An overwhelming feeling of school spirit can’t be denied when the New Mexico State University Pride Marching Band, properly known as the Pride of New Mexico, takes the stage to perform.

The NMSU Pride Marching Band received its name in the late 1970s from the then director Tim Lautzenheiser. He chose this name because he wanted the band to give off a sense of comradeship, enthusiasm and devotion. Over the years, the Pride Marching Band became well known in the community and the Southwest.

“The name separated us from the Texas A&M Aggie Marching Band and gave us our own identity,” said Monty Hill, director of the Pride Marching Band. “Other bands might call themselves the pride of whatever, but to me there is only one Pride Band and that is the Pride of New Mexico.”

The Pride Marching Band is a class that meets for six and a half hours a week, with about 205 student members. It is comprised of woodwind instruments, brass instruments and percussionists. The color guard group, the Sky Writers, and the dance group, the Sun Dancers, add a visual element to the band.

“It is a real testament to the students how fast we get things done and learned,” Hill said. “We do two to three shows per year that we rotate every game.”

These shows include Latin and theme shows. This year’s theme show was called Gangsta Jazz and consisted of original jazz compositions composed specifically for the Pride Marching Band.

A staple of the Pride Marching Band are the three drum majors. John Matthews, a senior studying music education, is the head drum major and has been a drum major for three years. Sonya Daggett, also a music education major, has been a drum major two years. This is the first year Jared Reinow, a pre-med major, has been a drum major.

“Many people don’t know this, but 50 percent of the Pride Band are music majors and the rest are other majors like mechanical and electrical engineering,” Hill said. “We even have a redshirted football player in the band.”

It is a long process to earn the coveted drum major positions that begins with joining the Pride Marching Band.

 “To become a drum major you must march for two years,” said Matthews, who played the trumpet in the Pride Marching Band before becoming head drum major.

Auditions are held for drum major positions at the end of April and require candidates to perform two pieces from the Pride Marching Band season. They also must complete a question and answer session with a panel of faculty members including Hill. The questions include how they would handle situations that come up as a drum major.

“As a drum major you have to be that guy that tells people things they don’t always want to hear, for safety and productivity purposes,” Matthews said.

Lastly, a candidate must conduct the Fight Song with live players as well as give marching guides.

Once the drum majors are selected, Hill chooses the head drum major, who will act as the go to person between the band and Hill.

“As head drum major, I have to meet with Mr. Hill and discuss rehearsal, what we have accomplished and what we want to accomplish for the rest of the semester,” Matthews said. “I then have to go through section by section so they each know what they have to do.”

Matthews also is responsible for warming up the band, keeping the timing during performances and being the link between the box and the band.

“I have to take instructions from Mr. Hill in the box and give them to the other two drum majors and we tell the entire band,” Matthews said.

Along with providing entertainment at every home game and select away games, Hill said the Pride Marching Band does much more, such as participating in marching band competitions and community outreach.

Every year the Pride Marching Band hosts the “Tournament of Bands,” a competition for high school bands in the region. Hill said it is a great recruiting tool for the Pride Marching Band and the university.

“I saw the Pride Marching Band during Tournament of Bands when I was a high school senior from El Paso and was floored,” Matthews said. “It made me want to come to NMSU to study music.”

They also perform at almost every community parade and hold a kinder music program in which small children go to practice to watch and march with the Band.

The Pride Marching Band also has performed at a Denver Bronco’s professional football game and throughout Europe, including London.

The Nov. 22 football game will be the last home game for the Pride Marching Band and for Matthews, who will graduate in May 2009.

“On the last game, the field will most likely be wet with my tears,” Matthews said.

Hill said the annual Band Banquet will be held Nov. 23. During this event, the Pride Marching Band will perform all of this year’s shows for parents and the public for free at the Stan Fulton Center. This will be the last Pride Marching Band performance until next August.

“I feel like being director of the Pride Marching Band is a very special privilege,” Hill said. “It is a very special group and no matter who directs it, they will always be the Pride.”

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Photo is available at
http://ucommphoto.nmsu.edu/newsphoto/homecoming_parade_01_110108.jpg
CUTLINE: The Pride Marching Band at New Mexico State University, properly known as the Pride of New Mexico, performed at this year’s Homecoming parade. (NMSU photo by Darren Phillips)

Photo is available at
http://ucommphoto.nmsu.edu/newsphoto/homecoming_game_04_102106.jpg
CUTLINE: As head drum major for the New Mexico State University Pride Marching Band, John Matthews conducts the band during last year’s homecoming game. (NMSU photo by Darren Phillips)

Beth Sitzler
Nov. 19, 2008

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