanded her stretching routine in preparation for the 5-and-half mile Rose Parade.