Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
WCU marching band awarded Sudler Trophy
West Chester is the first Division II school band to be honored by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.
WEST CHESTER >> West Chester University’s “Incomparable” Golden Rams Marching Band is the first Division II school band to be awarded the prestigious Sudler Trophy by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Representatives from the Foundation and the Sudler family presented the coveted award to the band during halftime of the University’s home football game on Saturday, Sept. 21 in the John A. Farrell Stadium.
“This is a significant award in the history of our beloved ‘Incomparable’ Golden Rams,” said John Villella, former band director and current vice president for University Affairs and chief of staff. “Our band has thrilled fans with topnotch performances for well over 100 years and we are justifiably proud of our program and this legacy of excellence.”
Known as the “Heisman Trophy of the collegiate band world,” the award recognizes bands demonstrating the highest musical standards and innovative marching routines, as well as for important contributions to the advancement of marching band performance standards over a period of years.
As a recipient of the award, WCU’s “INCOMPARABLE” Golden Rams Marching Band joins the ranks of marching bands from top Division I schools including Ohio State University, Penn State University, University of Notre Dame and others. In all, 32 recipients have been honored with the Sudler Trophy since the award’s inception in 1982.
In addition to representatives from the Sousa Foundation and the Sudler family, on-hand to accept the trophy were the band’s current 324 members, hundreds of alumni of the band, fans attending the game, and four generations of ‘Incomparable’ Golden Rams Band Directors dating back to 1968.
The trophy, designed by distinguished artist Ed Blackwell, sits atop a marble base and consists of a bronze drum major astride
a football stadium. It measures exactly 22½ inches from the base to the tip of the drum major’s mace; precisely the size of a standard 8 to 5 step in marching. It will be on display in the Wells School of Music for the next two years.
“It is a big year for our ‘Incomparable’ Golden Rams Marching Band,” said Christopher Hanning, Dean of West Chester’s Wells School of Music.” In addition to the Sudler Trophy, they will be featured as the first Division II band in an upcoming episode of the documentary ‘Take the Field’. The band will also will also march in the 100th Anniversary 6abc/ Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade.”
The Golden Rams Marching Band performs regularly at WCU football games, numerous exhibition events throughout the region and at special events for the university and community. The band has performed at Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, New York Giants and Washington Redskins football games.