Peter Lin, a sophomore in arts application was sitting with his fellow band members in wind ensemble when band director Paul Garcia walked in with special orders from the White House. The excitement in the room at the time was palpable, but Garcia asked anyways if the N.C . State marching band would be ready to perform for President Barack Obama.
“We were all excited,” Lin said. “Everyone said yes.”
There will be no touchdowns to highlight, no roaring crowds of football and marching band fans, but according to Lin, playing for President Obama is just as exciting and the marching band believes that they are prepared this morning to give President Obama a friendly Wolfpack welcome.
Even for a fourth year marching band veteran like Karin Hurwitz , a senior in history, who has marched in bowl games and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland, this opportunity is a special one.
“This is a completely mind-blowing opportunity,” she said.
Nevertheless, this performance is not without unique challenges. With the highest standards for security, band members had to surrender their instruments Tuesday night to the Secret Service and White House staff for inspection and safe keeping until this afternoon’s performance. Color-guards and majorettes will not get a chance to perform. Food items are permitted only under strict guidelines.
But Lin remains hyped despite all of the extra precautions.
“I feel really privileged,” he said. Lin had considered joining one of the Marine marching bands that plays for presidential functions.
“This is a good trial for me,” he said.
Fielding 320 band members, this is one of N.C . State’s largest bands in recent history. Band numbers have been growing. The band has just received new specialized drums for the drum-line. The marching band is using props for the first time since Garcia has been in charge.
This year has been a year of change for the marching band, according to Garcia, but as far as representations of N.C . State spirit go, President Obama will be welcomed by what Garcia believes is a great one.
“We have students in the marching band from Taiwan, Australia, from all over the United States not just North Carolina, we have students from virtually every major on campus,” Garcia said, “so the band is essentially a smaller version of our campus… The band is representing all of the students here at N.C . State.”
Aaron Marcus, a senior in applied mathematics, agreed.
“I do believe they are a good representation… they are hard working and they have loads of school spirit,” he said.
Despite the fact President Obama will not be able to see every aspect of N.C . State in person, he will at least get to see the best of what the marching band has to offer.
