Band Students to Perform in National Championship Virtual Halftime Show

Students recorded themselves playing Beyoncé song for the performance

Seven Sacred Heart University marching band students will perform in a virtual halftime show for the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, joining hundreds of peers from 200 college bands across the country.

Forced to the sidelines this year due to the pandemic, the Intercollegiate Marching Band (IMB)—part of the College Band Directors National Association—was determined to keep the band spirit alive. Those who were selected for the show were asked to film themselves performing the Beyoncé song “End of Time.” Individual videos will be edited together to create a virtual performance that will air during halftime at the Jan. 11 game.

The seven SHU marching band students—chosen by Keith Johnston, SHU’s band director—are Danielle Provenzano ’21, Peter Burkins ’21, Maeve St. Onge ’22, Stephanie Pixley ’22, Caroline Fernandes ’22, Graham Templeman ’23 and Ellie Brady ’24. Johnston said students chosen to represent the band for the event are “good musicians, exciting performers and dedicated band members.” He added that their performance brings national exposure to the University’s band program.

“Playing music is such an important part of our students’ lives, but there are almost no opportunities for live performances right now,” Johnston said. “So bands are creating new virtual ways for students to interact and perform with each other, and this is an incredibly exciting opportunity. SHU band members have performed around the world, but this – the biggest event in college football that will be seen by millions of fans – is going to be an experience unlike anything anyone has seen before.”

The IMB halftime performance will showcase all aspects of a college halftime show: musicians, drum majors, color guard, dancers and majorettes.

“It’s such a cool opportunity to share the passion for performance and make music that we’ve all missed out on this year due to COVID. We were unable to have any real performances at SHU this year, so this has been great for me,” said St. Onge, a color guard member.

Provenzano, a clarinet player, said the seven students received an email from Johnston in early November about the opportunity. The Kings Park, NY, resident said she was “super excited.”

“Within the next few days, we were sent a link to all the music and the directions for participation,” said Provenzano.

Brady, a Ridgefield resident, is in the marching band’s percussion section, on the vibraphone. She said she was thrilled to be chosen, but she was unsure how she would play her part from home because she didn’t have her instrument. To Brady’s delight, Andy Kolar, SHU’s assistant director of bands, delivered her a full-sized marimba vibraphone so she could perform. “It will be living with me and my family until I return to school in February,” said Brady, a media arts major studying in the College of Arts & Sciences.

“Learning the music was really fun. I enjoyed the song choice because I think you can never go wrong with a good Beyoncé tune,” she said

The dance was Brady’s favorite part. Being in the pit doesn’t provide her with many opportunities to rock out, she said, but for this piece, she was excited to be included in the big sequence.

“Overall, this experience is really amazing to be a part of,” Brady said. “It’s something that’s never been done before and might never happen again given the circumstances, so participating makes it feel like we are part of something even bigger.”

Media arts major St. Onge, of LaGrangeville, NY, said learning the choreography wasn’t difficult. “I filmed myself in my backyard and then uploaded it.” she said, adding that she likes the song selection and thinks it’s a good “spirit-lifter” after the events of 2020.

Provenzano, a public health student studying in the College of Health Professions, was slightly intimidated at first by the processes’ quick turnaround. “But once I listened to the music, I realized how fun the experience would be for us and the audience,” she said.

Provenzano said the hardest part was finding a quiet spot at home to film. She had to reset the recording several times because her dogs kept moving around and making noise in the background. Other than dealing with her excited pet, she said, putting her marching band uniform on one last time as a senior was a great feeling.

“Personally, getting the chance to be in this band with musicians from across the country is unimaginable. Although it may be different online, this may be one of the only times I get the chance to play with musicians from around the country. During the pandemic, one thing that has kept me focused is music and playing the clarinet. I hope that the effort all of the musicians put into this music helps those stuck inside around the country, just as it has helped me,” Provenzano said.