By Debbie Adams
The William Byrd High School Marching Terriers band has been busy preparing for marching
band season for several weeks, including Percussion, Color Guard, and Rookie Camps in mid-
July, Home Camp from July 22-26, and away camp at Camp Bethel in Fincastle from July 28 to
August 3.
High School Marching Terriers prepare for the 2024 band season. (photos by Debbie Adams)
There are about 75 Marching Terriers in this oth (chosen by fellow band members),
Student leaders are Corps Commander Braeden Booth (chosen by fellow band members), Drum
Major Becca Radford, Brass Captain Josh Allen, Woodwind Captain Dixie Venable, Percussion
Captain Braeden Booth, Front Ensemble Captain Kayleigh Taylor, and Color Guard Captain
Genna Paul.
be Drum Major for this year’s Marching Terriers. Braedon Booth was chosen by his fellow band
members as Corps Commander.
The Marching Terriers roster for 2024-2025 includes: Aiden Beasley, Aaron Hemming, Aaron
Wood, Alexis Short, Austin Hornaday, Ayden Morrison, Becca Radford, Blair Godlesky,
Braeden Booth, Brayden Sink, Brihanna Harris, Brooke Lomax, Carlee Partleton, Carsyn Yates,
Catherine Underwood, Ceiliann Baldwin, Chloe Gill, Dagan Miller, Dakoda Downs, Dixie
Venable, Draven English, Draven Flinchum, Elizabeth Fall, Elizabeth Martinez, Emily Clinebell,
Emily Atwood, Emma Whitcomb, Erica Barton, Gabriel Felty, Genna Paul, Georgia Schmidt,
Grant Muddiman, Holden White, Hudson Cain, Jaxon Eline, Jaxon Fowler, Jayden Ferris,
Jeremy Paul, Joshua Allen, Joshua Williams, Julissa Garcia, Kailen Rice, Katelyn Bennett,
Katelynn Howell, Kay Gilbert, Kayden Creel, Kayleigh Taylor, Keith Schult, Kendell Perkins,
Kennedy Mosely, Khloe Hart, Kolee Walter, Kyleigh Ginger, Landon Hollins, Layla Matz, Levi
Whitcomb, Miriam Moore, Naleigh Lewis, Nathaniel Hale, Noah Wheeler, Noah Williams,
Norah Buck, Nyah Gaines, Olivia Strassburg, Paylin Waldron, Pete Cardenas, Ramsey Stephens,
Ryan McIntyre, Sabrina Wray, Sam Geist, Sam Leftwich, Sammara Weaver, Sophie Hoagland,
Sydney Nichols, and Zane Telsch.
Dan Plybon continues as Director of Bands with Jordan Downing as Assistant Band Director.
Kathryn Santello is the Percussion Instructor; Jenny Swortzel is the Color Guard Instructor. This
year’s Band Boosters President is DeAnna Schuler.
Terriers staff includes (left to right) Color Guard Instructor Jenny Swortzel, Percussion Instructor
Kathryn Santello, Band Director Dan Plybon, and Assistant Band Director Jordan Downing.
According to Downing, “The theme for this year’s program is ‘Reign,’ as in the rule of a king or
queen. It includes music from Randall Standridge, and excerpts from Deus ex Machina, Sampson
and Delilah, and Scheherazade. All of this is combined to create kind of an Egyptian feel and the
feeling of adventure.”
“If you focus on the Color Guard, you’ll watch a story unfold about a queen whose crown was
stolen. She is searching for her crown and is soon met with an adversary who is trying to steal
the crown. In the end, the queen prevails, and her crown is restored to her. Also, a fun
Easter Egg is hidden in the props this year. We’re going to have eight hieroglyphics that spell out
‘Byrd Band’ lining the back field.” There’s also a treasure chest and a pyramid.
The marching band debuted parts of their program for their families at Patterson Stadium on
August 13. The band will be performing at the first home football game this year on September
13. The Marching Terriers will be hosting their annual Blue Ridge Festival of Bands competition
on Saturday, Oct 26.
