The Virginia Tech Regimental Band, also known as the Highty Tighties, VPI Cadet Band, or Band Company was established in 1893 as a
military marching band unit in the
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in residence halls, attend morning formation, wear a distinctive uniform, and recei ...
at
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six regi ...
. Virginia Tech also has had since 1974 a non-military marching band,
The Marching Virginians.
History
Roots of the band
From 1875 to 1892, the Corps hired civilian bands to provide music when needed. One of the best-known of these groups was the Glade Cornet Band, formed by several Blacksburg townspeople in 1883.
In 1892, corps Commandant John Alexander Harman formed a six-piece drum and bugle corps. One member, Cadet Lieutenant Frank Daniel Wilson, sought out several other cadets with musical experience, and formed an unofficial band. Besides Wilson, the initial musicians included Sergeants Clifford West Anderson, John William Sample, Theodore Graham Lewton, and Lorenzo Montogery Hale; and Privates Harry Woodfin Phillips, William Marshall Watson, Charles Lewis Pedigo, William Rufus Prige, James Archer Walsh, and Robert Beverly Jr. Professor and LtCol Ellison Adger Smyth was also a member of the band and a key figure in establishing the band, as well as the first football team in 1892. Wilson eventually convinced Harman and the board of trustees of the need for a distinct band company, and it was formed in May 1893 with Major James Patton Harvey as the first director and Wilson as the first company commander.
In 1894 the Corps traveled to Richmond for the first time for the unveiling of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. In 1896, the Band played at the Jefferson Davis Monument dedication in
Richmond, Virginia. They were the only band so honored. In 1896, the band, along with the entire corps, traveled to Roanoke, Virginia for the first annual Thanksgiving Day VPI-VMI football game and pre-game parade to the stadium. This tradition continued until 1970, when Virginia Tech and VMI stopped playing in Roanoke. (The final Virginia Tech-VMI football game was played in Norfolk, VA in 1984.)
Service in the Spanish–American War
![Band of the 2nd Virginia Infantry c 1890s](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Band_of_the_2nd_Virginia_Infantry_c_1890s.jpg)
In 1898, the Band volunteered for duty in the
Spanish–American War
, partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence
, image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg
, image_size = 300px
, caption = (cloc ...
. The War Department authorized the organization of bands of twenty-four pieces for the volunteer infantry regiments. A Major Shanks wrote to Major Harvey, Director of the VPI Band, requesting him "to prevail upon his Band to join the Second Virginia as its regimental band. The director, Major James Patton Harvey, and 20-members of the band joined some
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 44,826 at the 2020 census. Blacksburg, as well as the surrounding county, is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of ...
townspeople and former bandsmen to form the Regimental band for the US Army's 2nd Virginia Regiment.
Since service specifically as a VPI unit had been denied, along with the lettered units of the Corps, Major Harvey and fifteen cadets of the Band resigned from VPI and enlisted as individuals with the Second Regiment, along with four VPI alumni and five members of the Blacksburg Glade Cornet Band. Major Harvey was appointed Chief Musician and Leader of the new organization. The Second Virginia's new Regimental Band was a VPI organization constituted as an Army unit. The band was to be stationed in Cuba, however the war was over before they were scheduled to leave from Florida. They were called on to play many times during their stay.
The Highty Tighties were presented with the white citation cord in 1936 for meritorious service in the Spanish–American War. According to Band legend, the cord was pinned on the Band commander backward by Eleanor Roosevelt. It has been worn with the braid on the outside ever since. The official university story is that President Burrus presented the citation cord to the band.
During the absence of Major Harvey, Frank Carper became director of the Band during his senior year in 1898.
Early history
The VPI Cadet Band and Corps of Cadets traveled to several expositions in the early 1900s. In 1901, the band played "The Thunderer" for
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to dis ...
at the
Pan-American Exposition
The Pan-American Exposition was a World's Fair held in Buffalo, New York, United States, from May 1 through November 2, 1901. The fair occupied of land on the western edge of what is now Delaware Park, extending from Delaware Avenue to Elmwood A ...
in Buffalo, New York. Sousa was so impressed that he dedicated a performance of his latest march, "Hands Across the Sea", to the band.
