In the making of making it better than the best ever – The Marching 110

 Above and below: The Marching 110 practices one of their tunes on Friday evening before the game against Southeast Louisiana. Above, the students must make sure their steps are the proper height and direction. Below the members dance in place while still ensuring their volume and tone are up to par.

Above Field Commander, Dylan Chase, counts off the band for their marching warm-up.

Photos taken by Allison Cook

Allison Cook and Alyssa Murtagh

JFresh Reporters

     “1!” “2!” “3!” the drums begin their count off in the end zone as the announcer brings the gathering crowd’s attention to the field. It’s only pregame and the crowd is already going nuts.

     The Marching 110 is Ohio University’s own marching band, performing not only at the college’s home games but also at professional football games, a high school game and even at a festival. But how and when did the band begin? And how does roughly 245 students put on a performance so well?

     The Ohio University Marching Band (OUMB) was founded in 1923.

     “In 1923, a Ohio University student by the name of Homer Baird decided that Ohio University needed a marching band of its own,” according to www.ohio.edu/marching110.

     From there Baird organized a meeting and the band began to take shape. Raymond Connet, a local music teacher, became the OUMB’s first director, and the band consisted of about 30 students.

     Curt Jansen became the band’s director in 1927 when he arranged OU’s Alma Mater.

     In 1950 the band became female-only since most of the men were off fighting in the Korean War.

     In 1966 Gene Thrailkill took over.

     According to www.marching110.com, “when Gene Thrailkill came from the University of Michigan, [he] began what was to be the biggest change ever in the Ohio University Marching Band.”

     It was Thrailkill that made the OUMB a men’s only band. He also “introduced the hard-driving, high-energy style you see today” according to www.ohio.edu/marching110.

     It was during the first season of this change that the band became known as the “100 Marching Men of Ohio.”

     The ‘60s brought many other changes and additions including OU’s Fight Song and the introduction of the Alma Mater.

     1975 was another big year of change for the 110 Marching Men of Ohio. It was this year that director Ronald P. Socciarelli readmitted females into the band. Despite this change the band retained the name “Marching 110.”

     Today the band is under the direction of Director Richard Suk, Assistant Director Joshua Boyer, Andrew Trachsel, the Director of Bands, and Graduate Assistants: Jeremy Harman and Justin Kevan.

     Below the directors, the band is well structured and organized. At the top of the students is the Field Commander.

     This year senior, trombone player Dylan Chase holds this top position. He has been playing trombone since 6^th grade and is now a music major. A part from the 110, Chase is part of a Brass Quintet known as Brick City Brass and is a part of a band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.

     As Field Commander, Chase had the opportunity to talk to the incoming band members and teach them everything they need to know to be a part of the 110. He also oversees the band and calls the band to attention at the beginning of each rehearsal.

     “I am also […] in charge of morale and pushing the band to be better. I’m in charge of our fundamental marching style and just the success of the band” Chase said.

     Under the Field Commander there are three Dance Coordinators, Ryan Andrews – who is the captain and Chase’s second in command, EmmyRay Watson, and Matt Figeeda. Below the Coordinators are the 2 sets of section leaders for each section: roughly 2 music and 2 marching leaders. These section leaders are in charge of the 2 biggest components of marching band – sound and sight.

     The music leaders are in charge of the sound component of the band. From making sure their section has all the music for the upcoming performance memorized to helping individuals who are struggling to learn the pieces.

      That leaves the marching leaders to be in charge of the visual of the band. They have to make sure their section is marching correctly and that all the uniforms look sharp.

     The student positions mentioned above are a part of the teaching staff. All of these leaders must be at least a third year in the band.

     Under the teaching positions the band is broken down into squads. Each squad consists of four members with one being the leader.

     “We are very supportive of each other” Chase said.

     The squad isn’t the only support component of the band.

     Chase said, “In this band, we’re all a family. There’s [roughly] 249 members, about 60 first years and about nine sections, but it all comes down to one band. I just love all the people [in the band].”

     But the support group isn’t the only thing that makes the band so strong. The band’s motto this year has been, according to Chase, “Make it better than the best ever.”

    “It’s not about comparing yourself to other bands or to other members” Chase said. “It’s about making it your personal best.”