{"id":111088,"date":"2022-04-28T12:30:36","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T17:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=111088"},"modified":"2022-05-02T09:14:06","modified_gmt":"2022-05-02T14:14:06","slug":"um-band-getting-bigger-better-practice-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/um-band-getting-bigger-better-practice-field\/","title":{"rendered":"UM Band Getting Bigger, Better Practice Field"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

The Pride of the South marching band performs at halftime of the 2021 Ole Miss-Arkansas football game in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The university announced Wednesday (April 27) that it is moving forward to construct a new practice field for the band. Photo by Thomas Graning\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Seeking to expand and improve outdoor rehearsal conditions, the University of Mississippi<\/a> is committing $3.5 million to build a bigger, better practice field for its award-winning Pride of the South marching band<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Chancellor Glenn Boyce made the announcement late Wednesday (April 27) afternoon at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts to Ole Miss band students, faculty and staff. The university\u2019s commitment will pair with various gifts and major donations to the project from Helen Overstreet, Sumner and Risa Spralding, Cora Mitchell, and Alex and Linda MacCormack totaling approximately $330,000.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Ole Miss, we\u2019re committed to supporting and fostering the success of our students,\u201d Boyce said. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to see this moment that we have been working towards for years come to fruition for the Ole Miss band. Our students deserve this investment in them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new practice field will have proper drainage structures and lights, a new director\u2019s tower, a storage building and proper field access. Construction is slated to begin in August and be completed by summer 2023.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chancellor Glenn Boyce announces that the university has committed funding for a new practice field for the Pride of the South marching band. Construction on the project, which includes storage, draining and a new director’s tower, is set to begin in August. Photo by Thomas Graning\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/p><\/div>\n

The project was initially proposed at a Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board meeting nearly five years ago. At that time, a design fee of $65,000 was approved and the design professional was appointed. The project lay dormant until the university submitted a new request for a revised budget of $3.5 million, which the board approved last week.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new practice field is a great way to demonstrate our commitment and appreciation to the 300-plus dedicated and talented band members who work hard every day to contribute to the university\u2019s pride and passion,\u201d Boyce said. \u201cOur aim is that this new field will also enhance the meaningful opportunities and experiences that our students gain as members of the band.<\/p>\n

“More broadly, this is an exciting and rewarding development for the entire Ole Miss community as the Pride of the South is an essential part of our spirit, enthusiasm and excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n

UM music faculty, staff and students enthusiastically received the news and gave Boyce a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new practice field will enhance band practices and performances in many ways,\u201d band director Randy Dale said. \u201cThe students will be able to work and learn in a safe and comfortable environment every day. The instructors will have everything they need to successfully train members, detect and correct problems, and facilitate efficient practices.<\/p>\n

“Visitors and prospective band members will see a beautiful facility that will hopefully entice them to return to Ole Miss, hopefully many of them as a member of the Pride of the South.\u201d<\/p>\n

The funding for the new practice field is just one example of how the university is showing support for both its programs and its people, said Nancy Maria Balach, chair and professor of music.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Members of the Pride of the South marching band react to news that the university is moving forward to construct a new band practice field. Photo by Thomas Graning\/Ole Miss Digital Imaging Services<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThe new field will be used by band students who come from all across campus and will have great benefit to our growing department and established recruiting efforts,\u201d she said. \u201cWe sincerely thank UM’s administration for enabling the band and the Department of Music<\/a> to achieve new heights.\u201d<\/p>\n

Band members said that they are looking forward to rehearsals on the new practice field.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really grateful that we\u2019re getting it so soon,\u201d said Jaquavious Lee, a sophomore percussionist from Olive Branch. \u201cThe two years I\u2019ve been here, we\u2019ve practiced on a grass field that gets muddy and attracts bugs when it rains. I\u2019m really excited about practicing on a better field.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brandon Mitchell, of Meridian, said the news almost seemed surreal.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe idea of a new practice field has been talked about off and on the entire six years that I\u2019ve been here,\u201d said the graduate assistant, who will receive his master\u2019s degree in music education at the May 7 Commencement ceremonies. \u201cThis is my last semester, so I won\u2019t be around to enjoy it. Still, I\u2019m happy for everyone behind me and that it\u2019s finally happening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean Lee Cohen said the College of Liberal Arts<\/a> acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of all involved and are proud of the growth that is occurring in the Department of Music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pride of the South marching band is integral to the University of Mississippi experience,\u201d Cohen said. \u201cThis dedicated ensemble enhances the academic, cultural and athletic atmosphere for students, faculty, alumni and the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Naming opportunities for the new practice field remain available. For more information and to make a donation, contact Rob Jolly, UM development officer, at rjolly@olemiss.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Seeking to expand and improve outdoor rehearsal conditions, the University of Mississippi is committing $3.5 million to build a bigger, better practice field for its award-winning Pride of the South marching band. Chancellor Glenn Boyce made the announcement late Wednesday (April 27) afternoon at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the PerformingRead the story …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":111092,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1371,221,199],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nUM Band Getting Bigger, Better Practice Field - Ole Miss News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/um-band-getting-bigger-better-practice-field\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UM Band Getting Bigger, Better Practice Field - Ole Miss News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Seeking to expand and improve outdoor rehearsal conditions, the University of Mississippi is committing $3.5 million to build a bigger, better practice field for its award-winning Pride of the South marching band. 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