Ethan Martin Participates in Pep Band at William Wooods University

2012 Feb 10

Strike up the band and give a cheer for the Owls. Ethan Martin of Fulton, Mo., is a member of the new pep band at William Woods University.

Murphy Tetley, instructor of management information systems, wanted to encourage William Woods University students to take pride in their school, so he organized a pep band to play at home basketball games.

"It is important, as a university, that we have all the school-spirit-related things, and the pep band was the logical next step," says Tetley.

Instruments played by the pep band include three trumpets, three saxophones, two piccolos, a flute, a trombone, a bass, an electric bass, the drums, and a French horn, which Tetley plays.

Made up of students, faculty/staff and community members, it is open to everyone. The WWU Parliament Pep Band was chosen as the name to tie in with the university's owl mascot. A parliament is a group of owls.

The band has a diverse group of members who all have various reasons for joining the band. Most of the members are current and former members of their high school bands.

"I wanted to play for the college experience and meeting new people," said Zackery Oliver, trumpet player. An alumnus of Fulton High School, he played in the band there.

Susan Jackson, a WWU junior from Bonne Terre, Mo., said, "I've been playing in pep band since high school so coming to college, I wanted to continue the school spirit and keep playing."

Jackson, a drummer, added, "I feel like the band can give the players energy and motivation during the game. Music has a way of doing that to people, whether it be at a game, cleaning house or doing homework."

Self-proclaimed "band nerds," Dan and Katie Harris Kreienheder both hold degrees in music education from Central Methodist University. Katie is a 2005 graduate of Fulton High School, and the couple have lived in Fulton since they got married in 2010.

"Because we miss playing our instruments so much, Murph invited us to play in the WWU pep band," said Katie, a piccolo player.

"Having a music education degree and having played in pep bands since high school, I jumped at the opportunity," said Dan, a trumpeter. "Playing for William Woods is a highlight of my weeks and months."

The Parliament plans to play at both men and women's games. Songs will vary, but Tetley says their repertoire will definitely include the National Anthem and the WWU fight song, which he also put together. Their first appearance was Jan. 12, and Tetley said the band did a great job.

"Many people thanked us. The National Anthem was a huge hit! We even got a positive comment from our streaming online crowd!"

A Central Methodist University graduate, Tetley has a lot of pride for his own alma mater and he wants to see that same pride exhibited for WWU. He wants students to be able to recall their fight song long after they have graduated and be proud to have been an Owl.

"It isn't about any other school; it is about us, the Owls!" Tetley exclaimed.

Members of the Parliament Pep Band, in addition to Tetley, the Kreienheders, Jackson and Oliver, are WWU students Ethan Martin of Fulton, trumpet; Maggie McCarver of Ballwin, Mo., flute; Keith Nigus of Fulton, sax/electric bass; and Rebecca Palmer of Columbia, Mo., sax.

Fulton High School band members in the Parliament Pep Band are Luke Nigus, sax; Genevieve Randall, piccolo; and Fern Stevermer, trombone. Thomas Collins, a Helias High School student, plays bass.