Following a 12-year pause, the ETSU Marching Bucs made their reappearance in the fall of 2015 under Dr. Joe Moore, director of athletic bands. At that time, they had just 163 members.
In 2022, they are bigger and louder than ever before, with nearly 300 Marching Bucs.
“We have continued to grow over the past few years,” said Moore. “Last year, we had the largest band in school history. This year, we have broken that record again with the largest band in school history.”
Consisting of musical sections such as brass, woodwinds and drum line, as well as teams of performers such as color guard and majorettes, the Marching Bucs embrace their diverse variety of students. They foster a sense of belonging and connection, opening their arms for any and all musically talented students to join a welcoming community.
For this year’s show, Dr. Moore orchestrated a large variety of musical genres, ranging from classical to bluegrass to disco, under the title “Playing with Fire.”
Moore says that he and his team strive to coordinate and program shows that will not only entertain their audience but will also appeal to any students interested in joining the Marching Bucs, hence their fiery show title.
Outside of supporting and performing for fellow Buccaneers at fall football games and spring basketball games, the Marching Bucs take on various other endeavors. They will perform in an exhibition at Enka High School in North Carolina near the close of September in their first performance outside the state of Tennessee. In October, they will welcome thousands as they host the Bands of America Regional Competition.
“As our reputation grows and more people have the opportunity to see us, we anticipate our numbers could continue to increase,” said Moore.
To learn more about the ETSU Marching Bucs or the Department of Music, visit their website at https://www.etsu.edu/cas/music/ensembles.php.
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