Each year, the University of Virginia’s Cavalier Marching Band hosts an honor band of high school juniors and seniors that joins the CMB for a blow-out halftime performance! This year's Band Day was on Saturday, November 14 at the Virginia vs. Boston College football game. All high school participants learn music and drill on game day and march a halftime show with the CMB!

In addition to the halftime performance before a crowd of 63,000 screaming Wahoo fans, all students and their directors were admitted to the Virginia vs. Boston College game. All high school participants and their directors were provided with a catered meal prior to kick off, transportation to and from Scott Stadium, and a commemorative t-shirt.

We are also excited to announce that this year, Al Chez and Rick Cyr will be joining us for Band Day!

Rick Cyr - Saxophonist: Working as a pro for 30+ years, he started playing woodwinds at age 8 and Learned Trumpet and Valve Trombone at age 15.  He had a short stint with the Garfield Cadets and was Drum Major for Sayreville High School, Junior and Senior year.  He attended Mansfield University, Middlesex College and studied with Condi Atkinson (piano, bass).  Mr. Atkinson wrote big band arrangements that featured him as a soloist including Stella by Starlight, Body and Soul, Sophisticated Lady, Tenors Racket, and My Foolish Heart.  Condi was a boyhood friend of Jazz great Bill Evans.  Evans showed up at a gig, liked his sound, and invited him to join him on tour.  Cyr has also studied and worked with guitar great Vic Juris at Monclair State University.  He grew up with Jon Bonjovi and have performed with him for many years, at the Atlantic City Expressway, The Wild Ones, and BONJOVI.  He is proficient at many styles of playing, such as Rock, Jazz, and R&B.  Over the years he has performed and arranged for many Rock, R&B greats including Joe Cocker, Ruth Brown, Albert Collins, Steve Cropper, Bo Didlley, Eddie Floyd, Willie Dixon, Ron Wood, Dr. John, Chuck Jackson, Etta James, Gary US Bonds, Percy Sledge, Stevie Ray Vauhn, Billy Preston, Ko Ko Taylor, Delbert McClinton, David Bryon, Donald Duck Dunn, Joe Louis Walker, Carla Thomas, and Little Anthony and The Imperials.  He has worked with over 300+ bands and has performed on 2500+ gigs in his 30 year career.  He continues to work locally, and is involved with educating many young musicians in the Central New Jersey area.

Thanks to the following schools for participating in the 2009 Band Day:

Albemarle
Alleghany
Amelia County
Appleton North
Atlee
Audobon
Battlefield
Brentsville
Briar Woods
Brooke Point
Brookville
Buffalo Gap
Cave Spring
Chancellor
Chantilly
Charles City
Charlottesville
Colonial Heights
Cosby
Deep Run
Douglas Freeman
E.C. Glass
Eastern View
Fairfax
First Colonial
Gar-Field
Glenvar
Gloucester
Grassfield
Hampton Roads Academy
Hampton Roads Youth Wind Ensemble
Hanover
Harrisonburg
Herndon
Hickory
Hylton
J.J. Kelly
J.R. Tucker
James River
James W. Robinson
Jamestown
JEB Stuart
King George
King William
Kingston
Lafayette
Lake
Lee-Davis
Liberty
Lloyd C. Bird
Loudon Valley
Louisa County
Madison County
Manchester
Massaponax
Middlesex
Monacan
Montgomery
Monticello
Mount Vernon
North Stafford
Northside
Northumberland
Northwood
Nottoway
Ocean Lakes
Osbourn
Osbourn Park
Patrick County
Pope John Paul the Great
Poquoson
Powell Valley
Prince Edward
Riverbend
Robert E. Lee
Robinson
Rockbridge
Saint Gertrude
Salem
Smithfield
South Hagerstown
Southern Lehigh
Spotsylvania
Spring Valley
Stuarts Draft
Tabb
Tazewell
Thomas Dale
Trinity
Turner Ashby
Virginia
W.T. Woodson
Warhill
West Potomac
Western Albemarle
Westfield
White Plains
William Monroe
Wilson Memorial
Yorktown