Band Day Experience attracts future Mustangs

October 3, 2019

Stevenson University will host its fourth annual “Band Day Experience” on Oct. 5, 2019, during which nearly 500 students will perform during halftime of Stevenson’s football game.

Assistant Professor Mark Lortz, director of music, said that 350 musicians will participate from seven different high schools in the area. The purpose of this event is to not only allow students to tour Stevenson’s facilities and perform with the band, but to also receive the “NCAA Band Day Experience,” according to Lortz.

The Stevenson Marching 100 next to hundreds of high school band members performed at the halftime of a 2018 Stevenson football game. The Stevenson band members can be seen in their uniforms, and the high schoolers in black shirts. (Photo from Stevenson University Flickr)

The Band Day Experience allows students who participate a chance to meet new people and perform along hundreds of others, in order to get a taste of what playing in a college band is like, as opposed to playing with around 20 students in an average high school performance.

Students will arrive on campus at 7:30 a.m. followed by a rehearsal from 8 a.m.-10:30 a.m. After rehearsal, students will break for lunch and meet back with fellow band members around 12:30 p.m., with the football game kicking off at 1. After the first half concludes, students will perform with Stevenson’s band during halftime around 2:15 p.m. and then get to enjoy the rest of the game after their performance.

The Band Day Experience has helped influence many students and given them an opportunity to see what college is like. Senior band member Olivia Apicella said, “Band Day allows us to connect with the local and Maryland community and is a great way to promote band post-high school.”

High school band members participate in a day in the life of an NCAA marching band member during the Stevenson Band Day Experience. (Photo from the Stevenson University Flickr)

Another senior, Emma Cathy Smith, explained, “One thing I really like about Band Day is since my freshman year I have not only gotten to see the program grow but enjoy the benefits that have come out of Band Day.” She added that many people believe Band Day was a factor in their current attendance at Stevenson. “Being able to see that impact and watch the program continue to grow is something that is very important to me. It’s a very nice tradition to be able to continue,” she added

One of Lortz’s favorite things about the Band Day experience is being able to see it all come together from the morning chaos as everyone arrives to the performance at halftime. Stevenson students can purchase a ticket for the Band Day experience on Oct. 5, at the Rock or the Green Zone. Admission is included with the purchase of football ticket.

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