The West Virginia University Marching Band, under the direction of John Hendricks, Jay Drury and Don Wilcox will present its annualKeynotes Concertsat the Creative Arts Center on Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 29-30.

The concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre and will feature the bands full complement of brass, woodwinds, percussion, flags and feature twirlers. They will perform musical highlights from the 2004 football season, including favorite pre-game and halftime music.

According to Hendricks, the pre-game selections will feature WVU fight songs, as well asMountain Dew,Simple GiftsandCountry Roads.

The halftime music includes:Birdland,a popular jazz selection; the theme fromBack to the Future;Malaguena,a fiery Latin tune; and the classic rock tuneLove Shack.

In addition, the audience will hearThe Magnificent Seven,reminiscent of the Old West;House of the Rising Sun,a powerful sultry number, and the classical favoriteThe 1812 Overture.

The award-winning WVU Mountaineer Marching Band, also known asThe Pride of West Virginia,enjoys the reputation as one of the outstanding groups on the WVU campus. This years WVU Band is the largest in the history of the University, with 340 members. Most of the students in the band come from various states up and down the eastern United States. These students are enrolled in the various colleges at the University, and represent almost every major the University has to offer.

The Pridehas performed throughout the nation, from nationally televised bowl games to presidential inaugurations. During the past 15 years, the WVU Marching Band has performed before more than one million people and has traveled to several major U.S. cities, including Tucson, Ariz.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; New York City, N.Y.; Tempe, Ariz.; New Orleans, La.; Houston, Tex.; Birmingham, Ala.; Washington, D.C.; El Paso, Tex.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Columbus, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Mountaineer Marching Band is known for its high-energy performances, outstanding musical arrangements, and innovative drill moves. Because of its tradition of excellence, the WVU band was recognized in 1997 as the countrys outstanding collegiate marching band by being named the recipient of the 1997 Sudler Trophy, awarded by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

The esprit de corps of the WVU Marching Band and the enthusiastic response of the audiences to the sight and sound of the band have made it one of the most respected organizations on the WVU campus. All these features contribute to the success of thePride of West Virginiaand show why it is considered one of the premier collegiate marching bands in the nation.

For tickets and information, call the WVU Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.