Dear New & Returning Members of the Wingate University Band Program,
The inaugural season for the Spirit of the Gate Marching Band was filled with many great experiences and memories. I am very proud of our accomplishments and am extremely excited for the upcoming season.
For those I have not met yet, my name is Joseph Girgenti, and I proudly serve as the Director of Athletic Bands. As a member of Wingate’s Class of 2015, I am honored to serve my alma mater in this capacity. Prior to teaching at Wingate, I spent nine years teaching band and general music to students in PreK through 12th grade.
Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the Spirit of the Gate or the Wingate Band program overall.
Marching Band 101
Auditions & Registration
Current Spirit of the Gate members do not need to re-audition unless changing instruments or position. Those auditions will happen in-person prior to the Spring semester ending.
All new members must submit a video audition in order to complete their registration. Each student is required to submit two videos.
Please see below for specifics based on your instrument/position:
Video #1: Fight Song (“On Wisconsin”)
- Musicians will record their part for our fight song. The music can be found using the button below. If students selected multiple instrument options, they should perform this on their top instrument preference.
- Color Guard members will study and record the choreography. If you do not have a flag, feel free to use something else for your video (ie. broom, pole, etc.).
Video #2: Scales/Rudiments/Choreography
- Wind Musicians should prepare two scales of their choice and a two octave minimum chromatic scale. These should show the student’s ability and range. You may use any rhythmic pattern that you are comfortable with.
- Percussionists (all drumline, drum set, and auxiliary) should prepare rudiments on the snare drum (even if auditioning for a different instrument). You are asked to perform all Tier 1, plus Flam Tap & Flam Accent, from this link.
- Keyboard, Guitar, & Bass Guitar students should play a minimum of a 60 second musical example that demonstrates their best performance
- Color Guard will create their own choreographed routine (without flag work) for “Freeze Frame.” The recording can be found here.
Preseason Camp
- All residential students will move in on Thursday, August 7th. Families will have the entire day to get students settled in and we will not have any planned activities that day. Commuting students will not need to be present on move-in day.
- You will find a tentative Preseason Camp Itinerary below. Daily schedules may adjust due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, however, the overall outline for camp will remain the same. It is expected that all participating students will attend the entirety of the camp. The Director must be made aware of any schedule conflicts two weeks prior to the conflict.
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday, Aug. 7 |
All Day |
Residential Student Move-in |
Residence Halls |
Friday, Aug. 8 |
9 AM - 12 PM |
Leadership Team Meeting & Camp Prep |
Band Room |
12 - 1:30 PM |
Catered Lunch / Meet & Greet |
||
1:30 - 3 PM |
Team Building Activity |
||
3 - 4:15 PM |
Full Band Meeting |
Recital Hall |
|
4:15 - 5:00 PM |
Section Bonding Time |
||
5:30 - 7 PM |
Catered Dinner |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday, Aug. 9 |
7:30 AM |
Catered Breakfast |
|
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Team Building Activity |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Sunday, Aug. 10 |
|
Morning Off |
|
10:30 AM |
Brunch |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Group Fitness Activity |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Monday, Aug. 11 |
|
Breakfast |
*on your own |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
8:00 PM |
Strike & Dismiss |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Tuesday, Aug. 12 |
|
Breakfast |
*on your own |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
8:00 PM |
Strike & Dismiss |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Wednesday, Aug. 13 |
|
Breakfast |
*on your own |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
8:00 PM |
Strike & Dismiss |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday, Aug. 14 |
|
Breakfast |
*on your own |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
8:00 PM |
Strike & Dismiss |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Friday, Aug. 15 |
|
Breakfast |
*on your own |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
6:30 PM |
Field Rehearsal |
||
8:00 PM |
Strike & Dismiss |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Saturday, Aug. 16 |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
|
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Sunday, Aug. 17 |
|
Morning Off |
|
10:30 AM |
Brunch |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Group Fitness Activity |
||
2:00 PM |
Sectional Rehearsals |
||
4:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
5:00 PM |
Dinner & Dismissal |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
Date | Time | Event | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Monday, Aug. 19 |
8:30 AM |
Field Rehearsal |
|
11:30 AM |
Lunch Break |
W.T. Harris Dining Hall |
|
1:00 PM |
Full Ensemble Rehearsal |
||
3:00 PM |
Afternoon Break |
||
TBD |
Welcome Celebration Performance |
Cuddy Arena |
Class Schedule
All participants will be registered for MUS 108/308: University Athletic Bands, which is a 1 credit course. This course will be repeated each semester students are enrolled. The Athletic Bands class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Fall semester and on Wednesdays in the Spring semester. It is imperative that students attend all class times in order for our band to have the greatest success.
Athletic Bands Calendar
Date |
Time |
Event |
Details |
---|---|---|---|
Feb. 28 |
Spirit of the Gate Registration Opens |
||
May 9 |
11:59 PM |
Current SOTG Member Registration Deadline |
|
July 7 |
11:59 PM |
Incoming SOTG Member Registration Deadline |
|
Aug. 7 |
8 AM |
Residential Student Move-in |
|
Aug. 8-18 |
All Day |
Preseason Camp |
|
Aug. 21 |
First Day of Fall Semester Classes |
||
Sept. 13 |
Home Football Game v. Limestone |
||
Sept. 27 |
Home Football Game v. Carson-Newman |
||
Oct. 3 |
“Bulldog Beat” |
||
Oct. 10 |
Home Football Game v. Catawba |
||
Oct. 13-14 |
Fall Break (No Classes) |
||
Nov. 1 |
Home Football Game v. Lenoir-Rhyne |
||
Nov. 15 |
Home Football Game v. Mars Hill |
||
Nov. 23 |
Union County Christmas Parade |
||
Nov. 26-28 |
Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) |
||
Dec. 7 |
Town of Wingate Christmas Parade |
*Changes to the Athletic Band Calendar will be made at the discretion of the Director.