The Ave Maria Marching Band is embarking second full season. After welcoming its first recruiting class in fall 2021, it has followed up with another strong recruiting class.
The primary function of the marching band is to lend support to the teams within the AMU athletic department and help create a great game-day environment.
Last year, the marching band launched a tradition of escorting the football team from the Bob Thomas Student Union to Gyrene Field on game days prior to performing its pre-game routine. The pre-game routine featured Courtney Docherty (feature twirler), drumline cadences, "Gridiron," "Fighting Gyrenes," and a fan-favorite, "Seven Nation Army."
"Having the band students on the field as the football team enters the stadium minutes before kickoff creates a dynamic game-day entrance as the Gyrene athletes stand united," said Shelby Ledbetter, Director of Bands.
The marching band returned to the field at half time, executing an ambitious slate of half-time shows, including shows that featured "Chicago," "Thriller," "Ghostbusters," and "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."
In addition to the home games, the marching band also went on the road for the Gyrenes' football game against Southeastern, which resulted in a 34-10 rout of the Fire, the eventual Sun Division co-champions. "It was definitely a boost to see the band on the road," said head football coach Joe Patterson. "It means a lot to see their dedication and spirit."
Shortly after the football season concluded, the Gyrene Band performed in its first-ever parade as part of the Ave Hometown Christmas. The marching band later performed in the St. Patrick's Day parade in Naples, one of the largest parades in the country with nearly 200,000 in attendance. For the parade, the Gyrene Band featured its own bagpiper, Rankin Hoogerhyde.
The Gyrene Band's pep band ensemble helped add energy to several of the home basketball games as they played courtside as both the men's and women's basketball teams both made improbable runs during the season.
Members of the Gyrene Band also provided live entertainment during the cocktail hour of the February AMU Scholarship Dinner, which is the largest annual fundraising event for the University. The group performed a variety of jazz selections and popular brass quintet arrangements including "Ave Maria."
Another highlight of the year was the band's performance of "Happy Birthday" to founder Tom Monaghan at the University's annual Annunciation Fest. "Mr. Monaghan's enthusiasm is so great for the band," said Ledbetter. "The Gyrene Band members were delighted to be a part of this special surprise performance.
A true testimony to the diversity of talent within the Gyrene Band was on full display as the Gyrene Band joined with the Ave Maria Symphony Orchestra to perform an "Evening of Jazz" in May. The evening included pieces from "West Side Story" and "An American in Paris." The performance also featured a tribute to Ukraine with the performing of "Great Gate of Kyiv." The evening concluded with George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," which elicited a standing ovation from the packed ballroom.
The Gyrene Band closed out the year by welcoming the Ave Maria seniors to Gyrene Field to begin the 2022 spring graduation ceremony.
The Gyrene Band enters their second year with great expectations. The new recruits, coupled with the returning members, give cause for tremendous optimism about another year of growth and spirit-filled performances.
