Who we are:
The Varsity Marching Band Council is a group of students who volunteer their time to improve the Pitt Band and its impact on the Pitt community. The council was founded in 2018 and is composed of four committees which focus on improving the band’s social atmosphere; developing communications between band students, staff, the Athletic Department, and the Pitt community; giving back to our community through service and education; and heightening the band’s presence on Pitt’s campus while maintaining the Band’s unique traditions. The VMBC creates the Pitt Band Tradition Book to be distributed to each member at band camp, hosts social events like the Pitt Band Talent Show and performances like The Snake, leads the Pitt Band Mentorship program, and creates social media content to spread Pitt Band’s name and notoriety. The council is led by an executive board that acts as a liaison between the Athletic Department, the director of the band and the council.
Our mission statement:
The Varsity Marching Band Council’s mission is to maximize the overall experience of every band member by maintaining historic tradition, fostering communication with Athletics, and promoting positivity and wellness throughout the band. We serve as ambassadors to represent the voice of every band member and to influence growth within the band and university community.
The Varsity Marching Band Council carries out its goals through four committees:
Traditions and Spirit - maintains important Pitt Band traditions as well as fostering new ones. It strives to increase the band’s presence on campus to heighten school spirit.
Communications - enhances overall communication in Pitt Band as well the communication between Pitt Band and the community. Runs official Pitt Band social media accounts across multiple platforms.
Bettering the Band & Socials - focuses on improvements within the band by improving the mindset and health of the band by creating projects to give band members resources to better themselves and increasing camaraderie within the band by organizing social events.
Service & Activism - focuses on improvements outside of the band through service outside of the band, such as Adopt-a-Block and environmental-oriented initiatives, and providing the entire band with opportunities to increase activism-centered learning through events and activities.
VMBC Projects:
Traditions Book
The VMBC creates a book for new members that features University and Band history, traditions, and trivia. Check out the 2021 Traditions Book here!
The Snake
The Snake is an old VMB tradition that began in the 1950s. On the Friday before a home game, the Band marched throughout lower campus, weaving through sidewalks, buildings, trolley cars, and campus lawns while playing the Fight Songs. The Varsity Marching Band Council brought the tradition back for the 2019 and 2021 Homecoming to preserve the Band’s history, strengthen our on-campus presence, and get ready for Gameday!
Mentorship Program
The Pitt Band mentorship program pairs incoming new members with an upperclassman of a similar major. This gives new members a mentor as they adjust to life at Pitt and in the Pitt Band! The VMBC hosts mentorship events and hosts a bingo competition that encourages mentor-mentee pairs to spend time together exploring Pitt and the city.
Pitt Band Talent Show
The VMBC hosts a talent show open to all band members in the spring semester! Past acts have included card magic, impressions, singing, dancing, and spontaneous written poetry.
Social Media Engagement
The VMBC helps run the official Pitt Band social media accounts, creating and posting fun content to drive engagement.
Service Events
Past service events in our Pittsburgh community have included Adopt-a-Block, where delegates and band members picked up trash on the VMBC’s adopted highway as well as South Oakland. In addition, delegates have assisted with community-wide tree adoption events as well as food/clothing drives.
Activism Awareness
In 2022, the VMBC adopted the Pitt Band Activism Committee to continue the work of promoting activism-centered learning through events and activities. The VMBC plans to accomplish this through resources such as student leader diversity, equity, and inclusion training at the beginning of the season.
Joining the VMBC:
The VMBC term follows the calendar year and delegates serve from January to December. Applications will open towards the end of the fall semester. The first round of the application process includes a written application, and the second round is an interview with executive board members.
2022 VMBC E-Board:
Jess Strauss, President
Kate Slavin, Vice President
Becca Mischler, Joint Liaison
Kalyn Bodien, Secretary
Reach out to our executive board at pittbandcouncil@gmail.com. Hail to Pitt!
Hail to Pitt!
