Eight members of the William Byrd Marching Terriers Band participated in the first Virginia Tech Marching Virginians Band Day. They were invited to perform at Lane Stadium in the half-time show at the game against Delaware on September 9.

Veteran band members James Buchanan, Jacob Speck, Ethan Bowser, Sydney Dietrich, Caleb Rogers-Jones, Brian McCormack, Everett Fletchall, and Bryant Humphries were nominated based on their skills by William Byrd Band Director Dan Plybon and Denise Aspell, Director of William Byrd Middle School Bands and assistant director of the Marching Terriers.

Over 300 students from about 30 high schools across the state and from other states participated.

Terrier band members received the music they were to perform ahead of time for practice. They took their own instruments for the show and wore their Marching Terriers uniforms. They received lunch, a commemorative T-shirt, and discounted admission to the game.

They checked in the morning of the game, rehearsed with the Marching Virginians, marched with them to Lane Stadium and performed in front of about 66,000 Hokie fans at halftime.

“Our own high schoolers playing with a collegiate band is a superb and very rare opportunity and we had a great time!” said Aspell. “Congratulations to these students on a fine job representing the William Byrd bands.”