After the wild success of their 2016 field show “Paint it Black,” the West Chester University Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band are taking the field yet again, but this time presenting “The Golden Feast.”
“The Golden Feast” is an elaborate production complete with 23 moving tables adorned with table settings and gold skirts. The band is led onto the field by drum majors John Paul Kuhar, Nora Hughes, Alec Hinchcliff and Ian Edge. The show begins with the color guard entering the grand ballroom of the feast. The band plays “Festive Overture” as the color guard dances with scarves. The color guard then welcomes the audience to the golden feast by introducing flags with the phrase “Welcome” on it in over 50 languages. The golden feast progresses and the tables begin moving, red and gold flags are introduced and the rifles begin their work.
The next song moves into an exciting part of the evening: cocktail hour. A soloist plays as the color guard begins to get a little tipsy while drinking from challises. Sabres dance, spin and swing flags depicting grapes to end the song.
Part one of the closer moves into the dinner portion of the evening. Sabres storm across the field, hungry and ready for the dinner party. Salad flags enter as well as three dancers carrying trays of salad. Next, the main course enters. Flags depicting beef and dancers carrying chickens join into the number. Finally, it is time for dessert. Cake flags and dancers holding large cakes have a feature on the field.
Part two of the closer features the song “Belshazzar’s Feast” which was color guard Director Todd Marccoci’s inspiration for the show. The tables move yet again, but this time they create one grand table, stretching the length of the field. The field is adorned with gold as the color guard spins gold flags and finally eight golden triangles emerge from the sides of the field and complete the golden feast.
The marching band not only puts on elaborate field shows and productions, but serves as a special place to its members. Senior color guard caption Anna Schade has been a member of the marching band for the past four years. Schade said, “I love the marching band due to its vastness. I meet new people every year and there’s always people; you don’t know who you have the chance to get to know.”
First-year color guard member Josiah Keller spoke of his experience with the program this year, “Well, this organization quickly took a very special place in my heart. I came into this program after two years of having not spun with an organized group of people, so it meant a lot to me . . . I was completely terrified that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the others who had been doing this for seasons longer than I, but there was so much overwhelming support and encouragement from so many people from the band and guard.”
The band is under the direction of Andrew Yozviak. The Assistant Director of Bands and the Drill Writer is M. Gregory Martin. The color guard is under the direction of Todd Marccoci. The color guard staff includes Amy Walp, Amy Buddock, Shannon Merrill, Chris Cromwell, Christian Orr and Tyler Shives. The battery percussion is under the direction of Darren Hazlett as well as Cody Gross. The front ensemble is under the direction of Katie German and Tyler Wales. The student coordinators for the marching band include Andrew Anthony, Donovan Donnelly, Brand Davis, and David Bonilla-Garcia.
The marching band has performed in a number of notable events including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, a Steeler’s Game and the Miss America Show Us Your Shoes Parade. Be sure to check out the “Golden Feast” at the next home football game on Nov. 11.
Abby Goss is a fourth-year student majoring in English with a minor in journalism. She can be reached at AG826189@wcupa.edu.