In February, at least eight marching bands will be at Walt Disney World taking part in Varsity Spirit’s 2020 Universal Cheerleaders Association National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC). Though the overall event focuses on the spirited sights and sounds of competitive cheer squads, the 2020 rendition will also showcase and score how pep bands work alongside their cheer teams to create a game-day environment.
Varsity Spirit, known for cheerleading apparel, competitions, and camps, has entered the marching arts industry. Following Varsity Brands’ merger with Herff Jones—producer of yearbook and school graduation products—in 2011, Varsity was purchased by Bain Capital for $2.5 billion in 2018 and is expanding its reach into the marching and music realm.
“We’ve been in the cheerleading and dance space for 40 years, and we’ve really seen how they interact with their band and what they do in terms of driving engagement inside of the schools,” says Bill Seely, president of Varsity Spirit. “We felt like it was a natural fit to get those three groups working together.”
Incorporating bands into the NHSCC is just one piece of Varsity’s move into the band world. Varsity Spirit acquired three companies in the marching band industry: Director’s Showcase International (DSI), Stanbury Uniforms, and S.A. Feather. Seely explains that moving into the marching world is all part of Varsity’s mission to get more students involved in school spirit activities.
“When kids are engaged in their school, when school spirit is high, student achievement is high,” Seely says. “They do better in classrooms. They feel more connected to their peers.”
A GAME DAY EXPERIENCE
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Denne historien er fra January/February 2020-utgaven av Halftime Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Vandegrift High School
When Mozart composed “The Magic Flute,” he likely didn’t envision a 386-member marching band and dance company performing the famous opera.
Captain Of Her Own Destiny
During my first season of high school marching band as a freshman trumpet player at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, I hardly noticed the four girls twirling flags at the back of the field.
VARSITY SPIRIT
A major new player has entered into the marching arts activity. See how Varsity Spirit, known for cheerleading apparel, competitions, and camps, has already made an impact to elevate the student experience.
THE AMBULANCE ARENA
Know how and why to activate the Emergency Medical Service for your event.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Group management tools help band directors communicate information, share photos, videos, and files, and even manage finances at their fingertips.
TARPS ON THE FIELD
Used in various shapes, sizes, and colors, tarps help marching groups transform the football field into their own stage.
THE DRUM MAJOR LIFECYCLE
From aspiring hopeful to drum major, from student to teacher, and from motivated to motivator, a drum major grows by leaps and bounds during her time on the podium with the University of Delaware and with the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy.
SPIRIT & SYNERGY
With formations of giant stick figures doing the “floss,”
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The University of Southern California ( U S C )Trojan Marching Band (TMB) has many nicknames:
REVIEWING GAME DAY SECURITY
Safety first! Both host and visiting bands must join forces with administrators and security personnel to create a positive event experience.
