Taking the reins: An interview with Paige Barnhart, Executive Officer

As the conclusion of this weekend’s Spring Game ushers in a new and exciting season of the Marching Virginians, marchers both new and old will be meeting some new faces in this year’s leadership committee. While we painfully say goodbye to some of the MV’s finest, it goes without saying that the new crop of leadership members are going to work their hardest to make the upcoming season one of the best yet. 

I had the chance to digitally interview newly elected Executive Officer Paige Barnhart over the past week. Her expertise from previous band experiences will absolutely radiate as she takes on this new role. Get to know our new XO below! 

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Hi, Paige! Photo: Paige Barnhart

For those who may not know you just yet, can you tell readers a little about yourself? 

My name is Paige and I’m a rising junior majoring in Computational Modeling and Data Analytics from Chesapeake, Virginia! I am a member of the Net section and this upcoming season will be my third season with the MVs! This past season I served as the Marketing and Communications Officer (MCO) assisting in running this wonderful page known as Marching with the Virginians. I am SO excited to serve as the newest elected Executive Officer for 2024-2025 and the memories we will all make as a band!

Can you talk about your experience with the MVs up to this point?

I auditioned for the MVs as an incoming freshman who quite literally knew nobody and nothing about college life. Showing up to band camp the same day I moved into my college dorm, I was TERRIFIED. The audition process is so unique and personal to everyone auditioning and I truly am so happy I was able to find a home in the MVs. Going into my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to be a part of leadership, so I applied for the Officer Team and got the position of MCO! Being a part of the Officer Team, and just leadership in general, has changed the way I view the band in such a positive way, which led me to falling in love with and applying for the position of XO.

How have the MVs changed your life, and how will the XO position contribute to your experience with the band?

When I got admitted to VT, I knew I wanted to be in the marching band from being a part of the band all throughout high school and serving in leadership positions. College is hard, everyone will tell you that, but having a group of people to go through it with, makes it worth it and this band has brought me that. My amazing rank (Sass Rank 11 all the way!) not only welcomed me in with open arms but has always supported me and made long game days and practices SO much better with our rank snacks and traditions! To the entire Net section (current and olds), starting with the famous Aaron George who believed in me from the beginning, my roommates who we will forever be known as the “sophomore trio”, meeting my actual twin flames, and racing to Pigeon Forge on a random weekend in March with all of my best friends, I wouldn’t be able to accept the XO position and share my love for the MVs without any of you. Continuing to advocate for the band in the position of XO will only open me up to meeting more and more people. If you know me, I will yap forever and I cannot wait to meet all of our new members this upcoming season and welcome them with the same open arms my Net home gave me.

How do you plan to utilize the position as XO to continue great success within the MVs?

My goal for the MVs is to make the new members feel at home! Getting the news congratulating you on making it is such an amazing feeling, and I want to make sure that happy and joyful feeling of being excited for band never goes away while spending time with the MVs. From being in a sorority at the same time as the MVs, I have learned so much about sisterhood and the relationships that come with such tight knit groups of people. As XO, I aspire to create a form of mentorship program where new members can be matched with upperclassmen to better integrate them into the MV experience! Coming to college and having classes start almost immediately is already enough to worry about, but being a part of a strong and positive environment shouldn’t be something else our new members should have to worry about. By doing this, my goal is to ease the transition for our new members while also giving them the opportunity to socialize with sections of the band that are not their own! We are a band family, no doubt about it, and we are welcoming a whole new group VERY soon, so why not start now?

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Paige and many other leadership members will be all around the Marching Virginians in the upcoming weeks. Be sure to say hello and introduce yourself if you see them! 

"Day One" as a Newcomer

MVs were met by Elmo coming into band camp! Source: MV Online Content

To be a part of the Marching Virginians is no small accomplishment. Members of the Spirit of Tech underwent two grueling days of full-length band camp, where marchers returned to the Sochinski-McKee Marching Virginians Center on three separate occasions each day. Drill was learned, instruments were played, and relationships were formed. None of it was guaranteed - not until the clock struck 7:00 pm on August 15th. 

In the Marching Virginians, everyone is given the opportunity to audition for a spot. Everyone is judged equally, even returners; skill is analyzed as if a marcher has never set foot on the gorgeous turf field where MVs practice. This made for a very stressful first two days.

