MV for a Day, Sept. 5, 2026
This post was written by Rylie Willison, a freshman piccolo player.
The past few weeks have been riddled with ‘firsts’ for me. First (haha, get it?), I moved into a residence hall, and that evening I joined the MVs and had my first day of band camp. I started my first day of classes the following Monday, experienced my first Gobblerfest that Friday, and then had my first MV Blog meeting a week after that! Things didn't stop there; the next day consisted of my very first football game with the MVs — which was certainly a fantabulous first! And it was made even more magical by the event which occurred: MV for a Day.
MV for a Day is an annual event hosted by the MVs during which high school students from across the country join the MVs for a Day (hence the name). This year, we welcomed over 600 students from 8 different states, putting nearly 1,000 performers on the field at halftime! It was certainly a huge first for me, and it was also the first for many of the high schoolers. I got the privilege of interviewing some of those who have never experienced an MV for a Day before, and here’s what they had to say:
Tubas rehearsing the Hokie Pokie. Photo credit: Andrew Single
“There’s a lot of energy, and it’s super exciting…I love the Hokie Pokie,” says a piccolo player from Midlothian High School.
So much fun was had, and this high schooler is right about the energy! Everyone in the MVs was so eager to meet the high schoolers, and the high schoolers seemed to be having such a great time learning from and laughing with the MVs! My favorite memory from the pre-game rehearsal is when we split off into sectionals with the high schoolers, and we taught them the Hokie Pokie. Just imagine 50 young adults bouncing back and forth with jazz hands and big smiles! And imagine that like ten times! The entire rehearsal was brimming with excitement and “hype,” as a mellophone player from Southern Gap High School describes it.
“Exciting” seemed to be a common answer during the interviews, so I also learned what the high schoolers were most excited for. While many were excited for playing with the MVs, the most common answers were excitement for the MVs! The high schoolers were excited for “…the stand tunes…,” “…half time…,” and “Enter Sandman…” says a trombone player from Mountain View High School and a trumpet player and a trombone player from Goochland High School. As a mellophone player from William Byrd High School puts it…
MV trumpet player in the stands during the game. Photo credit: Andrew Single
“Hearing the band…[is] inspiring, to, like, play better”
…and I couldn’t have said it better myself. As a first for me, too, this game truly did inspire me to improve my playing; the expertise which the MVs brought to the field and the comfort they exhibited in the stands was something I didn’t experience in high school marching band. While high school marching band was an incredibly valuable experience — and also a lot of fun! — the MVs just have a different and unique air about them. Everyone in the band makes new members’, such as the South Gap mellophone player’s, experiences “really fun” and “very positive,” and leadership constantly spurs you to be the best person and player you can be!
At the end of the night, the MVs played “Fanfare from ‘Superman’” on the field for the remaining high schoolers. On my first last day of band camp with the MVs, they played this traditional stand tune for the first years, and it became my favorite moment from the whole week. Upon asking what their favorite moment was from MV for a Day, a baritone saxophone player from Yorktown High School shares my sentiment.
All in all, MV for a Day was a magical, inspiring, exciting first for many people, including myself and hundreds of high school students! I can’t wait for next year, to recognize returning faces and guide first years or new high schoolers through their very first MV for a Day.
