Tyrone Senior To Perform With The SFU Band

By Derek Wilson, Staff Writer|December 11, 2017

Todd Cammarata

Members of the St. Francis University Pep Band

 Tyrone High School Senior Derek Wilson will participate in the seventh annual St. Francis University Side by Side Event on February 17th, 2017 at the Maurice Stokes Athletic Center on the St. Francis University campus.

At the side-by-side, high school band students get the opportunity to learn from and play alongside members of the St. Francis Red Flash Band at a home basketball game. This year the Red Flash will take on their Northeast conference rivals the Bryant University Bulldogs and the Sacred Heart University Pioneers. The men will take the floor vs Bryant University at 1:00 pm while the women’s game vs Sacred Heart University will start at 4:00 pm. The games are their pink games. The teams will wear special uniforms to show their breast cancer awareness.

“It is an amazing experience for students that are planning to go to a college with a music program and it is also a fun experience to watch a division 1 basketball game at St. Francis University. For students who are thinking of doing the event should sign up” said Senior Derek Wilson.

The Side By Side event attracts high school musicians from across the east coast.

“Last year’s Side By Side event had many students from different schools from around the area who are passionate about music and the arts. It is a very fun experience,” said Wilson.

Students at the side by side have the opportunity to play and learn the same sheet music that the SFU pep band plays at every home game. Some of the songs are well known such as Seven Nation Army, YMCA, and the Hey Song. Students will also receive the SFU Fight Song, SFU Alma Mater, and an arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner written by the St. Francis University Director of Bands Dr. Daniel Atwood.

Each student receives a free t-shirt that every band member wears in the stands and a packet of the stand tunes that the students will play throughout the games.

The students will rehearse with the pep band before entering the arena to run through the music. Students will perform throughout both games. The students will also be recognized for their attendance at the Maurice Stokes Athletic Center before the start of each game.