At under thirty members, one of the Tyrone High School Marching Band’s unofficial nicknames is the “Small But Mighty” Marching Band. Senior drum major Becca White has led the band as drum major for the last three seasons.

While she has enjoyed her time as a member of a small, close-knit band, White plans to continue her marching band career in the fall – on a much larger scale.

She will attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and play the piccolo in the 250+ member Liberty University Marching Band, The Spirit of the Mountain.

“I’m really excited to see how all 250 members can come together to put on a good show. It’s going to be really different than what I am used to, but I think I’ll be able to grow more in my musical abilities there,” said White.

White has earned scholarships for both academics and marching band and she is looking forward to making band part of her college experience.

“I’m planning on staying in the band all four years, and possibly becoming section leader someday,” says White.

Sporting uniforms of red, white, and blue, the Liberty Marching Band is a favorite at Liberty home football games, as guests at football games in other stadiums, and as featured performers in many community events. 

The Spirit of the Mountain has performed in the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, at the New York Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands for 80,000 spectators, and at many colleges and universities throughout the Eastern United States.

Liberty’s band includes brass, woodwind, and percussion instrumentalists, accented and accompanied by a full-color guard. 

The Liberty Band’s 2020 show was titled “Everlasting” and included music by Huey Lewis, Nat “King” Cole, Beyonce, and Aretha Franklin.

White has been involved in Tyrone’s band for five years, the last three as a drum major. She has also been a member of POPS Extension throughout her high school career. 

“I was very happy to find out that she made it in and I’m excited for her,” said Tyrone Band Director David Hock

White’s passion for music began in third grade when she started taking flute lessons. In fifth grade, she joined the middle school band and also began participating in chorus. 

She also was accepted to Penn State, Baylor, and Messiah but fell in love with Liberty University during her campus visit. She plans to major in mathematics at Liberty. 

White is a gifted musician and student and has worked hard to develop her talent, said Hock.

“Becca is very mindful and hard working, not to mention talented,” says Hock, “and she will have the whole Tyrone band community cheering her on at Liberty.”