With the Notre Dame Marching Band wrapping up their season Monday night at the College Football Playoff National Championship, Saint Mary’s band members reminisced on the 2024-25 season.
Drumline member freshman Victoria Mac recalled her first home game, specifically the energetic atmosphere and excitement surrounding the game.
"I was really nervous. I was in the tunnel. I was like, ‘I don’t want to mess up before all these people,’” Mac said. “Then once you run out of the tunnel, especially when you’re the first group, [and] the feeling when you see people on their feet, and you hear the noise of the student section, it gives you a purpose, in a way.”
Mac continued, saying this experience caused her to become emotional.
“I think I teared up a little because I was like, ‘All these people are here to watch the team and the band,’“ Mac said. “It‘s an honor to be part of a really big tradition that‘s been going on for years.”
Alongside feeling the thrill of performing at games, Mac reflected on the hefty time commitment associated with being a member of the band.
“It was a little struggle, just trying to balance [everything] and trying to keep up with the work. I feel like people underestimate how long it really takes to go from here to [Notre Dame for practice]. It takes an hour to really think about it,“ Mac said. “Then you come back, and it’s like 10 or 11 p.m. and you’re just so tired. Especially being a STEM major, it’s brutal.”
From the long weekends of travel, late night rehearsals and overwhelming school schedule, “I’m physically tired but really excited because this is a good way to start my freshman year,” Mac said.
Mac recalls first being selected for the Fighting Irish Band and her initial reaction. “If you were to tell me 10 years ago, I would continue doing band, I wouldn’t believe that.”
Sophomore clarinet player Bridget Stroner said that the band’s intensive schedule and travel have allowed for deeper connection and a sense of community within the band.
“You’re spending hours and hours and hours with all these people during and outside of rehearsal,” Stroner said. “It definitely strengthens your friendship.”
Stroner said that even though traveling can be exhausting, there is still room for fun.
“We’ve made a lot of late-night conversations, really silly conversations we’ve had, and usually, as the trip goes on, the more sleep-deprived you get,” Stroner said.
Stroner reflected on this bond, saying it extends beyond Saint Mary’s band members to also include members of the band from the tri-campus community.
“I have at least one friend from each school,” Stroner said. “The band really helps welcome that tri-campus community feel. When I’m in the band, it just feels like we’re all in the same community. We’re very close, funded by the same religious order but just live 15 minutes away from each other.“
According to Stroner, friendship in the band does not depend on what school someone attends.
“I’d say you just make friends so easily, and it doesn’t really matter what school you’re at,” Stroner said.
Freshman Selena Frisby noted the band is more than just a friendship, but a family.
“It’s more like a big family because you’re all there to take care of each other, and you want what’s best for the band, not just yourself,“ Frisby said. “Even when we go to Florida and later on in Atlanta, whenever we have free time, it’s always ‘Hey, make sure if you see a band buddy, help them out if they’re in trouble or something.’ So it’s always, it’s always family-based.”
