Vicktoriya Mysko, Contributor
Kennesaw State University will be introducing the Marching Owls Marching Band and Color Guard starting in the fall semester of 2015.
The Marching Band program is being developed to compliment the new football team. The band will consist of woodwinds and brass as well as a drum line featuring a marching cymbal line.
The marching band will not include a drum line pit. The directors are also considering adding a twirler position to the color guard. The final decision will be announced in spring 2015. According to the KSU Marching Band Facebook page, the marching band will be a corps style band.
The program is directed at students who have been involved in marching band and color guard during high school. The Marching Band will be fast paced and will require prior band experience to be successful.
“The auditions will include both playing and marching components, so we’ll need to see that the students can do both,” director of the marching band Dr. Debra Traficante said.
However, all students including KSU graduate students are welcome to audition. Marching Band members are not required to be music majors.
According to the KSU Band Faculty website, Dr. Traficante previously worked with the University of Oklahoma Marching Band and frequently works with and clinics music ensembles across the U.S.
The Marching band classes and practice are scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each Saturday will also entail a final rehearsal before each football game.
The auditions for the woodwind section will occur on the week before the start of the first season. The camp for the preparation of the marching band will immediately follow the auditions.
In spring 2015, the Marching Band directors will hold information sessions. Students interested in participating in the marching band can sign up for an information session through the KSU Undergraduate Admissions website later this year. Dr. Traficante is also available through her email at dtrafica@kennesaw.edu.