Go the distance
Liberty’s marching band displays musical excellence
A marching band brings more than music to a venue. As a result of the rumbling drums and the brilliant horns sounding through the air, there is a tangible fervor and spirit that fills anyone in attendance. This spirit can be seen in the audience listening to Liberty University’s own marching band, The Spirit of the Mountain.
Holding a company of 230, the Spirit of the Mountain seeks to entertain and exhibit musical excellence to the audience of thousands who come to Liberty’s football games each week. Dr. Stephen Kerr, the band’s director, admired the effort and dedication from his musicians.
“The band is a family — we work hard together and play hard together,” Kerr said. “This is a group of students who are talented, committed to excellence, sacrifice their personal time and energy to be a part of something greater than any person can by themselves, and do not seek to gain accolades or personal notoriety, but benefit the whole ensemble.”
With a large number of performers and such a high standard to maintain, there comes a need for responsible leaders who enjoy what they do, and the band’s 10 officers are exactly that. Sophomore Abigail Summers, one of the band’s officers, has enjoyed her experience as a member of the band and the many opportunities it has afforded her.
MARCH — The Spirit of the Mountain boasts 230 members and is led by 10 upperclassmen band officers and their band directors. Photo provided
“Getting to know more members through being an officer has been incredible, and it is so easy to serve these men and women who I love and who love God,” Summers said. “The Lord has blessed us abundantly, providing us with top-of-the-line equipment, staff and facilities to work with.”
Apart from regular appearances at Liberty’s athletic and community events, the band also hosts various band festivals and competitions for the state of Virginia and surrounding areas, and its Wind Symphony has performed across the country.
Kerr, who has been the band director for 16 years and a member of Liberty’s music program for 26 years, said the band is constantly trying to expand themselves and spread its reach into the community.
“We seek to honor the Lord in all we do: provide for social maturation and leadership opportunities, serve the community via performance and other means such as food drives with the Blue Ridge Food Bank, to partnering with the local public schools for marching band festivals in our … stadium,” Kerr said.
In all of these many opportunities to perform and interact with their community, the band members make sure to routinely take the time to gather together before God prior to rehearsals and games. According to Summers, the band members gather behind the Hancock Welcome Center before every home game, play “Be Thou My Vision,” and pause to pray for both one another and their upcoming performance.
“From section leaders to directors to other officers and regular members there is so much support not only musically, but also spiritually,” Summers said. “Getting to learn under directors and upperclassmen who are so experienced and who love the Lord so much has been indescribable.”
In regards to the band’s spiritual theme for the fall — “Go the Distance” — Kerr cited 1 Timothy 6:11-12, which says, “Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.”
Striving for more than greatness in musicianship, every person involved in the Spirit of the Mountain seeks to entertain and expand their abilities along with their spiritual beliefs.
Students can apply to audition to join the marching band and learn more about the band by visiting liberty.edu/band.
KLinker is a feature reporter.