skip to content
Menu
Close Menu
Holly Leech
Secretary

Ph: (540) 464-7646 (Reg)
Ph: (540) 464-7231 (Pipe)
Fax: (540) 464-7748

Regimental Band
Virginia Military Institute
201 Shell Hall
Lexington, VA 24450

John Brodie, Colonel
Director of Music

Burt Mitchell, Major
Pipe Band Director
202 Shell Hall

Band Company

 VMI Band MajorBand Company is one of nine companies which make up the Corps of Cadets. Rank structure, academic major, class structure, and athletic structure is identical to the rest of the Corps at large and any cadet is welcome to participate in the Band. Band Company cadets participate in NCAA sports, intramurals, and Rat Training, as well as guard and company functions.

Members of the Company pride themselves as Cadets who provide a critical need for the Corps in the performance of music for parades, ceremonies and sporting events at the Institute. All trips outside VMI are funded by the Institute and instruments are provided to the cadets by the school. Selection for participation is through interview and audition.

History 

The VMI Regimental Band was formed in 1947 and consists of 154 cadets from every class and major within the Corps of Cadets. The band travels in excess of 10,000 miles each year as the musical ambassadors to the Corps of Cadets.

The Regimental Band is a competitive vehicle both on and off Post.  Its nature is that of a military band, and derives its standard operating procedures from the Army Field Music Manual 22-5, on Drill and Ceremonies.  Band Company is open to all cadets interested in music performance at any level, regardless of talent and experience.

In addition to a traditional military band, elements of the Regimental Band include the VMI Pipe Band, the Commanders Jazz Band, the Institute Brass Ensemble, Drummers and Herald Trumpets, Cadet Buglers, and the Concert Band.

The Regimental Band and its compliment units perform in excess of 150 commitments annually including weekly parades on the VMI Post and at parades and sporting events across the country.

VMI Regimental Band and Pipes performs in 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade 

Honors : 

First place awards at St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City (1992, 1996, 1997, 1999,  2001, 2002)

Ten times the "Queens Band" the featured post for the Bands appearing at the Endymion Parade; the largest Parade at the New Orleans Mardi Gras (1990-2004)

1989, the band performed as Virginia's representative at French Bicentennial in Paris, France.

The band performed in every Virginia gubernatorial parade since 1951.

 

A live recording of the VMI Regimental Band is available through Col. Brodie; Cd's are $12 and tapes are $6.