The band played
Dixie 72 consecutive times in 1902 at the Charleston Exposition, setting the world record. At this exposition, the band also played for
Teddy Roosevelt, who was quoted to have said he "had never seen such a band."
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to dis ...
met each member of the band personally in 1904 at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition (100th anniversary celebration that was delayed for one year) in
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
. The VPI Cadet Band played in their first of several Presidential Inaugural Parades for President
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
in 1917.
Wilfred Preston ("Pete") Maddux, a trombone and baritone player in the Highty-Tighties (member of the band from the Fall of 1917 to 1919), jointly composed "
Tech Triumph(1985 recording)in 1919 along with Mattie Walton Eppes (Boggs). Mattie Eppes was a neighbor of Pete in his hometown of Blackstone, Virginia. When he was home, Pete would often play violin with Mattie accompanying him on the piano. One evening in the summer of 1919, Pete asked her to help him compose a fight song for VPI. She played the tune and Pete wrote out the score and the words for two verses in a single evening. Pete Maddox is not listed in the yearbook with the band after 1919. Ms. Eppes later married John C. Boggs, Superintendent of Randolph-Macon Military Academy.
Name origin
The Band gained a nickname while marching at the Richmond parade, honoring Field Marshal
Ferdinand Foch
Ferdinand Foch ( , ; 2 October 1851 – 20 March 1929) was a French general and military theorist who served as the Supreme Allied Commander during the First World War. An aggressive, even reckless commander at the First Marne, Flanders and Ar ...
of France in 1921.
The drum major attempted a mace toss as he passed the reviewing stand. The wind blew the mace and it fell to ground, bouncing once. The drum major caught the mace off the bounce and still rendered a proper salute to the reviewing officer. Foch supposedly yelled 'hoity-toity' (''show-off'' in French) in response to the drum major's display. For many years this was believed to be the origin of the band's name. However, history states that the name came from a cheer that was invented when the band was housed in Division E, the fifth stairwell of Lane Hall. While waiting for meals, each unit would give up a cheer. The bandsmen were tired of not having a name, and made up a cheer that went: "Highty Tighty, Christ Almighty, who the hell are we? Riff ramm, goddamn, we're from Division E." It has since evolved over the years.
Band company organizations
The Highty-Tighties formed several musical units within the band over the years, including
*1873, A 16-member drum and bugle corps was formed. The Bugle Corps was a separate unit, but in some years the buglers were part of the Corps units. In modern times, the buglers have been an integral part of the band.
*Band members, including Pete Maddux played in the VPI Jazz Orchestra in the early 20th century.
*1931, A dance band, called The Southern Colonels was formed. The Southern Colonels were also called the Collegians early prior to 1933. In 1937 and 1940, the Southern Colonels traveled to Germany and France on the USS New York to perform in nightclubs. The Southern Colonels are still active today, performing at weddings and other special occasions. Other big band group included the Virginia Techmen, which in 1933 replaced the Tech Buccaneers (1927–1933). In 1934, there was also a group called the Techadets.
*Members of the band also performed in a
mandolin orchestra
A mandolin orchestra is an orchestra consisting primarily of instruments from the mandolin family of instruments, such as the mandolin, mandola, mandocello and mandobass or mandolone. Some mandolin orchestras use guitars and double-basses instea ...
and glee club in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
*The Highty-Tighties traditionally performed as a concert band every Spring during the 1960s and 1970s at various colleges in the State of Virginia, including
Radford University,
Hollins College
Hollins University is a private university in Hollins, Virginia. Founded in 1842 as Valley Union Seminary in the historical settlement of Botetourt Springs, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States ...
,
Sweet Briar College, and
Randolph-Macon College. This concert band tradition was a follow-on to the concerts that the Band gave in the Spring on the Tech campus in the 1930s.
*1976, A Fife and Drum Corps was organized to perform at United States Bicentennial events, including one at which they played for Virginia's Governor
Mills E. Godwin Jr.
