A Warm Hello From Zeta Lambda!!!

I hope that everyone is having a good and prosperous New Year! I know that here in good old Huntington, West Virginia, things are just peachy! We, brothers of Zeta Lambda, are off and running with the spring semester here at Marshall University. With the annual North Central District Convention just a few months away, our chapter is pumped and ready to go. Good Luck to everyone and hope to see you all there!

Because this edition’s theme for the Kadenza is “service,” our chapter thought that it was most appropriate to share with the district one of the biggest service projects of Marshall University, as well as our Tri-State area! Marshall’s annual Tri-State Marching Band Festival is an overwhelming service to our community and our college bands, not to mention our university. Members of Zeta Lambda are up bright and early on the day of for an all day event that doesn’t end until after the sun goes down. Our Tri-State Festival is the biggest band competition in West Virginia and brings in an average of $10,000 every year. Each member of our chapter sets up and works this all day event, while proudly wearing KKY on their shirts to let people know who puts on the show.

Months before the big day, information packets and registration forms are dispersed to area high schools to enable them to prepare for this exciting event. We have many schools wishing to participate every year that we unfortunately usually have to put a cut-off on the number of bands performing to a maximum of around 30 bands. There can only be so many bands in one day. However, we encourage participation from all schools. This is one of the main ways that we recruit new members for our fantastic music department here at Marshall! The area high school students get a taste of “The Marching Thunder” as well as Marshall University. This event also promotes more recruitment for the brotherhood of Kappa Kappa Psi. After this past year’s competition, our college marching band increased in over 100 members as well as 13 new additions to our chapter. That’s something to be proud of!

With all the jobs to perform for this event, members of The Marching Thunder volunteer their time and dedication to show our community what this school, this brotherhood and the passion of music truly means! Whether it is air-grams, T-shirt sales, judge running, announcing to band guides, CD sales, ticket sales and concession; we, Zeta Lambda and The Marching Thunder do it! It is truly an honor to serve our school and our LOVE for music! It’s in all in a days work here at MU!

Proudly Submitted,

Leanna Michelle Hankins
Zeta Lambda Sec/Tres