One of the many beautiful sunsets from the Sochinski-McKee Marching Virginians Center. Source: Benjamin Gozzi

For myself, I had the opportunity to audition for a spot within the MVSaxes. Over my first two days, I worked to not only demonstrate an understanding of marching band and music as a whole, but to also form positive first impressions with the wonderful cast of leadership in the sax section. As time flew by, and a nerve-wracking wait of nearly two hours passed, the member list was revealed. The time struck 7:00 pm, August 15th. 

In all honesty, I about floated back to the MVC. Those who I had formed close relationships with over the two days had all earned a spot in the band, and we wore grins the size of a 2-to-5 step on the way back to band camp. Once we had arrived, a gorgeous red-yellow sunset was the backdrop for pure excitement — meeting with our sections, we were divided into ranks, a foreign concept to both myself and many of my fellow rookies. As each member of our respective ranks were introduced, I distinctly remember each person roaring and clapping for each new member of the saxophone section. It was an experience that truly made me realize how much the Marching Virginians feels like family. 

A collection of saxophone members at the opening season game versus Old Dominion. Source: Benjamin Gozzi

The most profound moment of the evening, however, was not rank reveal, or the applause, or even the goodie bags my rank captain, Alex Shupp, gave us.

That moment was at the end of the night. There’s a tradition that, although short, perfectly represents the significance of the band itself - it truly makes you feel like you’re flying. On this night, I felt that way. An induction ceremony of sorts as practice concluded, it was beautiful — a musical way of lifting the stress of the previous 48 hours off of our shoulders.

Benjamin Gozzi’s first Elmo picture. Source: MV Online Content

As MVSax and newcomer Drew DiFilippo states, it was “like [we] could let [our] guard down and all the stress went away…everyone was in and I could become friends with everyone.” 

Drew articulates a sentiment I’m sure many newcomers can agree on - after all of the blood, sweat, and tears, we were officially a part of the 50th season of the Marching Virginians. I’ll be honest, I teared up.

The experiences I’ve now had since that moment, including many amazing practices, section nights, and spending one too many hours in the Beamer-Lawson Practice Facility in the pouring rain, have all been so worth it. I always reflect on “Day One” and feel so grateful to be in this band. I cannot wait to see what the future has in store!

Band Camp 50!

Welcome back, Marching Virginians and fans! We’ve missed seeing your smiling faces around the MVC these past few months. 

Band Camp flew by with field leadership, officers, rookies and returners working hard to get up to speed and get ready for our exciting 50th season ahead. Let’s hear what some of our MVs thought about the week!

Shawn “Ronald” Regalado, VTuba rookie. (photo credit to MV Online Content)

Was band camp what you expected?

“As someone who is coming from a small high school that had about forty-ish members, said VTubas rookie Shawn “Ronald” Regalado, “seeing the pace that we learn everything and the different cultures in each section and the sheer size of the band itself was a lot to take in. It really blew away my expectations going into band camp as a rookie.”

Carter Bohart, MVPix rank captain. (photo credit to MV Online Content)

How was your first week of leadership? 

“I enjoyed meeting all of the new band members and getting to work with them, [to] kind of hand down what I learned as an incoming member,” said new MVPix rank captain Carter Bohart. “[I enjoyed] giving them tips and tricks in the MV marching style and helping them become acclimated to the environment.”

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th season?

“I’m looking forward to bringing back some old shows that we used to march and just celebrating the accomplishments that this band has brought about in 50 years, being one of the youngest bands in the nation,” said Bohart.

Megan Mansfield, returning MV manager. (photo credit to Megan Mansfield)

What are you most looking forward to for the 50th season?

“The community,” said returning manager Megan Mansfield. “Now that I’ve met more people from last season and also [been] helping with uniforms, I know more people from almost every section. So now, the games, cookouts and going out with people, it’s going to be a lot more fun because it’s easier to make connections.”

All said, the MVs can’t wait for season 50 to really get started. Our first game is against ODU on September 2nd, and will be our annual MV for a Day event! This is a great opportunity for high schoolers to check out our program and see what collegiate marching is really like.

We’ll see you there!