Mills Edwin Godwin Jr. (November 19, 1914January 30, 1999) was an American politician who was the List of governors of Virginia, 60th and 62nd governor of Virginia for two non-consecutive terms, from 1966 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1978.
In his f ...
Parades and performances
In addition to home coming parades and home and away football pre-game and halftime shows, the Highty-Tighties have marched and played at all manner of events within Virginia and elsewhere. The following are some of the significant activities and events in the life of the Highty-Tighties in the 20th century.
1893-1950
* 1934, The Band was President
Franklin Roosevelt's official band, when he dedicated the Veterans' Hospital in
Salem, Virginia.
* 1937, Jim Schaeffer returned as band director, remaining until his death in 1951. He died on November 27, 1951. When he was buried, he was accorded the highest tribute the corps can bestow—the streets of Blacksburg were lined on both sides from the Lutheran Church to the cemetery by cadets standing at attention and saluting the body when it passed. The band led the funeral procession but played no music. It was a most impressive and respectful tribute to Schaeffer and his contributions. Director Jim Schaeffer is considered by many to be responsible for elevating the Band to the high level of quality in marching and musicianship that it still maintains.
1951-1980
![Lane Hall 2004](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Lane_Hall_2004.JPG)
* 1958, The Band placed first in the
Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival ("The Bloom") is a 14-day festival held annually in spring in Winchester, Virginia. First held in 1924, it is one of the oldest civic celebrations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
History
The festival was f ...
Parade and was featured on the ''Today Show'' in New York. In 1959, the band again won the Apple Blossom Parade. The Band first marched in the Apple Blossom Parade in the Spring of 1935.
* 1960, The band performed at the halftime show for the Washington Redskins–Dallas Cowboys football game.
* 1963, The Band won the
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo City to the city of Washington, D.C. Ozaki gave the trees to enhan ...
Parade in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
* 1964, The Band marched as the opening band for the
New York World's Fair in 1964.
* 1964, The Band inaugurated the first football
Band Day
Band Day refers to an annual marching band festival or competition, usually intended for high school bands. Background
High school marching bands are invited onto a university campus to rehearse with and play alongside the university marching band ...
at VPI on October 10.
* 1966, The Highty Tighties were the last Virginia Tech students to live in
Lane Hall in the Fall Quarter of 1966. Lane Hall, named after General
James H. Lane when it first opened in 1888, still stands but it is used now for faculty offices. The Highty-Tighties took up residence in Brodie Hall when classes resumed in 1967.
* December 1966 and 1968, The band was featured at the Liberty Bowl (
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
) football game in which VPI played against the University of Miami (1966) and Mississippi (1968). The games were televised as the "game of the week."
* 1966, 1970, 1984, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2001, 2004, and 2010 The Highty-Tighties marched in the Cherry Blossom Parade in
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
* 1971, The band performed at the halftime show for the
Baltimore Colts-
Buffalo Bills football game in
Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
.
* In the Spring of 1971, the Band won the Azalea Festival Parade in
Norfolk, Virginia.
* 1971, Tom Dobyns retired as band director, after almost twenty years of continuous leadership. He was honored at a banquet commemorating his great service to the band. Mr. Joseph Lamoureux was named as director to succeed Tom Dobyns.
* 1972, The Highty-Tighties performed in the half time show at the Washington-Dallas game at RFK Stadium
* 1972 and 1974, The Highty-Tighties won the International Azalea Festival parade.
* 1974, the band marched as the honor band in the
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
Governor's Inaugural Parade.
* 1975, the Highty-Tighty Alumni Association was formed. The purpose of the Alumni Association was to support the Highty-Tighties and to sustain their growth and development. Alumni were concerned about the decreasing size of the Band and the Corps and established scholarships for Highty-Tighties to assist in recruiting and retention. Charles O. Cornelison was the first Highty-Tighty Alumni Association President. The Alumni formed an Alumni band that began marching with the Highty-Tighties during the Homecoming Parade and during the pre-game and halftime show. Christopher Bise, HT '72, has been the Alumni Band Drum Major since 1975.
