Spirit of Gold Marching Band

Spirit of Gold Marching Band
School	Vanderbilt University
Location	Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Founded	1920
Director	Dr. Douglas Morin
Assistant Director	Clark Hubbard
Members	approx. 110
Fight song	"Dynamite"

The Spirit of Gold Marching Band is the collegiate marching band organized by Vanderbilt University.

Membership

A unique feature of the Spirit of Gold is that membership in the marching band is open to all students enrolled at Vanderbilt as well as students from other colleges in the Nashville area. This includes Belmont, Lipscomb, Trevecca, Vol State and Nashville State. ^{[1] [2]} This does not apply to Tennessee State University as they already have their own marching band, the Aristocrat of Bands, nor to Fisk University who re-started their marching band in 2020 after a long hiatus. ^{[3] [4]}

Performances

Football

The band forms the core of the student section at intercollegiate football games hosted by Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium and performs at all Vanderbilt Commodores home football games, as well as one away game per season and any post-season games.

The band has developed many traditions that help add to the exciting atmosphere of Southeastern Conference football on game day. For example, the band leads the football team into every game day during Star Walk, performs for fans in Vandyville (the tailgating area outside FirstBank Stadium), and provides music for pre-game and in-game spirit. The band plays the university's fight song, "Dynamite", throughout the game as well.

The Spirit of Gold prepares a unique halftime show for every home game, performing from variety of musical genres and eras. Recent performances have featured music from Olivia Rodrigo, Fall Out Boy, John Williams, Earth, Wind, and Fire, and Bruno Mars.

Basketball, Anchor of Sound

During the spring semester, a 50-60-piece pep band is formed for performances at Vanderbilt's men's and women's basketball games played in Memorial Gym. ^[5] Members of the Anchor of Sound are divided into two bands, Black Band and Gold Band, each band playing at the same number of regular-season games. The Anchor of Sound, like the Spirit of Gold, travels to any post-season games for both men's and women's basketball. Anchor of Sound performs music similar to that which Spirit of Gold performs.

Additional Performances

In addition to their respective regular-season games, the Spirit of Gold performs at select home women's soccer games, while the Anchor of Sound performs at select home women's lacrosse games. ^[6]

Tau Beta Sigma

The Eta Phi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma serves the Spirit of Gold. The co-ed chapter consists of approximately 25 members, and, in 2009, received the Grace and A. Frank Martin Chapter Leadership Award, a biennial award that honors the outstanding chapter in the nation. ^[7] All members of the Spirit of Gold, regardless of university, are able to seek membership in Eta Phi.

External links

• The Spirit of Gold's Website
• Renditions of songs played by the band

Notes

1. "Ensembles | Vanderbilt University Band". Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
2. "Vanderbilt Spirit of Gold Marching Band". Vanderbilt Athletic Bands. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
3. "Fisk University Marching Band". Fisk University. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
4. Mitchell, Damon (November 29, 2020). "Fisk University Pumps New Life Into Marching Band After Decades-Long Hiatus". wpln.org. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
5. "Basketball Band | Vanderbilt University Band". Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
6. "Vanderbilt Athletic Bands Schedule" . Retrieved December 31, 2024.
7. "Tau Beta Sigma - National Honorary Band Service Sorority". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2010.