Spirit of Gold Marching Band

The Spirit of Gold Marching Band is the collegiate marching band organized by Vanderbilt University.

Spirit of Gold Marching Band
SchoolVanderbilt University
LocationNashville, Tennessee, USA
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Founded1909
DirectorDouglas Morin
Members120 (approx.)
Fight song"Dynamite"

Membership

A unique feature of the Spirit of Gold is that membership in the marching band is open to all students enrolled at Vanderbilt or any students from colleges in the Nashville area. This includes Belmont, Lipscomb, Fisk, Trevecca, Volunteer State Community College and Nashville State.[1]

Performances

Football

The band forms the core of the student section at intercollegiate football games hosted by Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium and performs at all Vanderbilt Commodores home football games, as well as a select number of away games.

The Spirit of Gold works with the Office of the Dean of Students to coordinate the band's performances at football games. The band has developed many traditions that help add to the exciting atmosphere of Southeastern Conference football on game day. For example, the band leads a parade through campus before games and provides music for pre-game and in-game spirit. The band plays the university's fight song, "Dynamite", throughout the game as well.

The Spirit of Gold prepares a unique halftime show for every home game, performing from variety of musical genres and eras. Recent performances have featured music from Lady Gaga, The Blues Brothers, Tower of Power, the Backstreet Boys, and Bon Jovi. The last halftime performance of the year is traditionally a completely student-run, student-organized show.

Basketball

During the spring semester, a 50-piece pep band is formed for performances at Vanderbilt's men's and women's basketball games played in Memorial Gym.[2] The basketball band performs music similar to that which the football band performs.

Tau Beta Sigma

The Eta Phi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma serves the Spirit of Gold. The co-ed chapter has a history of being one of the largest chapters in the nation and is the most recent recipient of the Grace and A. Frank Martin Chapter Leadership Award, a biennial award that honors the outstanding chapter in the nation.[3] All members of the Spirit of Gold, regardless of university, are able to seek membership in Eta Phi.

Notes
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-05-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2008-05-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2010-11-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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