* During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, women from
Radford University (temporarily part of VPI) were reportedly allowed to march with the Highty-Tighties. In 1975, the first females were integrated into the Band as Highty-Tighties. Stephanie Hahn was the 1st of eight women to march with the Highty-Tighties in 1975. These women lived in L company, an all female company. According to Virginia Tech history, Marilyn Helmeyer was the first woman officially in the Band Company in 1977. Lori Keck (LASC 1992) become the first female drum major of the Highty Tighties in 1992.
* 1976, The Highty-Tighties won first place at the Warsaw Bicentennial Parade, representing the Army ROTC unit in this district.
* 1975, The Highty Tighties won first place at the Apple Blossom Parade in
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...
.
* 1977, Dr. James R. Sochinski took over as director of the Band. In 1974, Dr. Sochinski went on to form the civilian band, the Marching Virginians at Virginia Tech.
* 1977, The band performed in the halftime show of the
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
-Philadelphia Eagles football game.
* 1977, The band marched as one of eight honor bands at
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the U.S.-based department store chain Macy's. The Parade first took place in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States with ...
in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
.
* Spring of 1977, The band was awarded the Beverly S. Parrish Gold Cord award for the first time. The Gold Cord is awarded to the outstanding
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in residence halls, attend morning formation, wear a distinctive uniform, and recei ...
Unit.
* 1979, Johnny Pherigo become band director.
1981-pres
* 1981, Wallace Easter took over as band director.
* 1981, Performed for the closing ceremonies of the Knoxville, Tennessee World's Fair.
* 1981, 1987, 1991, 1999, 2007, Marched in the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the U.S.-based department store chain Macy's. The Parade first took place in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States with ...
.
* 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, Performed for President
Ronald Reagan, playing "Ruffles and Flourishes" and
Hail to the Chief at the Conservative Political Action Committee.
* 1984, Marched in the Preakness Parade in Baltimore, Maryland.
* 1985, Marched in the Gimbal's Thanksgiving Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
* 1986, Marched in Coca-Cola's Centennial Parade in Atlanta, Georgia.
* 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, Marched in the Macy's Christmas Parade in
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,7 ...
. This parade is now known as the Eggleston Children's Foundation Christmas Parade.
* 1992, George McNeill, retired enlisted U.S. Army Band member, took over as band director.
* 1992, 1998, Marched as honor band in the
Fort Myers, Florida Festival of Lights Parade.
* 1995, 2006, 2007, Marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
.
* 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017 Marched in the
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick ( ga, Lá Fhéile Pádraig, lit=the Day of the Festival of Patrick), is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (), the foremost patr ...
parade in
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later t ...
.
* 2002, 2004, and 2009 Marched in the
Krewe of Endymion
The Krewe of Endymion is a New Orleans Mardi Gras super krewe and social organization.
History and formation
The Krewe of Endymion is one of only three Super Krewes (using floats and celebrity Grand Marshals), and is the largest of the parad ...
parade at
Mardi Gras in
.
* 1988, 2004, 2010, 2014, and 2018, Marched in the
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
Governor's Inaugural Parade.
* 2005, Awarded the Beverly S. Parrish Gold Cord.
* 2007, Performed for President George W. Bush after the April 16th Virginia Tech shooting.
* 2007, Marched in the New York Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
* 2012, Marched in the Macy's St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City
*2012, Marched in the Veteran's Day Parade in Orlando, Florida.
*2022, Marched in the Virginia Gubernatorial Inauguration Parade in Richmond, Virginia.
*2022, Marched in the Endymion Parade during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana and marched in the Parade of Bands in the Super-dome.
Presidential inaugural parades
The honor of marching in Presidential Inaugural parades has been bestowed on the Highty Tighties 11 times since 1917. This honor represents both the reputation and pride of the band and the hard work of Highty-Tighty alumni and friends in lobbying for this honor.
*March 4, 1917, The VPI Cadet band played in their first Presidential Inaugural Parades for President
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
.
*Jan 20, 1953, The Highty-Tighties won the grand prize in President
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
's first Inaugural Parade.
*Jan 20, 1957, The Highty-Tighties won their second consecutive Presidential Inaugural parade, again marching for President Eisenhower.
