{"id":288215,"date":"2025-10-09T03:29:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/288215\/"},"modified":"2025-10-09T03:29:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T03:29:16","slug":"uta-marching-band-brings-the-heros-journey-to-the-field-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/288215\/","title":{"rendered":"UTA marching band brings ‘The Hero\u2019s Journey’ to the field | Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Marching<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

UTA\u2019s Maverick Marching Band practices Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. The marching band\u2019s 2025 show is called \u201cThe Hero\u2019s Journey\u201d and features music such as \u201cFly to Paradise\u201d by Eric Whitacre.<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

The hero stood at the 50-yard line, flute slightly trembling in her hand.<\/p>\n

She stepped forward \u2014 alone.<\/p>\n

She took a few deep breaths to center herself and looked to the drum major, her bandmates and the color guard scattered across the field. Then she played the first note of her solo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the reflection period,\u201d said Kate Ullrich, music education junior and flute soloist. \u201cWe\u2019re coming to a moment of clarity, and just coming to my senses as hero and being like, \u2018This is what I need to do, I have the strength to do it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Ullrich and her fellow UTA bandmates have been hard at work preparing for their upcoming program, \u201cThe Hero\u2019s Journey,\u201d a blend of music, movement and formation which they perform during exhibitions at high school marching band competitions.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A marching band student plays a percussion instrument during the preview of the 2025 show music Sept. 12 at Brazos Park. A movement of the show uses music from \u201cThe Super Mario Bros. Movie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

Megan Moore, music education junior and drum major, said she has witnessed the show\u2019s evolution from the beginning at band camp, when people didn\u2019t really know each other, to now rehearsing three, sometimes four, times a week.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just really cool to see everyone\u2019s dedication and how much time people spend here with each other trying to get better,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Jacob Hamilton, music industry studies sophomore, tunes freshman Brent Penwarden’s drums during practice Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. Hamilton said the most important part of marching band is the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

Estrella Ruiz, political science sophomore and mellophone player, said being in the band is physically and mentally demanding, but it\u2019s achievable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s so many people that are helping you and supporting you throughout the whole process that it makes it really enjoyable,\u201d Ruiz said.<\/p>\n

That encouragement doesn\u2019t come without effort. It’s forged in the heat of the Texas sun during the hustle and repetition of weekly rehearsals.<\/p>\n

At a Thursday evening practice, the work was constant. Water breaks were brief. Band members hustled across the field, instruments and flags in hand. A voice over the speaker called out instructions as the band rehearsed the final part of its show.<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Marching band students play contrabass bugles during practice Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. The organization has been at UTA for over 100 years.<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

At one point, members assigned an odd-numbered drill chart sang through the music while those with an even-numbered drill chart counted their steps to the next formation.<\/p>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s hard to stay focused during practice with everything happening around her, Ruiz said. But she reminds herself that slipping out of position could endanger her and those around her.<\/p>\n

Her passion also helps her stay present in practice, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI enjoy what I do,\u201d Ruiz said. \u201cIf I have a passion for something, why wouldn\u2019t I pay attention to what I\u2019m doing?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Music education sophomore Haven Jackson twirls a flag during marching band practice Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. Jackson is a member of the color guard.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

For others, the band is more personal \u2014 a place to feel seen and valued.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Polk, studio art sophomore and auxiliary percussionist, a position otherwise known as rack, said that college band feels different from high school. Back then, she was one of many in a large percussion section. Now, she feels her presence truly matters, as the only UTA band member who plays rack.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was this one time I ran into a professor and he\u2019s like, \u2018Well, I mean if you keep coming back, we\u2019ll just write rack parts for you,\u2019 and I\u2019m like, \u2018Okay, that sounds cool, I\u2019m down,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Students<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The UTA Marching Band previews its 2025 show music Sept. 12 at Brazos Park. The marching band is open to students of all majors.<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond rehearsals and relationships, it all comes back to the story the band is telling. The band brings the hero\u2019s journey to life \u2014 not just through drill formation and visuals, but through music that carries the audience through each phase.<\/p>\n

Chris Evans, associate director of bands, said the show features selections from \u201cSuper Mario Bros. Opus,\u201d from \u201cThe Super Mario Bros. Movie,\u201d \u201cRaisuli Attacks\u201d by Jerry Goldsmith and \u201cFly to Paradise\u201d by Eric Whitacre.<\/p>\n

The marching show starts upbeat, Evans said, before turning dark like an \u201cinevitable clash with the bad guy.\u201d From there, the music shifts toward inner resolve and ends in a final battle.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Music education senior Ges Leon adjusts the sound board during a marching band rehearsal Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. Leon said they balance and blend the audio electronics.<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

Through movement and equipment changes, the color guard adds visual layers to the show.<\/p>\n

Rebekah Watson, operation and supply chain management sophomore and colorguard member, said the opener is lighthearted and ends with a Mario jump. For the ballad, the team uses swing flags, which are \u201cnice and pretty,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The show ends with the conflict, Watson said, and the choreography reflects that: the color guard sweeps across the field in sharp, urgent patterns, tossing their flags in 45-degree angles that cut through the air at jagged angles, like a visual clash unfolding.<\/p>\n

\"Silhouettes<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Marching band members hold hands and sing the UTA alma mater after practice Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. The band rehearses Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Photo by Samarie Goffney<\/a><\/p>\n

After hours on the field Thursday evening, with the sunlight slowly fading away, the energy held. Members checked angles and made corrections between each rep as the metronome clicked steadily.<\/p>\n

As the final note of her solo rang out, Ullrich stood steady, a brass quintet behind her \u2013 no longer playing the hero but becoming her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been empowered as a hero,\u201d Ullrich said. \u201cI\u2019ve been a changed person \u2013 and now I\u2019m going to get out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

@tay._.sansom<\/p>\n

news-editor.shorthorn@uta.edu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UTA\u2019s Maverick Marching Band practices Sept. 17 at Maverick Stadium. The marching band\u2019s 2025 show is called \u201cThe…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":288216,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5138],"tags":[5229,9361,7371,7372,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-288215","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fort-worth","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-campus","10":"tag-fort-worth","11":"tag-fortworth","12":"tag-texas","13":"tag-tx","14":"tag-united-states","15":"tag-united-states-of-america","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","18":"tag-us","19":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115342093223826936","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=288215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288215\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/288216"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=288215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=288215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}