猫咪头条

猫咪头条 Band Presents Preview of 鈥榁iva La Diva鈥� with Chart-topping Hits and Bold Visuals

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擳he 猫咪头条 Marching Bulldogs are excited to step into the spotlight with a halftime show that features some of today鈥檚 biggest hits. Band members started working on the show in August, arriving to campus two weeks before the start of classes to learn the music and their drill.

They will be performing at the first home game on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m., which is during Family Weekend. It鈥檚 a red-out game (wear your GWU red) with the Dawgs vs. The Citadel.

Director of Bands Dr. Sarah Fabian, assistant professor of music, said the first performance is a preview of what鈥檚 to come. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 show is titled 鈥榁iva La Diva,鈥� featuring music by pop powerhouses Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan,鈥� she described. 鈥淔or this performance, we鈥檒l be showcasing some of today鈥檚 biggest hits, including: 鈥楢bracadabra,鈥� 鈥楨spresso,鈥� and Pink Pony.鈥�

Fabian added, 鈥淕et ready for high energy, bold visuals, and major diva vibes and stay tuned as we unveil more of the full production throughout the season!鈥�

Raniyah Adams, of Bessemer City, N.C., is the new drum major. She auditioned for the position by submitting a video of herself conducting and then presenting an in-person teaching segment and conducting the national anthem and other songs. A computer information systems major, Adams has been a member of the Marching Bulldogs for three years. 鈥淚 am truly honored and excited to have been selected as drum major, and I look forward to stepping into this role with pride and dedication,鈥� she affirmed. 鈥淪o far, this year has taught me so much about what it means to be a leader. I鈥檝e grown not only as a drum major, developing my skills and confidence on the podium, but also as someone who can guide, motivate, and support others. Every challenge and rehearsal have pushed me to be stronger, more patient, and more determined.鈥�

Her favorite part of this year鈥檚 halftime show is the opener. 鈥淚t has a little bit of a rock feel and very upbeat,鈥� she observed. 鈥淚 believe fans are going to enjoy this show. We鈥檙e playing some very popular songs by very popular artists that are topping the music charts. I hope it encourages everyone to sing and dance during our performances.鈥�

She continued, 鈥淓very time I step onto the field, I feel a rush of excitement. I think about all the hours of hard work it took to get to that moment, and I can鈥檛 help but picture my family in the crowd. More than anything, I just want to give it my all and make the people I love proud.鈥�

Makenzie Harris, of Bessemer City, is the drumline section leader. She also likes the upbeat opening movement. A biology major with a biomedical science concentration, she has been a member of the band for four years. 鈥淚 think the fans will be super excited about this show as we are playing new hit songs,鈥� she asserted. 鈥淥ur student section will appreciate our second movement a lot, I believe.鈥�

Harris said she loved learning the show with the band members, and especially those in her section. 鈥淭hey make me so proud to be a section leader,鈥� she praised. 鈥淚 am super excited for my senior year. When I take the field, I think about how far I have come since I was a marcher in my freshman year of high school, and I feel so proud of myself. I am motivated to make every performance amazing, and I perform each time like it is my last.鈥�

The colorguard section leader, Kaselynn Mitchell, of Woodstock, Ga., believes that the show is exceptional because the musicians, guard, and dance section have worked many hours to become a cohesive group. 鈥淭he best part of the show this year is the unity across every section of the band, which really shines through in our performance,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭he color guard choreography adds to that sense of connection because it matches the music so well and helps bring the entire show to life.鈥�

On game day, Mitchell feels confident and grateful. 鈥淚鈥檓 truly blessed to have the opportunity to walk onto the field surrounded by my band family and share with the audience what we鈥檝e worked so hard to perfect,鈥� she stated. 鈥淭he moment the band begins playing, all my nerves disappear, and I feel completely carried by the music as I put my heart and soul into every movement of the choreography. My love for performing motivates me to give my best effort each time, and I鈥檓 also driven by the joy of connecting with both the audience and my teammates.鈥�

Mitchell added, 鈥淥ne of the biggest things I鈥檝e learned this year in marching band and color guard is how much I value the leadership team we have. I love the way we work together because everyone brings their own strengths, and we support each other to make the whole band stronger. Being part of such a collaborative and encouraging group has taught me how important strong leadership and teamwork are to our success.鈥�

猫咪头条 University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 猫咪头条 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Learn more at .