Spectrum - Volume 17 Issue 09 October 20, 1994 - Marching Virginians celebrate

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Marching Virginians celebrate

Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 09 - October 20, 1994

The Marching Virginians held its 20th reunion Saturday during the Homecoming game against Temple.

The event was the largest reunion in the Marching Virginian's history. Several hundred returning band alumni, including members from the original group in 1974, took part in the celebration.

The Marching Virginians is the largest marching band in Virginia and one of the largest on the East Coast, with 330 marching members. In 1974, when the band was originated by Paul Distler, director of the Division of Performing Arts, alumni distinguished professor, and the official voice of the Marching Virginians, the band marched approximately 115 student members.

Twenty years ago, Distler was asked to form a "first-rate large band" that would be open to all students at Virginia Tech.

Today, under the direction of David McKee, the Marching Virginians enjoy a well-known reputation. This season, the band has been invited to RFK Stadium to play at a Washington Redskins game, and to the Orange Bowl for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game on October 30, following Virginia Tech's football game against the University of Miami. In past seasons, the band has also played at Buffalo Bills games, Redskins games, and other NFL games with former Virginia Tech players on their rosters.

McKee has been the band's director for nine years.