Bigger band, bigger sound

Alexis Lawrence was the only trombone player in Augustana's marching band when she was a freshman. This fall, she has seven other trombonists marching beside her.

Five years after the university officially restarted the program, the Augustana Marching Band has 106 members, the largest it has ever been. 

Lawrence said the additional musicians give the band's sound much more power. 

“When I was listening to the first recording of the band performing, I was shocked at the absolute wall of sound that came from us,” she said. “It’s so exciting.”

The low brass section, which consists of trombones, euphoniums and sousaphones, has seen some of the most growth.

"This year, because it's a lot of new people, we're able to build that community together, and it's a community I feel more comfortable being in," Lawrence said.

Director Boyd Perkins credited the growth to hard work from both staff and students.

“We work to find students who play instruments and reach out to them as much as we can,” Perkins said. “We try to be inclusive and get as many people as we can.”

More performers also change how the band marches. The larger size lets members create bigger, more interesting shapes, and more members means denser lines, which makes those shapes more defined.

Recruiting is only part of the effort. Perkins said he hopes to retain these strong numbers and to build a stronger sense of community within the band. To help, he created a band ambassador role to answer new members’ questions and make sure everyone feels welcome.

Sophomores Nikolas Akhvlediani and Mary Knott and senior Rejoice Davis were chosen as ambassadors last spring.

“We sent out surveys to freshmen to see if there were potential concerns about moving in,” Akhvlediani said. “We don’t just make sure they’re welcome in the band, but also in the school overall.”

Perkins an established identity is important for the band to build around, including the band’s sound, its approach to performance and how its connection with fans. 

Because the band doesn’t compete, much of its purpose is boosting the energy at football games. Members play in the stands during games and perform on the field at halftime. 

The band is still young, though, and Perkins said it is still finding its footing.

“As a new organization on campus we’re still struggling to get a foothold on the budget,” Perkins said. “There are some instruments that we would like to have available for students that we can’t afford right now.”