Today the Marching Virginians found themselves right back at the MVC gearing up for kickoff and their much-anticipated win! This past Saturday was Virginia Tech’s Spring Game, and this was a scrimmage that the football team opened up Lane Stadium for. A scrimmage is where a team goes up against itself, with half of the team vs. the other half of the team. None of us were exactly skeptical about winning our game, since it was Hokies against Hokies! We were so incredibly happy to be back together playing Tech Triumph, VPI Victory March, and many other beloved stand tunes. Read more to see which ..read more

As the conclusion of this weekend’s Spring Game ushers in a new and exciting season of the Marching Virginians, marchers both new and old will be meeting some new faces in this year’s leadership committee. While we painfully say goodbye to some of the MV’s finest, it goes without saying that the new crop of leadership members are going to work their hardest to make the upcoming season one of the best yet.  I had the chance to digitally interview newly elected Executive Officer Paige Barnhart over the past week. Her expertise from previous band experiences will absolutely radiate as she ta ..read more

Every April, thousands of Hokie flock back to Blacksburg. While it brings about a joyous atmosphere being back with so many loved ones and strolling down memory lane, this time of year brings with it a somber air of remembrance as well. In the coming week, Virginia Tech will hold its annual Day of Remembrance, which honors the 32 students and faculty whose lives were tragically taken in a shooting on April 16th, 2007. Although many of today’s students were very young when this tragedy occurred, the respect and understanding of the importance of this Day of Remembrance ripples throughout campus ..read more

As with the officer team, the field leadership for the 2024 edition of the Marching Virginians is in the process of being selected. While we wait in excitement to hear, let’s take a look at the graduating field leadership. Sean christian — pix section leader Sean is graduating in May with a chemical engineering degree and hopes to use his knowledge to benefit sustainability efforts.  ERIN STEVENSON — Pix rank captain Graduating a year early, Erin will cross the stage this May with a degree in biomedical biology. Next up is a gap year, then medical school. rachel virostek — pix rank cap ..read more

Jillian Sasso, who guest wrote this blog, is a current MV. In order to become a beautiful butterfly, a caterpillar must undergo an intense transformation inside a cocoon for a couple of weeks. Now, I know nothing about entomology, but I do know that this same process can be seen in other areas of life. Two weeks may not be enough time, though, as some transformations can take many years. Me in my freshman year at the Baseball Stadium game — September 26, 2020. (Beau Wong) If you are currently a member of the Marching Virginians, you may know me as the Service Officer, the girl who makes real ..read more

Graduation does not have to be the end of your career as a musician. Many alumni have found ways to stay involved with music after their time with the MVs has come to an end. Some find a new band within the community they settle into after they graduate, like Jenna O’Brien. Jenna (Clarinet, ‘18) moved to Philadelphia during the pandemic and was seeking a way to build community and a creative outlet outside of work. After a quick Google search, she found the Philadelphia Freedom Band, an organization that comes together to perform throughout the greater Philadelphia area and provide visible, ac ..read more

If you were to ask an MV what it means to be a Marching Virginian, they would likely respond with the importance of working hard, compassion, friendship, and being a leader. Many of the MVs today absolutely love what they do, and there is a special phrase that our organization lives by today: Ut Prosim, meaning, That I May Serve, in Latin. This Latin phrase is the motto of Virginia Tech, and as representatives of our university, we strive to keep it in the hearts of each MV. One very special Marching Virginian, however, is the very definition of “That I May Serve,” and his name was Ryan “Stack ..read more

Within the next month and a half the officer team for the 2024 season of the Marching Virginians will be assembled. While the band collectively waits to see who their new officers are, some time is needed to say goodbye to the graduating members. Lauren Chuderwicz — Executive Officer From the trumpet section, a presence felt at every MV practice, game, and event, who has been one of the most dedicated MVs: Lauren Chuderwicz. Lauren has been the executive officer for the previous three years and graduates in May with an M.S. in computer engineering. Calvin moore — drum major This recent seaso ..read more

In this post, Karen Small, MV Sax alumna, highlights the connections made from the Marching Virginians, and how they are truly ones that stick with you for the rest of your life. ———————- Dave McKee once said to the band, “look to your right, now look to your left. You could be married to one of these people some day!” When I first heard that, I laughed because of how ridiculous it sounded at the time. Looking back now, Dave was absolutely correct. The Marching Virginians will help you find your friends for life, but some find their person for life too. MV picture at Faith and Tyler’s wedding ..read more

Virginia Tech’s annual Giving Day fired off at noon on February 21, and for the following 24 hours the many schools, departments, and groups ‘competed’ in raising funds. The inaugural Giving Day event occurred in 2018, where 4,300 donors raised an unbelievable 1.62 million dollars. Giving Day has continued every year, save for 2020, and each year the number of donors and total funding has skyrocketed even higher. So, what happened on Giving Day 2024? A total of $13 million was raised, just over $3 million more than the previous year. This is the single greatest jump in funding between years. S ..read more