This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Ohio U chapter.
Thousands of voices screaming. Chilly autumn air blowing. Stadium lights beaming. Adrenaline courses through the veins of the Marching 110 members as they count down the final moments before their halftime performance begins. Among these talented musicians is junior tuba player Josh Buzzard, taking it all in.
“I like to listen to the crowd and think that what we’re about to do is for them, hoping to blow their socks off,” he says.
More than anything, the Marching 110 wants their hard work put into perfecting each formation, song, and dance move, to show.
Band camp kicks off a week prior to the start of fall semester with two marching practices– one in the morning and one at night– as well as an afternoon music practice, according to Josh. During the “normal season,” the band practices for 90 minutes daily, Monday through Friday; also, each Thursday night they attend dance rehearsal for one to two hours, and have another 90 minute practice before games.
Schedules can get chaotic for the Marching 110, but that hardly puts a damper on the advantages of being a part of this prestigious group.
“I love representing the university and entertaining at football games. It’s also a great place to meet a lot of people! We’re a very diverse group, with lots of non-music majors,” says Josh, who is majoring in Biology.
The band has been recognized time and time again for their outstanding performances, especially last year’s “Gangham Style,” which went viral on YouTube. It has been one of Josh’s favorites in the three years he has played tuba for the Marching 110, along with the recent number “Dream On.”