By DOUGLAS SOULE
The Daily Athenaeum
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Morgantown has pulsed with the music of WVU Band Camp for the past week.
“It’s just the normal muscle soreness and tendonitis, and there’s also been a little bit of asthma,” said Matt Ferreira, a graduate student working for HealthWorks Sports Medicine. “The intensity of their program here this week, it’s long days for the band members, so that is what’s causing a lot of this.”
Annie Petitto, a clarinet player, said her favorite part was participating in something that was bigger than herself.
“It’s been my dream for a long time, when I was going through middle school and high school,” said Petitto. “It makes me really happy to support my state and my school and the people that live here.”
This year’s marching band contains 356 members including four Drum Majors.
“We are the top student leaders of the band,” said Drum Major Samantha Phelix. “We are mainly the connecting point between the students and the actual directors. We conduct the band and help lead rehearsals.”
Phelix said that the members were moving quickly and efficiently.
“We already have pregame set,” she said. “We finished pregame on the third day of camp. I think that tells us we’re going to have a great season.”
The WVU Marching Band will perform six halftime performances. The first halftime show will be called “Salute to Paul McCartney,” celebrating the 75th birthday of the Beatles’ bass guitarist and singer.
Scott Tobias, the Director of Bands, said that the audience was important for the band’s success.
“The band feeds off of the fan’s energy,” said Tobias. “And so when the band takes the field, the more energetic the response from the fans, it feeds the band and the more energetic they play back.”
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