*Jan 20, 1961, The Highty-Tighties won their third consecutive Presidential Inaugural, marching for President
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...
. In doing so, they become the only band to win the parade three times consecutively. No other band had won more than once at a time.
*Jan 20, 1965, The Highty-Tighties marched for President
Lyndon Johnson as retired champions of the Presidential Inaugural Parade. This was the first parade ruled non-competitive, a decision made only days before the parade, most likely because of the Highty-Tighties dominance of the parade in past years.
*Jan 20, 1969, The Highty-Tighties marched in President
Richard M. Nixon's Inaugural Parade in January 1969 as "undefeated champions", and were presented with the white ribbon with 3 silver stars. This ribbon symbolized the 3 consecutive years the Highty-Tighties won the parade. Earlier bands were awarded the white ribbon with a single star for an Inaugural Parade first place appearance.
*Jan 20, 1973, The Highty-Tighties marched in President
Richard M. Nixon's second inaugural parade.
*Jan 20, 1977, The Highty-Tighties marched in President
Jimmy Carter
James Earl Carter Jr. (born October 1, 1924) is an American politician who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 76th governor of Georgia from 1 ...
's Inaugural Parade.
*Jan 20, 1981, The Highty Tighties marched in President
Ronald Reagan's first Inaugural Parade, as a marching unit without instruments.
*Jan 20, 1985, The Inaugural Parade, President Reagan's second, was cancelled due to extreme cold (only time in inaugural history).
*Jan 20, 1997, The Highty-Tighties marched in President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
's second inaugural.
*Jan 20, 2005, The Highty-Tighties marched in President
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
's second inaugural parade (the Highty Tighties' 11th inaugural parade).
*Jan 20, 2009, The Highty-Tighties marched and played a 20-minute set in front of the
Lincoln Memorial to open
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
's inauguration ceremonies.
List of band directors[''Bugle'', Virginia Polytechnic Institute year book for each year]
*Major James Patton Harvey, 1892–1905, 1912–1915
*Cadet Frank Clifton Carper (Class of 1899), 1897–1898, 1898–1899
*Major Hugh Douglas McTier, 1905–1910
*Cadet Marsden Smith (Class of 1911), 1910–1911
*Mr. Henry H. Hill, 1915–1916
*Mr. Peter Ubaldo Janutolo (Class of 1913), 1915–1916
*Mr. James Soloman Schaeffer, 1917–1921, 1936–1951
*Professor William Luther Skaggs, 1921–1927
*Mr. G.A. Johnson, 1927–1936
*Mr. Thomas Dobbyns, 1951–1971
*Mr. Joseph Lamoureux, 1971–1977
*Dr. James R. Sochinski, 1977–1979
*Mr. Johnny Pherigo, 1979–1981
*Mr. Wallace Easter, 1981–1992
*Lieutenant Colonel George McNeill
Virginia Militia 1992–2015
*Senior Chief Jim Bean USN (Ret.) 2015–Present
Traditionally, the commander of the band has been a Captain, if the commander is a senior. If there are no seniors, the commander has been an enlisted officer. Over the years, the Drum Major was not always a senior, especially in early years of the band.
See also
*
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band
The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band (also known as the Noble Men of Kyle or just the Aggie Band) is the official marching band of Texas A&M University. Composed of over 400 men and women from the school's Corps of Cadets, it is the largest military ...
*
Marching Virginians
*
Marching band
A marching band is a group of musical instrument, instrumental musicians who perform while marching, often for entertainment or competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass instrument, brass, woodwind instrument, woodwind, and percus ...
*
Skipper
*
U.S. military bands
United States military bands include musical ensembles maintained by the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Coast Guard. More broadly, they can also include musical ense ...
*
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets (VTCC) is the military component of the student body at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Cadets live together in residence halls, attend morning formation, wear a distinctive uniform, and recei ...
References
*
*
*
External links
Highty Tighty Alumni Web SiteOfficial Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Web SiteOfficial Virginia Tech Web Site
{{Authority control
Atlantic Coast Conference marching bands
Virginia Tech music
1876 establishments in Virginia
American military bands