Story by Riley Rainwater and Carson Muscutt
Design by Breanna Burba
Photos by Lindsey McIntosh, Brett Phelps and Preston Jenkins
Editor’s Note: This article was originally released in Issue 17 of the WKU Talisman print magazine. Click here to read more articles from the Talisman’s semesterly print.
WKU’s Big Red Marching Band has spent almost 100 years performing, changing the energy of every game they attend and putting heart and soul into their craft.
In 1925, WKU student director Joyce Felt and 20 other students banded together to create the student organization. 100 years later, the band sits at over 300 members spanning more than 70 majors. It is the largest performing ensemble on WKU’s campus, according to the WKU Bands website.
Ashton Hoelscher, a WKU senior and one of the marching band’s drum leaders, said that he joined the band hoping to find a way to pursue music in college, despite not being a music major.
“It seemed like a really fun way to get involved,” Hoelscher said. “I had friends who were older than me and members of the band that spoke highly of it.”
Hoelscher said that despite the excitement of being a drum major and having the ability to lead the band, it comes with a lot of mental pressure as well.
“There’s always an expectation that your leadership has to be perfect, and it can be overwhelming mentally sometimes,” Hoelscher said. “You’re really thinking like ‘Was that my best? Did I give the best tempo? Was I smiling enough? Did I respond to that person with a great attitude?’”
Hoelscher said that despite the challenges, it is rewarding to see everything come together during a halftime show at a football game.
“It’s kind of like putting a puzzle together,” Hoelscher said. “You see the end product and you’re like, ‘Yes, I did that.’ I’m helping play a pivotal role in the success of the band. It’s just like a proud parent moment.”
Hoelscher said that the way the band’s community and school spirit bring every member together makes it stand out from other organizations at WKU.
“Most of us are not the same majors, so we’re not seeing each other in classes all the time or anything like that, but we do have so many bonds that keep us together,” Hoelscher said. “My closest friends are all in the marching band, which is the same with many other students as well.”
WKU junior and saxophone section leader Kaylee Wilson said that being a member of the marching band and in charge of an entire section has strengthened her leadership skills and ability to work as a team.
“I have never worked with such a big group of people in my life,” Wilson said. “My high school band was less than 100 people, so coming into a group that’s like 250 to 300 people was insane but also the best thing ever.”
Wilson said that she has never been the most high-spirited person, but being a part of the marching band makes her proud to be representing her university and what she is passionate about.
“When I’m in my uniform, I’m like a whole different Kaylee, that is the best, most energetic person in the room,” Wilson said.
Wilson said she thinks the marching band has more school spirit than any other organization on WKU’s campus.
“Everything we do is done with high spirits,” Wilson said. “We’re cheering even when we’re not winning or whatever. A lot of people will leave when we’re not winning, and we’re cheering the whole time, and we love it. We thrive off it. I just think our energy is the best.”
Gary Schallert, WKU’s director of bands, said that the dedication the students in the marching band have for their craft and the amount of time they put in are incredible.
“Those students work their tails off,” Schallert said. “It’s also a very diverse group. It’s diverse in terms of ethnicity. It’s diverse in terms of interest. Their common interest, of course, is their love of music and their love for the band.”
Schallert said that one of the things that makes him the most proud is how far along the marching band has come since he came to WKU and took the position in 2008.
“The 2008 band had very good musicians, but it wasn’t one of the strongest bands,” Schallert said. “To see where the band has grown since 2008 to a now group of 300, and to be prominent enough to be invited to London is very gratifying.”
In January 2025, the marching band will perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade.
The parade is an annual celebration in the West End of London that brings thousands of people together to celebrate the upcoming new year. The parade terms itself as “The Greatest Event in the Greatest City in the World,” with a legacy that spans over 30 years, according to an article from Youth Music.
Schallert said that when he was a senior at New Mexico State University, his band got invited to the very first parade London hosted in 1987.
“It was an incredible, life-changing experience,” Schallert said. “So when we received the invitation, for me, it was like ’Oh heck yeah.’ I want our students to have that same experience that I had.”
The moment of being told they would be attending the parade was a special day for many members of the marching band.
Hoelscher said that nothing could have prepared the band for receiving the news that they’d be performing at a parade in London.
“We were told to come dressed in our summer uniforms, and we were like, yeah we’re gonna be taking group photos,” Hoelscher said. “Then all of these important people — Caboni, the music directors, the dean of PCAL — came and they were trying to keep it a secret from us. It was all really exciting.”
The recognition of the band was also an important moment for WKU President Timothy Caboni.
“When we had the opportunity to be invited to the London New Year’s Day Parade, it was immediately clear to me that this would be a life-altering experience for many of the marching band members,” Caboni said. “I asked that day for folks to raise their hand if they’ve never left the country, and a third to half of the students have not left the United States.”
Wilson said that joining the marching band was one of the best decisions she’s ever made in her life.
“There’s no way you would regret it,” Wilson said. “ It’s just the best organization.”
Hoelscher said he is proud that he gets the opportunity to represent the band and the school.
“It’s really just an honor,” Hoelscher said.