Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride hosts 137 high school musicians for halftime performance

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride hosted one of the largest contingents of high school musicians the event has had for its Fifth Annual Thiel Band Day on Saturday with 137 students representing more than 50 high schools and three states.

Students arrived that day, rehearsed during the afternoon and performed under the lights during halftime of Thiel College’s third-ever night football game. The band performed four songs (Any Way You Want It, 867-5309 (Jenny), Thriller and the Thiel Fight Song).

The Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride comprises 100 members and is celebrating its fifth anniversary as a college program. In that 5-year span the “TTMP” has been featured at many local and regional band festivals and has represented Thiel College in performance at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

“This is such a wonderful chance for high school students to get a hands-on, college-band experience for a day. High school football Fridays are an important institution in Western Pennsylvania, but so are college football Saturdays for many dedicated and accomplished college musicians. We are happy Thiel College can offer band day participants a taste of the collegiate atmosphere,” Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride director Andy Erb said. “That this year we had such a great turnout speaks volumes about what the musicians, many of whom are repeat participants, think of the event. It’s a good musical experience for students but beyond that it’s a great opportunity for band parents and community members alike to see an extraordinary and unique musical event.”