MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Once again, it’s time for the Northern Michigan University Marching Band to take the field. With a booming 141 members this year, and Director Steve Riley in his 2nd year at the helm, these Wildcats are ready for a spectacular season.
“We’ve got a huge freshman class, so we’re I believe the biggest band ever in NMU history, which is amazing,” said Drum Major, Riley Tobin. “Everybody’s just excited to be here, which is really nice to see.”
Throughout this week, band camp has been underway, with long days of training in marching and music, with plenty of fun in between.
“The week has been a little crazy, each day is about 13 hours,” said Drum Major, Kai Ready. “Then we go do activities after, but it’s been a good time.”
During the season, each halftime show is different, but the pregame set remains the same. Band camp typically focuses on this repeated pregame drill, which this year, includes a special formation during the fight song.
“We’re keeping some of the traditions, like the “N” moving during the fight song,” explained Drum Major, Ben Skujins. “One of the changes that we’re implementing is that we’re making the Upper Peninsula in the second half of the fight song.”
And as a nod to the east side of the region, sousaphones make up the Soo.
During the semester, students will rehearse almost every day into mid-November. The band will perform its first halftime show on Thursday, August 28 at the Superior Dome, with a theme surrounding the NMU Wildpups.
“We’re quite pumped, I would encourage people to come early to the game to see the new pregame show,” said Skujins. “Then of course come for halftime, stay and watch, it’s going to be great.”
For this year’s full schedule of NMU football games, visit nmuwildcats.com.
