By Media Relations Intern, Sapna Daryanani
The Arizona State University Sun Devil Marching Band, under the direction of James G. Hudson, has received national recognition as one of the top 10 collegiate marching bands in the country. The Collegiate Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) selected ASU and nine other schools to be represented during the CBDNA convention in March.
The band’s submission video, featuring its Steely Dan Tribute performance from ASU Band Day 2014, will be presented on Thursday, March 26 at the CBDNA convention at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
ASU’s marching band was selected based on certain criteria including drill design, musical selections, visual ensemble enhancement and current or unique programming. Some of the other schools in the top 10 include Auburn University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan and University of Florida.
“We feature some very unique elements in our band program,” Hudson said. “Our wind and percussion sections both play very well. The way we incorporate and integrate our dance team, color guard, and feature twirlers into our shows is very unique. All three of these visual units are of very high quality and probably some of the best collegiately in the country. Our musical arrangements, both for the wind and percussion sections, I think set us apart.”
Hudson attributes the success of Sun Devil Marching Band to the program’s supporters, its staff members and its student members. The ASU Band Program will be entering its 100th year next fall, and the program has expanded greatly over the past few years to over 400 members.
“Our students work very hard and are proud of the SDMB and ASU,” Hudson said. “The support we get from President Michael Crow, Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson and of course the support of Verde and Cathy Dickey have made the transformation of our band in the past nine years much easier.”