As the Grand Valley Marching Band continues to expand and push the 200 member barrier, they will be doing so wearing new uniforms for the first time in over 10 years.

“There had been talk of it years ago before Dr. Martin was even here, but it was never a real possibility because of financial reasons,” said teaching assistant and former drum major Kyan Kiogima. “Our current uniforms are dark, plain, and generic. The sash across the front is the only thing that said our school name and even then it didn’t go with the “straight line” look that marching bands go for.”

When the idea to replace the uniforms came up, there were different options they had to consider.

“We had come to the point where the uniforms were reaching the end of their life and so we were either going to replace the existing uniforms or there was an option to have a new coat design,” said Associate Director of Bands John Martin. “That’s what we have done. We have not changed the hat, well, we have changed the gold stuff to silver stuff on the hat, but the overalls are the same.”

Overall, the band ordered 200 jackets, 50 hats, and 50 bibbers which enabled the band to have 200 complete new uniforms.

Jenelle Buehner is a drum major in the marching band and she has had to wear the band’s old uniform this past year.

“Most of the pants have been either altered and through the years they have been hemmed in different places so we have large uniforms with very short legs,” Buehner said. “There are a lot of worn areas that are fuzzy almost just from bass drum players or percussionists because we don’t have certain uniforms for certain sections, it just depends on size.”

Other condition issues that Buehner pointed out included missing buttons, broken zippers, and rips held together with string.

One of the changes that was made to the uniforms was the use of branding to help the band be identified more clearly as Grand Valley’s marching band.

“The only thing that signified Grand Valley (on the old uniforms) is a sash that attaches to the uniform so if you took that off all you have is a blue jacket and black pants,” Martin said. “There are a whole bunch of schools in the United States of America that have blue and black and there was nothing on the back of the uniform as well that signified a color change so when we turned around, it was like turning off the lights.”

The new uniforms will feature the Grand Valley logo on the front and on the back will be printed Grand Valley State.

“The new GV logo that athletics went to I think two years ago I believe, is very noticeable and it just stands out,” Martin said. “I asked permission from athletics and received it from Mr. Selgo so we could use that and he said yes. On the back of the uniform, that white shell goes to the back and the big block lettering that says Grand Valley State, it’s going to be very impressive on the field and they will know who we are.”

The overall cost for the uniforms totaled $50,000 with the money being raised through different avenues including the students giving up their stipend.

“One, from the students themselves, they forfeited their stipend last year, they voted to spend their 2012 stipend and put all that money, which was $100 per student to the uniform,” Martin said. The other funds were raised by a private donor and also with school funding.

“We are very thankful that there is concern and appreciation for us,” Martin said. “We were going to have to buy new ones or replacement uniforms and I’m very thankful that there is a commitment for us because the band has grown. Since my first year, I think we marched around 129 and this past season I think we marched 199.”

For students interested in trying out for the marching band, open auditions will be held on Saturday, March 30 for any wood, wind, or brass player, for color guard the tryouts will be May 18, and for drum line the tryouts will be May 18-19. For more information or to sign up for auditions, visit the marching band website at www.gvsu.edu/marchingband.
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