Band of Distinction offers a Latin jazz show in 2024

Arkansas Tech University's marching band, Arkansas' Band of Distinction, will debut its fall 2024 show during the Wonder Boys' season-opening football game on Thursday, September 5.

Weather permitting, the band is scheduled to perform around 6:15 p.m. during the Party at the Plaza, a pregame tailgating party at Centennial Plaza, and again at Simmons Bank Field at Thone Stadium as part of the pregame festivities, which culminate in kickoff at 7 p.m.

At halftime, the ATU brass band plays a Latin jazz show with “A Mis Abuelos” by Arturo Sandoval, “Sway” by Michael Bublé and “La Mordidita” by Ricky Martin.

The Arkansas Band of Distinction performs at ATU home games and various parades and marching performances. The band will consist of 165 members in the fall of 2024.

Dr. Daniel A. Belongia, Professor of Music, is in his 10th year as Director of Bands at Arkansas Tech. Dr. Jon Nash is in his fourth year as Assistant Professor of Music at ATU and Director of Athletic Bands.

For more information, visit www.atu.edu/bands. For regular updates from Arkansas' Band of Distinction, visit www.facebook.com/ATUBands.

Tickets for ATU home games can be purchased at www.arkansastechsports.com/tickets.

The leaders of the ATU brass band 2024 are listed below:

Band leader and music professor
Daniel A. Belongia

Director of Sports Bands and Assistant Professor of Music
Dr. Jon Nash

Administrative Assistants
Bonnie Heathcock
Belinda Hilliard

The outstanding band of “The Voice of Arkansas”
Dr Jon Clements

Student employees

Drum Majors
Caleb Hopkins of Fort Smith, Addy Barnes of Greenwood, Lizbeth Nunez of Dardanelle

Teaching Assistant
Rebecca Davis from Cabot

Band Captains
Eliza Smith of Cabot and Mackenzie Murphy of Bryant

Section Leader

Piccolo flute
Alex Perez from Clarksville

clarinet
Mackenzie Murphy of Bryant and Martha Smith-Gomez of Decatur

saxophone
Elizabeth Barrett of Midlothian, Texas, and Samuel Spann of East End

Mellophone
Eliza Smith of Cabot and Luke Walker of Benbrook, Texas

trumpet
Jake Hodges of Russellville, Kris Campbell of Alma and Noah Pifer of Cabot

trombone
Taylor Jacobs of Mount Ida and Blake Mitchell of Cabot

Euphonium
Preston Keeter of Springdale and Ashlyn Watson of Alread

Sousaphone
Lorenzo Castelano of Dardanelle and Jesse Wells of Sheridan

Drums
Jessie Hernandez of Berryville, Peyton Stephens of Springdale, Rhett Neagles of Russellville and Katlyn Tipton of Quitman

Colour guard
Kristen Shirley of Cabot and Bailey Ireland of Harrison

majorette
Audrey Roys from Russellville