Marching to a different beat

MRDs learn new shows with Americana theme

File Photo The internationally recognized Marching Royal Dukes have been practicing since Aug. 15 for the first home game Sept. 4.

The internationallly recognized 350-member Marching Royal Dukes are rehearsing three new shows for the season.

"Our section leaders came in Friday, Aug. 13, and the band started on Aug.15, and we’ve been here since," band director Pat Rooney said.

According to Rooney, the first show is "very Americana," and includes songs from "Pirates of the Caribbean," in addition to "When the Saints Go Marching In," Neil Diamond’s "Coming to America" and "God Bless the USA."

The second show has a ’70’s theme and the third show is Americana again.

"All of our arrangements are done by JMU grad Larry Clark (’89) who is the vice president of Fisher publishing company," Rooney said.

Junior Patti Birdsong said this year’s band is made up of several younger students than it has in the past few years. "Having a mostly new group filters out old habits and allows us to establish new ones."

Senior Kim Wagner said, "We have a lot of younger people in the band. It is very exciting. We have been working a lot on fundamentals, though."

In 1994 the group won the Sudler Trophy from the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. This award is considered the Heisman Trophy of college marching bands, according to the school of music. In 2001, the group performed during the 75th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Last year, the band traveled to Ireland and Germany to perform. This was its third time performing internationally, according to the School of Music.

"We will not go [overseas] this year, but we will probably go in 2006," Rooney said. "We go about every three years." The band’s road trip this year will be to an away football game at Villanova University on Sept. 18, according to Rooney.