Meet Bill DeJournett, director of Elon's new marching band.

By Jennifer Guarino '03

After almost 20 years without a marching band, Elon introduced the new "Fire of the Carolinas" at the first football game at Rhodes Stadium on Sept. 22.

Director Bill DeJournett has been waiting for this moment for more than a year. His careful preparation for this season included everything from buying instruments and uniforms to holding band camp. "In marching band, the name of the game is details, planning and preparation," he says.

DeJournett came to Elon from Colorado State University, where he directed the marching and symphonic bands. In three years, he built the dwindling marching band there into a successful, 184-member group.

When DeJournett saw the opportunity to start a marching band at Elon, he immediately applied for the position of director. "You don't get that chance very often," he says. "It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up."

Getting students involved
One of the first things DeJournett did at Elon was establish a band council. "It was important for me to have student involvement from the beginning," he says. Students selected the uniforms and drum majors, drafted an attendance policy, designed T-shirts and participated in many other logistical preparations.

One of the band council's most important tasks was to name the band. The students and DeJournett talked about the history of the previous marching band, "Show Band of the Carolinas," which marched from 1962-1982. "The students wanted to pay homage to the old show band while embracing the new," he says. So they settled on "Fire of the Carolinas."

Much of DeJournett's time and energy has been spent on recruitment. He originally set a goal of 70 students for the marching band and says he has far exceeded that goal, with nearly 90 musicians already participating.

More than 40 instruments were purchased, such as tubas, drums and cymbals, to complement the instruments students own. DeJournett says the instruments were purchased with growth in mind.

Practice, practice, practice
Band members returned to campus early to participate in band camp, which DeJournett says packs a week of practice into one day. Now the band practices Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:10 - 5 p.m. on the fire station field. In addition to performing at home games, the marching band will perform at an exhibition show at Western Alamance High School's band competition.

The pre-game show will feature an old ballad, "Carolina Moon," which DeJournett hopes will become an Elon signature tune. Students have also learned two halftime shows -- one featuring songs from Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire, and another with Latin jazz tunes. DeJournett says he picked the repertoire because it is high-energy. "It's something that students have heard before and will enjoy playing," he says.

Although he has spent a year getting ready for this first season, DeJournett knows the unexpected can happen, like the time his band at Colorado State University was sprayed with tear gas by the Denver Police. After a victorious game against Colorado University, police tried to prevent the fans from storming the field. The band was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

DeJournett is excited about the promise of a first season. He says he will measure success by his students. "The number one goal is for the students to have a good experience. The rest is gravy."